Itsy bitsy teeny weenie Athens Owl- It’s a hemiobol

This is the latest addition to my Athena -Owl type set.


ATTICA. Athens.
AR Hemiobol
454-404 B.C.

0.34 grams, 12 mm
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right.
Rev: Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig behind. AΘE.
Grade: Overall VF with the owl, olive sprig, and AΘE sharply struck and centered. The Athena obverse is somewhat more worn & off center.
Other: SNG Copenhagen 59. May 2014 Pecunem Sale 16, lot # 498.

 

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I will get all the owl coins together tonight for one collage photo. This new hemiobol is quite small compared to all the others. Here it is depicted with a US cent.

 

This is a nice one. Athenian silver appears in the catalog down to 1/8 obol but I have not seen one of these offered in the decades I have been looking. There is one listed on acsearch but IMHO it is not even Athenian but some Eastern fraction copying the type. The 1/8 and 1/2 share the type of the full obol (and the tetradrachm) but some of the other fractions are easier to spot. Below is my 3/4 obol (ex-NFA, years ago) and my hemiobol. Obols are not hard to find. Hemiobols are a bit scarce. Any of the other fractions are rare. I really would like to know the existing population of each of these denominations. I have seen more dekadrachms than all smaller than the hemiobol but that may be because dealers who have a dekadrachm used to advertise them (this may have changed when Greece started suing to get them back) and few people care about the little guys. I would really appreciate seeing any photo of a real hemitartemorion if anyone knows where one is. The Sear plate coin is not clear since it is life size.

 

It does not, however, appear to be yellow or polka-dotted.

God, I'm old.

 

Wonderful little coin. I still own no owls of any kind

 

0.34 grams, 12 mm - nice little coin - one I like enough that I want one sometime. One thing though, the weight is likely correct but the measurement is so off - no way that is 12mm when a cent is 18mm. I am thinking your little treasure is more like about 5 millimetres or so.

The Athenian fractions are noticeably scarcer than full tetradrachms - they tended to be circulated locally and didn't leave the region in trade like the tets did. From my experience with looking at auction catalogues etc they appear to be considerably less common - which makes that coin much more appreciable - imagine having something that small 2500+ years after it was issued.

 

Measuring the cent and the owl with Photoshop shows that the owl is ~7mm at its widest.

 

The weight & dimension in the OP is copied from the seller's listing. The little coin is now at home & measured by me. It weighs 0.34 grams which correlates precisely with the Pecunem listing. However, the maximum dimension is 6.91 mm and the minimum dimension is 6.22 mm. The Pecunem dimension (12 mm) was certainly incorrect.

Listing error aside, I am really beginning to like this little coin. The grade, toning, & details are just perfect for the size. Even with my imperfect vision, I can enjoy the little owl & AOE with the naked eye.

 

If you tire of it, can send me. I like tiny ancients.

 

that's a great little coin collect...the reverse is fantastic!

 

Nice, Collect89 => that's a super lil' mini-owl (very cool addition ... I'm jealous)

 

Here is today's owl collection. I'm hoping to find a didrachm with the owl head & two bodies. Also would like an archaic owl but the price in decent shape may be a real deterrent.


Tetradrachm (new style)
Tetradrachm
Drachm
Obol
Hemiobol

P.S. Wikipedia teaches us that a goup of owls is called a "parliament".

 

That's a great set, Collect! Good luck in your hunt for the others

 

hoot! hoot! hoot! hoot! hoot!

 

I have not seen a didrachm with two bodies but that is to be found on a diobol and some bronzes. Didrachms are rare and the vast majority of the ones I have seen offered were fakes. Be extra careful if you are buying that one.

 

Thanks for the heads-up. It is the 2 obol coin that is on my want list. I wrote didrachm in error.

 

=> ummm, how 'bout a couple of freaky lookin' owls? (do they count?)

TROAS, Sigeion. Æ20
4th-3rd centuries BC
Diameter: 20 mm
Weight: 8.03 grams
Obverse: Head of Athena facing slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet and necklace
Reverse: Double-bodied owl standing facing; crescent to right





PONTOS, Amisos. AR Siglos
3rd-2nd centuries BC
Diameter: 17 x 15mm
Weight: 3.98 grams
Obverse: Head of Hera right, wearing turreted crown
Reverse: Owl standing facing, wings spread

 

This one is up for grabs at the HJB buy or bid sale....buy now for $250
13mm, 1.90 grams

 

Ur tetradrachm looks like an archaic owl...does Athena not have the almond shaped eye?

 

The owl on the Tet includes the crescent. Here is the obverse.