Do you have an Athenian owl tetradrachm? Post yours!

I've wanted an Athenian owl tet for years. It's probably the first coin that got me interested in collecting.
So, I recently decided to bite the bullet and get one. I'm happy I found one for a reasonable price that didn't have test cuts.

If you have one--from any period--post your owl! :b8nce:



Max diameter: 24mm, weight: 17.12 gr.

 

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One of those "I Wish" & "Cant justify the cost cause they're common" coins, lol.

In time..Nice coin though & congrats.

 

Yes--I understand totally--they aren't scarce, but they have been iconic for centuries.
That probably explains the premium, although I should add--my coin isn't priced much different than a nice Alexander tet.

 

I dont own an Alex. Tet. either, just a drachm but at least they can be bought affordably with patience.

I agree about the owls being iconic though, they are beauties.

 

That's my view as well which I've taken a while to come around to. There are a few very nice ones coming up to auction soon (in particular, two at Roma's latest auction which I've had my eye on - both will be $6K+ coins based on their pre-sale estimates). However, with 100K in existence, I find it hard to justify anywhere near that price for any of them. With these in particular, patience appears to be key as there will always be another one coming up.

That being said, I like your example and definitely appreciate the selection process you underwent by skipping any with test cuts - a wise choice indeed!

 

I have one old style and one new style

1. AR Tetradrachm
OBV: 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
REV: AQE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig & crescent behind
350-300 BC
16.9g, 22mm
sg2537


2. AR Tetradrachm
OBV: Helmeted head of Athena right
REV: Owl standing right, head facing, on overturned amphora; to left, eagle standing right on thunderbolt; Gamma on amphora, ΗΡΑ in exergue; all within laurel wreath
Epigene-, Sosandros and Eume(nes)-, magistrates.
127/26 BC
16.8g, 30mm
Thompson 477a

 

Bing, I had forgotten you have two--very nice owls! :thumb:

 

DVC => here is my dirty ol' imitative owl (the start of it all!!)

 

Two that I have left, one old :grandpa:, one new :bart:

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm
(454-415 BC)
Obv.: Head of Athena right in crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves above visor and spiral palmette on bowl, wearing round earring and bead necklace.
Rev.: Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent moon behind, AOE before.



GREEK, Attica, Athens AR "New Style" Tetradrachm
(135-134 BC). Mened-, Epigeno-, and Diod(o)-, magistrates.
Obv.: Helmeted head of Athena right.
Rev.: Owl standing right, head facing, on amphora; magistrates’ names in fields; to left, Asklepios standing left, holding serpent-entwined scepter; B on amphora, ΓΛ below; all within wreath.
Thompson 348f (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 240 (same obv. die).

 

Stunning Batman. Simply stunning.

 

BTW Kurt, I neglected to compliment you on your purchase. These always look good in any collection. Yours is a very nice example. Two thumbs up :thumb::thumb:

 

Just this fouree / contemporary counterfeit piece.

 

Dionysos--beautiful coins! Both well-centered and struck too!

 

Pdude, what gives it away as a contemporary counterfeit piece?

 

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm
(393-294 BC) 16.90 g
Obv.: Head of Athena right in crested Attic helmet
Rev.: Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent moon behind, AOE

 

Rip: Any information on your coin? I don't recognize it.

 

Sear 2566

 

I'm intrigued...what else? Is it an Athenian AE or possibly from Pergamon?

 

I don't find test cuts as offensive as most and would very much like to expand my accumulation of owls to include one from the earlier periods even if it were cut in half. I don't have an archaic tet or even one from the intermediate period of mid 5th century. Of the three cut coins here, only one was actually plated. I have not seen many early 5th century tets offered recently (anyone have one?) but could not afford one even if it were only moderately cut.