Hoot! Hoot! Let's see those Athenian Owl tetradrachms!

A nice overview here of various phases of Owls. Here's a coin that I like for its careless strike and thick, mis-shapen flan:

Intermediate Style Owl tetradrachm (17.22g, 21x18.5x7mm), Athens, c. 287-263 BC, Sear 2547.

 

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Here are two more.

Circa 465-460 BC, 17.14 grams



Circa 454-404 BC, 17.22 grams

 

Foul Owl On The Prowl

 

APMEX had some shipping delays due to the recent demand but they did ship it out on Monday.

 

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a specific coin in MS grade. That doesn’t mean the person “can’t tolerate anything less than perfect.”

It’s not like I don’t tolerate non-MS coins in general.

I just want an MS Athenian Owl and I know I can save up and afford one.

I have plenty of low grade coins too (like my F-12 1799 Draped Bust Dollar) but as a student of Classical History this coin is special to me and it’s one of few Ancients I can actually afford in MS (with some saving on my part).

 

I just like them in general. I like the stuff that widely circulated back then and was highly recognizable by the people of the time.

The local stuff seems like more of a specialization.

However this coin also caught my eye even though it’s also a Tet.

(sorry for the small photo)

 

Nice you got a PROOF owl!!

 

I could not agree more. My favorite owl is the obol with three tail feathers

but I really want a genuine Athenian 1/8 obol. I have never seen one that I am convinced is not an out-of-town replica. Mine probably is not Athenian and certainly too large to be a hemitartemorion (1/8) at 0.22g. The 1/4 obols do not have owls but Sear 2545 lists a 1/8 which has caused many dealers to list damaged hemiobols or Eastern copies as something they are not.

 

There certainly are a lot of examples with vicious-looking test cuts right through that poor owl's face!

 

Maybe the test cuts were done in ancient times to verify they were really silver and not counterfeits?

 

Yes. That was the reason.

 

Fair enough. That makes sense

I noticed that US Trade Dollars have them sometimes too and I was told Chinese merchants put “chop marks” in them to ensure they were legitimate silver Trade Dollars.

Interestingly back then China refused to accept payment in anything but silver.

They even refused to accept gold!

 

I understand that the Greek World outside the Athens Empire struck test marks / bankers marks between the Owls eyes... to show disrespect for Athens. However, Greeks would not strike on Athena’s face, as they did not want to anger the Goddess.

I understand that Athens Tets struck with bankers marks on Athena’s face were probly circulating outside the Greek world, either cuz they did not know, did not care, or wanted to slam the Greeks.

I think my Little Lady Tet has “been around”.


Athens Owl TET 16.8g 22x6-5mm Late Classical 393-300 BC, Sear 2537, SNG Cop. 63

 

Yeah the Greeks (and Romans too!) were extremely sensitive when it came to offending the Gods.

They viewed damaging a coin with a God/Goddess with the same anger that a Muslim today would have if someone purposely damaged a Koran.

Fortunately the Greeks were never conquered by Persia.

 

Not in hand yet but on the way. Seller's photo.

Attica. Athens. AR Tetradrachm (16.88 gm). Circa 454-404 BC.

 

I have posted mine several times but I don't mind posting it again. It is decidedly not MS but I like the test cut, it shows it was in circulation.

For me, centering was much more important than grade. I wanted one where Athena's full nose was on the coin and the full AΘE was visible.

 

Seems like they really enjoyed splitting his beak!

 

I just posted mine a couple of weeks ago here:

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/superb-owl-sunday.374937/#post-6282961