My First Silver Owl

Well, I don't have the 'archaic' version but I do have the 'newer' type and a 'trias of Kamarina, Sicily with a cool owl:

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

Oh yah, I forgot that I had another silver owl too ...

=> good ol' Pontos

 

Mikey, the Kamarina is a tetras rather than trias

 

I have an Athens BRONZE Owl, which are considered RARE fractionals since Greeks did not mint much Bronze


Athens
224-198 BC
AE 12
Obv: Athena
Rev: Facing Owls
Ref: Agora 71; Sear 2565
RARE

 

The cool part of this one is the owl has one head and two bodies. Mine has two whole owls but poor centering as often seen on these makes them hard to read. Were they related in value (1 1/2 and 2???) or just different style?

 

Thanks TIF

 

I have a rather nice classic period owl [in safe deposit box so unfortunately no picture]. It has some porosity which leads me to think it has spent some time in the sea. The somewhat strange thing is that someone has chipped off the dot in the center of the omicron. Anyone have any idea why? It seems that the dot in center of omicron version is uncommon in Greek lettering - usually there is nothing in the center, sometimes a horizontal bar, rarely just a dot.

 

I have always wanted one of the Greek owls, but just never got around to buying one. I did, however, pick up the following imitative coin a while ago:

Arabia Felix: Himyarites and Sabaeans (ca. 3rd Century BC) AR Drachm (Munro-Hay 1.4i2)

Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right; Sabaean "N" (mark of value) on cheek.
Rev: Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, AΘE before, monogram below.

 

I recall seeing some without the dot in the O/theta, but they were in Forvm's Fakes gallery. I hope yours does not match one of them.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=15

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=107

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=123

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=135

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?album=search&cat=0&pos=154

Edited to add that I have seen some authentic examples without the dot, or with a very worn or die-filled dot.

 

@TIF You might want to PM me on this...but what is the difference between a Trias and a Tetra since they seem to be listed as both by dealers etc. ???

 

I'm not TIF but this is a pet peeve of mine. The dot denominated coins were based on a full unit of twelve parts. Two dots or 2/12 is one sixth which we call a hexas. Three dots or 3/12 is 1/4 or a Tetras. Romans called it quadrans which also means 1/4. Four dots or 4/12 is 1/3 or Trias (Triens). It is very common for coin dealers who know more about selling than about coins or fractions to confuse 3 and 4 dot coins because 3 is a fourth and four is a third. The number of dealers who have run afoul of this over the years is pretty sad. You will find a few half coins with six dots but the Romans preferred an S for Semis. The twelve part system was used also on silver fractions of the litra as well as on the bronzes. People seem to have little trouble with two dots being 1/6 but the 3 and 4 business trips up many.
Syracuse hemilitron with 6 dots

Akragas tooth trias with four dots

Akragas tooth hexas with 2 dots


I believe Steve has a three dot Tetras???

 

I agree with TIF about the fakes with no dot in the theta but some certainly have been cleaned off leaving an O. I do not recall a theta with a bar on an old style owl but that does not mean there are none. If someone has one, please post it.

 

To the OP

I like to add to all owl threads..

"Owls well that ends well!"

It's real, it's just old!

 

AND!!! You get the ODDBALL FIVE pellets!

The Roman Dioscuri version of the Quincunx is very scarce (Rare?) Just took a lot of searching to find it!

 

Ummm, I'm gonna toss-in my brand new silver owl ... thanks for the opportunity



cheers

 

SICILY, KAMARINA
Æ Tetras
OBV: Helmeted head of Athena left
REV: KAMA, owl standing left, head facing, grasping lizard; three pellets in exergue
Struck at Kamarina, Sicily, 420-405 BC
2.9g; 15.2 mm
Calciati 33; BMC 40; SNG ANS 1229; SNG Cop 169


ATTICA ATHENS
AR Tetradrachm
OBVERSE: 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
REVERSE: AQE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig & crescent behind
Struck at Athens 350-300 BC
16.9g, 22mm
Sg2537


ATHENS ATTICA
AR Tetradrachm
OBVERSE: Helmeted head of Athena right
REVERSE: 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
Struck at Athens Epigene-, Sosandros and Eume(nes)-, magistrates 127/26 BC
16.8g, 30mm
Thompson 477a


DOMITIAN
AR Denarius
OBVERSE: IMP CAES DOMIT AVG - GERM P M TR P VIII Head laureate right
REVERSE: IMP XVII COS XIIII CENS P P P Minerva fighting right with spear and shield atop capital of rostral column, owl at her feet
Struck at Rome, 88-89 AD
3.55g, 18.44mm
RIC 657 (R )

 

The was a nice dotless-theta owl tet in today's CNG auction: http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=319794#

 

Hi your shekel looks like a demetrios I or II tetradrachm actually

 

You're right! Definitely not Melkart.