Help please.

Hello all, wondering about the shape of this coin. As well as opinions on FMV. I've seen some that weren't exactly round, but I don't remember seeing this type quite so "out of round". Is this one more unique, or is this not so unusual. Looks like a "cobb" the way it's shaped. I am only asking because, I have been wanting a decent example, and may make offer on it. Thanks in advance. (sellers pics)

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

I would guess it may have been clipped over the years, but the shape makes it an interesting piece

 

If it has been clipped, it hasn't lost much weight.

 

These later style Athens tets are all kinds of funky shapes. It looks perfectly typical for the issue, at least to me (but I've browsed thousands of owl tets) and it hasn't been clipped. Some flans were just very irregular.

An advantage of acquiring one of these later style Athens tets is price. They are much more affordable than the classical Athens owl tets (and much much more affordable than the archaics)!! This one looks like a good/typical example of the type. If you haven't already, check CNG's archives for examples of prices for this type. (<-- the search link is for keywords "athens tetradrachm, profile eye". There will be a few classical tets and others in the resulting hits but focus on that eye shape when comparing yours for price and quality-- the "profile eye" is the quick way to distinguish them from the classical owl tets)

 

There was a period in the late 4th century when this was normal. I have always wanted an extreme example and yours is pretty nice compared to the really oval ones. Many lose the nose of Athena and/or the legend. "Why?" is not a question to be answered easily but a bit later Athens went to the New Style coins that were perfectly round. Reaction?

 

I already had 2 , more or less perfect shaped owls, and then I saw this oddly shaped classical one with a huge testcut and bought it rightaway for $200.
I like the one your showing , depends on price, as TIF already mentioned, if its a good buy.
Certainly Not clipped in the past, the weight is OK.

 

Wow, thanks to all for the help. I thought that the flan might have been clipped to make the weight correct, from the start, or maybe later to change the weight.

 

A nice beautyful owl

 

A very fine owl you got there @Johndoe2000$ . I have one from the same period and same style as yours, though mine is a little more round.

 

Yes yours looks much more familiar. Nice coin.

Edit to say, not mine yet.

 

I love the goofy shaped owls. Nice coin!