I really wasn't in the market to purchase acquire anything Greek, but like always when something irresistible presents itself and I can get it in expensively then I have to get it. I feel like I am doing the numismatic community a disservice by not getting it. I saw this coin listed by a dealer I have done business with before, who cares some ancients but mostly World coins. I always check his listings for something good, that might be less appreciate by his usual client base. Well this is what I got. Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm (BC 454-431) 24.5 mm x 17.07 grams Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena with Archaic style eye. Reverse: Owl Standing Facing Olive branch, moon in left field. Greek Legend A TH E in right field. Ref: Classic Owl Type A Note: Horn Silver, 2 x Ancient Test Cut
Ah, I see. Reid is using Flament's subgroups. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like those really work. CNG only uses the date of 454-404 BC, no subdivisions.
I've recently viewed ANoob's coin & IMO it looks & feels a little different than the photo. In-hand the roughness in front of the mouth & chin appears as just the right amount of horn silver. This along with the nooks, crannies, & VERY deep test cut from antiquity inform you immediately that you are holding a very old original almond-eye coin. ANoob- I think your photo makes the coin look like it has been dipped in Zinc when in fact the fields in the protected areas really appear mint in hand. Maybe you could try shooting it with diffused sun light illumination.
Sometimes it amazes me that the most popular coin of all ancients has been as little studied as it has. There are studies of smaller periods like the archaics and the Pi type late ones but the 'Classicals' in the middle when Athens was the big deal of the Greek world had so many dies and was copied by so many other places that it would be more than one life time's work to sort it out let alone do a full die study. It is a shame but the 454-404 dodge is the safe one. I really enjoy looking at the photos in my copy of the Svoronos book but can't fool myself into believing in all the dated divisions. I would love to know just how many die cutters worked in those 50 years at Athens. I'll bet the mint was a busy place. How many of the coins survive? Six digits? Seven?
To make it more complicated, the imitations are often of equal or even better quality than the official issues. Just separating out the non-Athenian issues would be a daunting task.
Super-score, A-Noob ... man, you're buying-up coins like they're goin' outta style!!? (I like it, my friend) Oh, and I was glad to hear that Nooborn is doing well (you rock, my ol' CCF-coin-friend) Ummm, all I have to add-in is this infamous imitation ... cheers, brother
