Do you have an Athenian owl tetradrachm? Post yours!

Athens, Silver tetradrachms
Obv:– Head of Athena right, droopy eye, crested helmet with olive leaves and bent-back palmette, wire necklace, round earring, hair in parallel curves.
Rev:– ΑΘΕ, right, owl standing right, head facing, erect in posture, olive sprig and crescent left, all within incuse square;
Minted in Athens from . B.C. 449 - 413.
Reference:– SNG Cop 31 ff., SGCV I 2526




Obv:– Head of Athena right with eye seen in true profile, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll
Rev:– owl standing right, head facing, to right ATE in large lettering, to left olive sprig and crescent
Minted in Athens c. B.C. 393 - 370.
Reference:– Flamen p. 126, 1 (Pi I); Svoronos Athens plate 19, 17; SNG Cop -
Ex-Forum Ancient Coins
16.699g, 24.31mm, 270o

The following information was provided with the coin:-

"Transitional style tetradrachms include all of the wide spectrum of variants with the eye in profile issued after the classic "old style" almond eye tetradrachms but before the broad thinner flan "new style" tetradrachms. Recent research has classified variations of the transitional style - Pi Type, Quadridigité Style, Heterogeneous Style and sub-groups of the styles, and proposed chronologies for the different styles and groups.

This coin is the earliest transitional type, the first Pi style type, essentially identical to the "old style" with the exception of the eye in profile. The "Pi" designation is based on the P shape of the floral spiral and palmette ornamentation on the helmet bowl. The coin can be classified as Pi style, group 1. The floral ornament on examples this early do not yet resemble Pi."



Obv:– Head of Athena right with realistic profile eye, wearing crested Attic helmet, earring and necklace, bowl ornamented with spiral and three olive leaves .
Rev:– ATE, right, Owl standing right, head facing, crescent and olive sprig with berry behind
Minted in Athens from . c.393-350 B.C.
Reference:– SNG Cop 64, SGCV I 2537

 

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Am I the only one who never really had any desire to acquire one of these?

 

I wouldn't turn one down at a reasonable price - it would be nice to have one example as a type coin, but it's not anywhere near my top ten list.

 

No different then me not wanting to own a single Chinese cash coin...

We all have our wants and blehs, lol.

 

I am a Roman coin enthusiast with the First Centuries both BC and AD being my favorite. It was the love of Roman history that brought me to this hobby in the first place. That being said, however, there are certain coins I consider to be iconic. Certainly Alexander III and Rhodes "Rose" Tets and Aegian "Turtles" would be amongst those. The Athenian Owl would also have a place on this list IMHO.

 

"Must Have" Ancient Coins!

 

Jiggy-Jiggy-Jiggy-Jiggy, everybody Jiggy now!!!

=> don't forget about The King of Coins!!

 

You have no shame Jerry. None whatsoever

 

=> absolutely "zilch", Chief ...

 

Well said. If there was a "most likely to start a slab club" ancient coin it would be these. Very popular, very high populations, and most of the value is only in the grade, not really what the coin is. Sound familiar? Yes, I am saying an Athenian Tet is the Morgan dollar of the ancient world. Nothing wrong with that at all, I just worry having such a coin could potentially draw in "condition rarity, slabbed coins" crowd.

Btw Joe, I wish to apologize for me remarks earlier about your wish to slab your coins. After thinking about it, I don't have the large financial implication to my coins and their grades as you do. I can see why you would wish to ensure protection of your coins considering their expense. My dislike of slabs is not due to a collector like you, mine is more a dislike for fear of them dictating our grading policies, determining what is "acceptable", and taking the physical connection away from collectors. In your specific instance I don't have a problem with it, (not that you gave a crud what I though anyway ).

Chris

 

I hear you. They are pretty boring if you are around ancients for any length. I own one simply because I got one cheap, (of course).

 

Rarely do I disagree more with a comment. Between about 500 and 200 BC, Athens issues what appears to the uninformed what might be considered the same coin. To specialists they are as different as the 300 years as Roman denarii. It is just that Athens did not openly code the coins but relied upon much more subtle differences to separate one from another. I once knew a collector who had a couple hundred of these and considered each one a significantly different coin. The ones shown here have mostly been the common Classical and late versions. If you research acsearch you will find some of the more unusual variations that brought up to $400000 in great condition and $3000 with damage and multiple test cuts. Knowing how to separate the two is a matter lost on people only interested in grade but I do admit that there are people who would pass up the $400000 coin in favor of a mint state common type. Pressures for non-collectors who want to make charm bracelets from the things keep the prices for the common ones where I can not have all I might want but they are not what drives the market for the $400000 coin. We can spare a few thousand high grade Classical and late coins to feed the slabbers but let's not confuse all these coins with the ones we each might be well advised to learn to recognize. I wonder if this one has been slabbed?
http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=540222
The following is the style I'd like to find as a sleeper but I'll not be paying $151k.
http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=469132

Does anyone remember this coin lover? Can you see the charm? I hope it was a common one. Slabbing is not the worst fate for a coin.

 

Yes, i am very familiar with Starr varieties Doug. However, on a whole, this tet is very recognizable, and Very common issues are valued mainly due to condition, ala morgans. That is where the comment came from. Most ancients found in such quantities, early byzantine gold comes to mind, is not so exponentially more expensive based upon condition.

 

Yes--those archaic style and early classical tets are exceptional examples--but I enjoy my "common" owl tet all the same. After all--this was an owl tet appreciation thread--thanks for everyone posting their coins! :thumb:

 

The First Owl is beautiful!

However, I prefer the style on the Second Owl...

It looks like the Owl in the Textbook that I can picture, but no longer have (It's been a few years)

 

My first Athens Classical Owl Tetradrachm!



Greek Attic Athens Classical Owl Tetradrachm
Obverse: Head of Athena right with beaded necklace,
three small upright olive leaves on front edge of Attic helmet
Reverse: Owl leaning right, head facing, olive twig with two leaves and crescent moon
Legend AOE (Ethnic legend)
Struck c. BC 430
Weight: 17.18g

From Harlan J. Berk, Chicago

 

I feel my "Bankers" got a wee bit carried away with their marks.

 

ahahaha, iamtiberius => you and I have the same thing goin' on with our coins!!

Ummm, perhaps Zorro's ancestors were our bankers???

 

I find it amusing how many banker's marks are put between the owl's eyes--did 'Zorro' have a problem with owls? :too-funny:

 

I like it. It shows it served its purpose as a coin.