This coin won't reach me till sometime in January (hopefully), but I thought it would be appropriate to share it now. I'd been actively looking for one of these owl-grasping-hapless-lizard coins of Kamarina since the beginning of the year, so it was fitting that the win of this beautiful example caps my 2015 purchases . SICILY, Kamarina Circa 420-405 BC AE Tetras or Trionkion 3.39g, 14.5mm Westermark & Jenkins Period 3, 204; CNS 40; HGC 2, 550 O: Helmeted head of Athena left; olive spray to left. R: [K-A-]MA, Owl standing facing, wings spread, grasping lizard; three pellets (mark of value) in exergue. Ex Camerata Romeu Collection This coin belongs to a brief two-decade period (425-405 BC) when Kamarina produced a wonderful group of coins - majestic, masterful tetradrachms and other silver issues, and a series of charming, instantly recognizable bronzes. Of the bronzes, this one with the spread-winged owl is rare, but the others varieties and denominations with the closed-wing owl and/or gorgoneion obverse are equally attractive and hopefully, I'll have an example of those join my collection in 2016. Feel free to share your Kamarina coins or your favorite owl coins!
I like the open-winged owl and should look for one of those SICILY, Kamarina 420-405 BCE AE tetras, 3.11 gm Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing winged Phrygian helmet; dotted border Rev: KAMA (legend from top to bottom), with owl standing left, lizard in talons; three dots in exergue Ref: Westermark / Jenkins 202, SNG ANS -., Calciati III No. 39 SICILY, Kamarina 420-405 BCE AE tetras, 3.34 gm Obv: Large head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet with wings Rev: Owl standing left, with lizard in talon; KAMA (retrograde) upward in right field; three dots in exergue Ref: Westermark / Jenkins 198 (see FIG. Pl. 35 / 198.24), SNG ANS 1230 Calciati III no. 28/4 (dotted-border type)
Beautiful, still dont have a coin with a owl as the main reverse figure. Maybe it will change in 2016.
Awesome last minute coin Z, my favorite coins Owls. True Story, my wife's Cousins was jogging late after dark and a very large what he thinks was an owl clawed the back of his head. we looked up owl attacks and Oregon had a few mentioned and said they get very aggressive in the Winter. I thought i had an owl from Kamarina, but i do have this one from Pergamon. Mysia, Pergamon 133 127 BC Ae Obv. Athena right. Rev. Owl standing, wings spread. 16mm x 2.5g.
an owl attack?! i've never heard of such a thing, crazy. and that's a crazy coin, look at that owl on the reverse. he looks like trouble doesn't he? i wouldn't turn my back on him for a minute! nice coin Z, the owl is cool and the color is great. i don't have one of these to share. i ordered one last spring, but it never made it to my house.
I wasn't aware of a variety with spread wings. All the others I've seen have owls with folded wings. Great find!
Wow Z-Bro => that was another CNG target that you ended-up scoring!! (that's awesome ... great pickup ... totally jealous) Owls, eh? => well yah, I have a couple of sweet hooters to show-off ...
Thanks for the kind coinpliments, everyone! That sounds bad, but not as bad as an owl flying into your car and pecking at you: http://www.fox29.com/trending/63382840-story Yeah, the owl on my coin looks psycho enough to do that! You were considering this bird too? Man, I'm glad you didn't... I don't think my bid would have survived a x6-attack . Anyway, I'm happy I got this one as owls (and lizards) are very poorly represented in my collection. I don't even have an Athens tet to show off yet. So, in the meantime, how about some favorite owls in other mediums...
