When we think of the Athenian owl, the chunky tetradrachm displaying both Athena in the Attic helmet and the facing owl comes to mind. Fractions of the same type of coin do exist, but seem to have flimsy attributions attached to them. From Athens... Example A Example B From Philistia... (contemporary imitations). Example C Example D To be frank, I cannot see what makes them different. They all look crude and the imitative ones do not bear clear legends or features that make them distinguishable. The weight itself does not seem to be a characteristic too. Obviously, there are always chances of lazy attribution or pumping coin's rarity up.
It all comes down to style in differentiating them. There isn't any monetary boost for attributing them one way or the other. They are of fairly low value as it is either way. Tetradrachms are a different story....
ATHENS FRACTIONS: Athens Attica 454-404 BCE AR Hemidrachm 16mm 2.08g Athena frontal eye - facing Owl wings closed olive branches COP 70 SG 2528 Athens 224-198 BCE AE 12 Athena 2 Facing Owls RARE Agora 71 ATHENA / OWL - Other Locations: Calabria Tarentum AR Drachm 18mm 3.1g 3rd C BCE Athena Corinthian Scylla OWL olive TAP ZOP HN Italy 975 Vlasto 1052 Sicily Kalakte AE unit 2nd C BCE Head Athena in Helmet - Owl rev RARE
Really? Please let me know where you are seeing Athenian fractions at 'fairly low' prices. Other than obols and hemiobols, they are hiding from me. What makes those coins 'low value' is their condition and, in that respect, the tets seem similar. Is there a good reference showing styles by date of small fractions? The best I have is Svoronos and the images at that size are hard to interpret.
There was probably about 100 or so on Ebay the last couple months. All what I would call crummy, but certainly identifiable. I think they were selling in the $50 and under category.
When I search, I find mostly Easterns and $1000 offerings by highratings.... Nothing official is smaller than an obol. I want to upgrade my 1/4 and find a 1/8. Transitional obol with three tail feathers Eastern and weighs .22g mostly due to corrosion loss hemiobol 1/4 obol (tetartemorion) but too off center for words 3/4 Obol fractions are not easy to find.
@dougsmit I know there are mixed feelings about Savoca, on here, but I've found that there blue auctions have a really good selection of small greek silver, often selling not much above opening. I got this hemiobol at their last one. It's very fuzzy, but it still has that iconic look to it. (dealer's pics, obviously)
