This year I have picked up two interesting coins from one hoard. I have wanted a better Owl for a while and fell for this one at a coin show. A Triskeles was not on my radar until I saw one offered by Ken Dorney. Ken noted that the coin was probably from the large Owl hoard. I wonder if these coins rubbed elbows while hidden. Athens / Owl Tetradrachm from Athens Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm. Circa 454-404 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and berry in upper left field, AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Struck on a flan that includes all of Athena’s helmet crest and full reverse borders. 17.17 grams 1 h Hoplite / Triskeles Stater from Pamphylia Aspendos These coins were rare until the last few years. It is interesting the hoard had high grade Owls and low grade Triskeles. Pamphylia, Aspendos, 465 - 430 BC, Silver Stater Obverse: Hoplite warrior advancing right holding spear and round shield. The end of the spear behind the soldier has some extra lines, like a trident pointing the wrong way. I do not see them on other examples. The lines could be an insect with 6 legs or flow lines on the die. Reverse: Triskeles, 3 legs running, below - lion crouching left in background, above - EΣT, all within incuse square. 10.73 grams 19.4 X 17.3 X 4.8 mm Sear – 5381 - 5383 are similar, 5383 is the best but not exact match, 460 – 420 BC HISTORIA NVMORVM, Barclay Head – Pg 699, Fig 317, 500 – 400 BC BMC – 19.93, 1-2 or 19.94, 9 SNG von Aulock 4482-3 Notes: 1. Part of the recent hoard of Athenian tetradrachms which included these staters as well as a fewer from Cilicia. 2. The coin was sold as rare, but I found 750 similar coins on acsearch (PAMPHYLIA Shield Triskeles). Something like a hoard significantly changed availability. VCoins has 64 and MA Shops has 15 similar coins for sale. 3. Behind the Triskeles on the reverse are: nothing, lion crouching left, lion standing left, lion jumping right, ivy leaf / vine & eagle. 4. Reverse inscription on my coin is EΣT. 4.1 Some coins replace the T with a turtle. 4.2 Head reported these inscreptions: E, EΣ, EΣT, EΣTFE, EΣP, and others 4.3 The legend represents the Pamphylian form fo the name of Aspendos – EΣTVEDIYS 5. A hoplite was the most common type of heavily armed foot-soldier in ancient Greece from the 7th to 4th centuries BC. The principal weapons of a hoplite infantryman were a long ash wood spear, a short sword and a large circular shield. (ancient.eu/hoplite - Mark Cartwright) 7. Aspendos or Aspendus (Pamphylian: ΕΣΤϜΕΔΥΣ; Attic: Ἄσπενδος) was an ancient Greco-Roman city in Antalya province of Turkey, located about 40 km east of the modern city of Antalya, Turkey. It was situated on the Eurymedon River about 16 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea. 8. Hoplite / Triskle coins have been featured on several Coin Talk posts in the last few years. More information here: http://augustuscoins.com/ed/interesting/triskeles.html
Nice owl addition, @rrdenarius. Great details with Ch AU. I bought one recently with the stimulus money. Going after the "full crest" designation by NGC, while sacrificing some high details here and there. Should receive it later this week.
Beautiful owl, RR. Congrats! I picked up one of the Aspendian staters as well. I didn't realize they came from the same hoard as the owls. I guess I should have put two and two together. PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos AR Stater. 10.98g, 23x19.5mm. PAMPHYLIA, Aspendos, circa 465-430 BC. CNG E-429, lot 167 (same dies); Savoca Online Auction 26, lot 240 (same dies). O: Warrior advancing right, holding shield and spear. R: Triskeles within incuse square. CNG Notes: "Extremely rare and unpublished in the standard references. Test cut, overstruck on an uncertain Carian stater of lion forepart right."
Yes, I've seen more of these lately than ever before. Years ago they were considered scarce and quite expensive. I've been watching for one at the right price and condition.
