Greece (Spartans in Taras, Calabria, Italy): silver drachm; Athena and owl, ca. 302-281 BC Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing helmet with figure of the monster Scylla hurling a stone. Reverse: Owl standing right, head facing, TAP left, ZOP (magistrate’s name) over olive branch. Issuer: Spartan colony of Taras in Calabria. Specifications: Silver, 16.9 mm maximum diameter, weight 3.233 g, die axis 180°. Grade: NGC XF; Strike 5/5, Surface 5/5, cert.# 4280918-003. Purchased raw. Reference: Vlasto 1049; SNG ANS 1303; HN Italy 975; BMC Italy p. 201, 309; SGCV I 367.* Provenance: Ex-Forum Ancient Coins, USA, 28 June 2017.* Prior provenance to Art of Money, Portland, Oregon, USA. Notes: This is an exceptional example of the artistry on the coinage of the Spartan colony in Taras, Calabria, situated at the southern tip of Italy. The city was later known to the Romans as Tarentum. The modern Italian city is called Taranto. Comments: This is one of my favorite coins. I love that startled-looking little owl. 056652S
Gee. I dont know these type of coins. The grading of vf for piece that old doesn't seem at all fair. I would never be able to grade these coins
I had shingles last September and my forehead never healed compl- Oh, no, wait- you're on the Internet - you can't see my head! Presumably you are referring to my avatar, which shows the Holey Gold Hat by itself instead of the default picture of circa-2004-Me wearing the same hat. Like @Deacon Ray, I just enjoy changing avatars occasionally. I always go back to that one you're used to, but take a break from it now and then. I just get tired of seeing my own face - even my younger, thinner, thirtysomething face.
Yup. That's what I was referring to. Just used to seeing your smiling face when I see your post. Then I noticed the Hat Trick....disappearing head thing. Also, as I said earlier.....Great Coins!
Superb topper, Lord Marc! When I recall your scurvy avatar I can still feel your shingles pain, poor dear fellow. Here are a few avatars that I've used during my CTAF days. The one on the left is actually the most recent image of myself. It's my version of your shingles avatar from the time, last month, when I was recovering from a bout of digestive distress
You pull it off well and manage to look pensive there, rather than dyspepsic. I liked the Easter avatar too.
Great drachm, @lordmarcovan . Great detail, and super centering. Hey, I have one similar to that: ITALY. Calabria. Tarentum. AR Drachm, 18mm, 3.1g, 10h; ca. 3rd Century BC. Obv.: Head of Athena facing right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet adorned with Scylla throwing a stone. Rev.: Owl right, wings closed, standing on olive branch; TAP to left, [ZOP to right.] Reference: HN Italy 975; Vlasto 1052.
Terrific example of a terrific coin. I mostly do medieval --with exceptions-- but even from here, this one is particularly resonant. The Athenian motifs are especially intriguing. Why would a Spartan colony use them, what, a century or two after the Peloponnesian war? Real question. Regarding the historical no less than the numismatic context, I'm totally out of my league. Very cool, regardless.
I don't see it as XF or 5/5 for surface but it is a nice coin worth the Forvm grade. Mine is a bit later after the weight reduction (2.7g, SG 373, 281-273 BC) with open wings. I bought it in 1992 graded by the seller as Fine. The wear does not seem all that bad but back then coins were often downgraded for surface issues of which mine has plenty.
Don't feel bad. I'm what I call a "magpie collector" much of the time.* Sure, I know how to read, and often I'll learn the finer points of a coin's history eventually, but as often as not, my decision making process when it comes to buying goes something like this: *I call myself a "magpie collector" because of the magpie's alleged attachment to small, shiny objects. Sure, it is very intelligent for a bird, but it is still... a bird. Which goes to say, mostly bird-brained.
Thanks for that, Lord Marcovan. ...Actually, since you raised the issue, my criteria as a mostly medieval collector (c. Carolingian-early 14th c.) are pretty specific. The focus --fairly ruthlessly-- is on historical significance, even at the expense of esthetics. Yep, with medieval, you kind of have to be that way; for the most part, the content you get is textual rather than artistic. But it helps to emphasize my biggest attraction to the coins; their function as little historical documents. I did collect lower-end Roman, mostly late, for years as a kid. And I'm continually impressed by the historical acumen of the ancient collectors here, whether Roman or otherwise. --Hang on, including the handful of fellow medievalists. ...So far, I've been too lazy to start a separate post about anything. For which I owe Warren Esty, in particular, a standing apology. I'm still embarrassingly new to the format. Might get there eventually.