I received this amazing coin in a Coin Talk coin swap (with camlov2). I've admired the "owl" coins for quite awhile and was truly stunned when this came in the mail today. I believe this is what it is: Aeolis, Neonteichos. Circa 2nd Century BC. Æ. Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing; NE monogram below. It measures 12.3mm x 11.75mm. Weight is 1.31 grams.
Do you think they actually added something to the eyes to change the color, or is that just due to toning? It looks just different enough that they might have. I loved searching for this one, I think that was the best deal I ever got on a coin. If you didn't notice the size you might want to look again, this coin is about the size of a pea, how he got pictures that detailed amazes me.
Just high point wear, common on bronze. Look at the front of the wing as well. I like Greek bronze a lot, but man they can be a bear to identify. I use Robert Plant's book, it helps if you ever get an unattributed greek bronze.
Yeah, 1.31 gr, cute little guy. Very nice owl, it really stands out. I would assume the difference in the eyes is just wear due to them being one of the higher points on that side of the coin, and the wear brought out the underlying bronze color. Greek brozes are, well, Greek to me.... so I know little of them, but I admire many.
Bronze Owls, or any bronze Greek coins are fun to find. Congrats Bronze Owl: Athens 224-198 BC AE 12 Athena Owl (2 facing owls) RARE Agora 71
