hey guys I found an auction on ebay of something that looks like athena's owl http://www.ebay.ca/itm/310669213135?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 it weighs 4.01 grams diameter 10 mm thickness 3mm what do you guys think? is it a fake? If not what do you think should be my best offer?
Once again I find myself agreeing with YOC. This is a horrible coin and the price is even worse. If you want a decent owl coin you will need to pay some decent cash. I don't think they are rare, just desirable because they are so well known to collectors and non-collectors alike. I own one example I bought last year at a coin show. I paid just over $400 and it's not even close to the best example around. ATTICA ATHENS AR Tetradrachm OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Athena right, in crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor & a spiral palmette on the bowl; eye in profile REVERSE: AQE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig & crescent behind Struck at Athens 350-300 BC 16.9g, 22mm sg2537
I think it was the right thing to do. We have talked on the forum in the past about the rush to get collecting, and its a good thing, but borrow some of Dougs patience if he has some to spare, create a wish list and keep your eyes peeled. View as many of that type as you can so you know roughly what price to pay and then have a go at a few. There will always be those crimes of passion when you wake up with a vague memory of having pressed the pay now button...and check ebay purchase history or paypal to see if it was a dream.........invariably it wont be! I think Doug mentioned that there was the facility to produce a want/interest list so members can alert others if they see a coin they think that person may be interested in......maybe you could do that too? Happy hunting...and sorry for being a little blunt about that coin. YOC
That isn't an Athenian drachm. It appears to be an imitative issue of Gaza - they were struck in the 5th to 4th centuries BC. These coins are typically in decrepit condition, and far more rare than their Athenian progenitors. Here is a vcoins page with other examples... Gaza Drachms Israeli dealers occasionally have these pieces on hand because, well...that's where you find them. I can't vouch for the authenticity of the piece in question, but if it is an authentic drachm of Gaza, the price is actually quite low.
The eBay description says 10 mm and 4.01 grams. Something is wrong about that. The diameter is not enough for the weight. I agree about the likely Gaza attribution, but most of those are obols which would be consistent with the 10 mm diameter, but weigh less than 1 gram.
The obols that I've seen are less than 10mm, more like 7 to 9, around 0.5g. 4g puts the eBay coin in drachm weight range. It may not have been struck hard enough to flatten it out to 12 or 13 mm. I'm not arguing for its authenticity, but the diameter doesn't bother me since the coin is 3mm thick.
If the coin is a Gaza copy and some people believe it is worth big money does not mean you should. It is a coin for specialists. Leave it for someone who can tell the difference between a Gaza and a butchered Athenian. A real Athenian drachm (not tetradrachm) should weigh about 4g but would be well over 10mm in diameter. I know that many beginners absolutely have to own an owl and refuse to have a coin with test cuts (cheap ones tend to have test cuts). There are many more tetradrachms than drachms so they are easier to find than the smaller drachms - not cheaper. The reason that one of the more common ancient coins sells for so much in poor condition is that so many people think they need one and need it now. Wouldn't you rather have another type coin for your money - maybe one that you could tell which side of the obverse was up??? I'm not immune to wanting owls but the best I have found for $150 is below. I bought it because of the large amouunt of design on flan. The same coin with that much crest on flan, equal wear and no test cuts would be $500.
