Since today is "Superb Owl Sunday", let's celebrate the day with some Superb Owls we own. MYSIA.,Pergamon (200 - 133 B.C.) Æ16 O: Helmeted head of Athena right. R: AΘΗ-ΝΑΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ, owl standing facing on palm, with wings spread, A monogram left and AP right. 3.6g 16mm SNG von Aulock 1375-6 var; SNG Copenhagen 388 var Attica, Athens (353 - 294 B.C) AR Tetradrachm O: Helmeted head of Athena right. Pi Style 3 R: AΘE Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent to left; all within incuse square. 16.59g 21 mm Kroll -; HGC 4, 1599 Ex. Numismatik-Naumann, Auction 52, Lot 126
Mine I bought as a graduation gift to myself, but it got sold during the purge. I could buy it back, but I am looking for a nicer one
I can contribute this year! Greece - Attica Athens c. 454-404 B.C. AR Tetradrachm, 24.69 mm x 17.24 grams Obv.: Helmeted head of Athena right, with frontal eye Rev.: AΘE right, Owl standing right, head facing, closed tail feathers, olive spring and crescent to left, all within inches square Ref.: HGC 4-1597, SGCV 2526
I'll play: Troas, Sigeion, c. 335 BC. Greek Æ 12.2 mm, 2.37 g, 5 h. Obv: Head of Athena facing slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet and necklace. Rev: ΣΙΓΕ, owl standing right, head facing; crescent to left. Refs: BMC 17.86,7-10; SNG von Aulock 7637; SNG Ashmolean 1214–6; SNG Copenhagen 496–8; Sear 4145. Mysia, Pergamon, 200-133 BC. Bronze Æ 15.7 mm, 3.55 g, 12 h. Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet ornamented with star. Rev: AΘΗ-ΝΑΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ, owl standing facing on palm, with wings spread,TK monogram left and ΠΛ right. Refs: SNG Copenhagen 388 (same); c.f. SNG von Aulock 1375-6, BMC 197-199, SNG France 1920-2, SNG BN 1913-6 (various monograms). And GO BENGALS! Gallienus, 253-268 AD. Roman Æ Antoninianus, 2.63 g, 20.8 mm, 5 h. Rome Mint, 10th emission, 267-268 AD. Obv: GALLIENVS AVG, radiate head right. Rev: LIBERO P CONS AVG, tiger walking left, B in exergue. Refs: RIC 230K; Göbl 713b; Cohen 586; RCV 10281; Cunetio 1341; Hunter 112.
Funny, I've celebrated this for some time on the nature forums, and I never realized it also applies here. Sophytes, 'Athenian Series' AR TetradrachmUncertain mint, circa 323-240 BCE 16.48g, 21mm, 1h. Attic standard. Head of Athena to right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette and grape bunch on the bowl / Owl standing to right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, AΘE before; all within incuse square Cf. Bopearachchi, Sophytes Series 1A; cf. Roma XIV, 341 corr. (grape bunch on rev.) Ex 1960s Andragoras-Sophytes Group Ex Roma ATTICA, AthensAR Tetradrachm 22.5mm, 17.18g, 1h Circa 454-404 BCE Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597 Ex CNG inventory June 2004 Ex CNG January 2021 Kings of Thrace. Agathokles, son of Lysimachoscirca 290s-283/2 BCE Adramyteion AE Bronze, 13 mm, 1.90 g, 11 h Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. AΓA-ΘO Double-bodied owl standing facing. HGC 3 -. Terin Series 7, 8 Ex Leu Egypt, Achaemenid Province. Sabakes, satrap, AR Tetradrachm. Circa 340-333 BC.16.61g, 25mm, 9h. Head of Athena to right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl / Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig with berry and crescent in upper left field; uncertain letters to left, "Sabakes symbol" and SWYK (in Aramaic) to right. Van Alfen Type III, 24-34 var. (O11/R- [unlisted rev. die]); Nicolet-Pierre, Monnaies 18-26 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 4 var. (no letters on left of rev.); BMC 265 var. (same). Ex Roma And, of course, the non-silvery kind.
Attica, Athens AR tetradrachm Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right Rev: Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig to left, crescent behind, AΘE to right, all within incuse square Date: 454-404 BC Ref: SNG Copenhagen 31 Size: 17.19g, 24mm
SICILY, Kamarina Æ Onkia, 13mm, 1.5g, 9h; 420-405 BC Obv.: Gorgoneion, protruding tongue, smooth neat hair tied with ribbon, symmetrical locks on forehead. Rev.: KAMA; owl standing right, head facing, lizard in left claw, pellet in exergue. Reference: SNG München 411 / 16-385-50
ATTICA, Athens. c. 165-42 BC. AR Tetradrachm (29mm, 16.7 g, 12h). New Style coinage. Polemon, Alketes and Aris, magistrates. Obv.: Helmeted head of Athena right. Rev.: A - ΘE / ΠΟΛΕ - ΜΩΝ / ΑΛΚΗ – ΤΗΣ / APIΣ; Owl standing right on amphora; to tripod to left, Θ on amphora, ΣΦ below. Reference: Thompson 469a ATTICA, Athens. Circa 165-42 BC AR Tetradrachm, 27mm, 16.6g, 12h, New Style. Socrates, Dionysodoros, and Zoilos, magistrates. Struck 116/5 BC. Obv.: Helmeted head of Athena right. Rev.: A-ΘE / ΣOKΡ / ATHΣ / ΔIONΥ / ΣOΔΩ / MOY / ΣΩI; Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; in right field, facing cult statue of Apollo Delios, holding Three Graces and bow; B on amphora, ΣO below. Reference: Thompson 616a
Here is my only owl besides an “eastern imitation” of the same type I haven’t had the motivation to photograph so far, given how ugly it looks. Attica, Athens: AR Tetradrachm, c. 454-404 BC, Kroll 8, Dewing 1591-8, SNG Copenhagen 31 (17.17 g, 24 mm) Obverse: Head of Athena right, in crested Attic helmet ornamented with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, wearing round earring with central boss Reverse: Owl standing to right with head facing, olive sprig and crescent behind, ΑΘΕ before; all within incuse square. Crescent-shaped banker’s mark.
I don't know about "superb," but here's the one I have. I am never going to be a serious collector of Greek coins, but this design is really attractive. And to think the ancient people made this with two dies, an anvil and a hammer!
These are all really beautiful pieces - I'd share my only owl, except it's not an ancient. Thanks to everyone who's shared theirs!
This seems like a good opportunity for me to share this "still image" from a recent 360 Photo I made for my Superb Owl. It's one of my favourite images from any of the 360 photos I've done of my coins and gives a different perspective to a coin we've all seen thousands of times.