Athens coin prices

That is a really nice coin. It would stand out in most any collection. I can understand why a coin this nice would sell for big bucks. But there are lots of them that don't look very good at all for 7 or 8 hundred dollars.

 

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About a month ago I saw one that had about five test cuts and was almost split in half. Plus it was(to my un experienced eye)unc. To me it makes them better not worse.

 

Uhhh....I do see these sell for ten dollars.

 

Wow, trying to get this posted...

This is the coin that brought me to Ancients, as a modern collector, i think this is the Mother of all Ancient's..

 

Why is this coin famous anyways?

 

I'm not sure this is the answer, but this coin was like international currency. The silver standard was consistent so that anyone trading could rely on it's value. So, it is possible, they were iconic even when struck.

 

1) Ancient International Standard weight of Silver 17.2 g. Ideally all other tetradrachms were made to meet this standard.
2) Theodore Roosevelt kept one in his pocket piece and used it as US coinage inspiration.
3) They were produced in the millions. Most people would like a large silver coin and this fits the bill.
4)Everyone (even non collectors) know about Athens.
5) Athens still stands, with its old name today.
6)The coin is phat! Dude, its got Athena aaaannnnnd an owl.
7)Its a must have.

 

I have a few Athens tets though I don't have an almond eye type without a test cut.... yet....

I do have this slightly later one though...

Athens, AR Tetradrachm, ca 393 - 370 BC
Obv:– Head of Athena right with eye seen in true profile, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll
Rev:– owl standing right, head facing, to right ATE in large lettering, to left olive sprig and crescent
Minted in Athens c. B.C. 393 - 370.
Reference:– Flamen p. 126, 1 (Pi I); Svoronos Athens plate 19, 17; SNG Cop -
16.699g, 24.31mm, 270o

The following information was provide by the dealer with the coin:-

"Transitional style tetradrachms include all of the wide spectrum of variants with the eye in profile issued after the classic "old style" almond eye tetradrachms but before the broad thinner flan "new style" tetradrachms. Recent research has classified variations of the transitional style - Pi Type, Quadridigité Style, Heterogeneous Style and sub-groups of the styles, and proposed chronologies for the different styles and groups.

This coin is the earliest transitional type, the first Pi style type, essentially identical to the "old style" with the exception of the eye in profile. The "Pi" designation is based on the P shape of the floral spiral and palmette ornamentation on the helmet bowl. The coin can be classified as Pi style, group 1. The floral ornament on examples this early do not yet resemble Pi."