Hoot! Hoot! Let's see those Athenian Owl tetradrachms!

I seriously LOVE the Athenian Owl design on the Tetradrachm.

Please share yours if you have one.

I need some inspiration! ^_^

 

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I don't have any but really like em also and hope to have one for the future.

 

Yeah same. I was looking at one on APMEX but it's like $1795.

It will take me some time to save for it but it is MS 4 strike 4 surface.

I think I could get an XF-AU one for cheaper but I want one in MS xD

 

As there are so many on the market right now, I have been ogling this iconic type, too. But they are still right at the top of what I would max pay for a coin, and I'm not really a collector of early Greeks. So... am I going to pounce on one?... still doubting.



But I have this little one for consolation. AE13 Athens, 340-317 BC. Obv. Helmeted head of Athens t.r. Two-bodied owl peering at you, above Eleusinian ring. Α / Θ – Ε. 13 mm, 1.95 gr.

 

I've shown my budget example on CT before, but since you are asking, here it is once more:

Attica, Athens, AR tetradrachm, ca. 440s–430s BC. Obv: head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette. Rev: AΘE; Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent; all within incuse square. 24mm, 17.14g.

 

Owls exist in every price range. Those who do not have one because they can't tolerate anything less than perfect but work on a budget will never have a coin. Is this better than compromise on some factor? That is a decision we each make. The recent hoard of high grade coins have made the previous lesser coins cheaper than ever. I doubt I could get half of my compromise coin's cost today.

 

This wonderful coin I have determined is an Unpublished IMITATION
-not my coin I got outbid.Great owl

 

Attica, Athens (353 - 294 B.C)
AR Tetradrachm
O: Helmeted head of Athena right
R: AΘE Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent to left; all within incuse square.
16.59g
21 mm
Kroll -; HGC 4, 1599

Ex. Numismatik-Naumann, Auction 52, Lot 126

 

It's fascinating how image was very important already back in ancient Greek and the Athenians really knew how to market themselves. The very stylized Athenian owls makes me think of famous temporary brands.

 

Why a Tet? They are very common, mass produced, and were transacted far away from Athens.

Why not something more eclectic, made for local circulation, and has a lot of character? Personally, I was never one to follow, I enjoy taking another path. These are a bit harder to find.


Athens Attica
454-404 BCE
AR hemidrachm
16mm 2.08g
Athena frontal eye -
facing Owl wings closed olive branches
COP 70 SG 2528

 

Very nice example, @Pellinore !

Mine is a bit more worn.


Athens 340-317 BCE BC AE 12 Athena attic helmet R- Double bodied Owl with head facing E olive sprigs kalathos RARE BMC 224

 

Did you ever pick up that Daric you talked about?

https://www.cointalk.com/threads/the-gold-daric-and-its-historical-significance-on-sparta.374872/

 

I enjoy Athenian Owl tetradrachm designs during various time periods. Below are from archaic, early transitional to mass Classical. Still need to pickup a new style example though...

 

As everyone here I like very much the athenian tetradrachm. I have only one example, and I love it even more since it's been a coin gift from my wife on the occasion of my birthday a few years ago (see here)



Q

 

My one Athenian owl is also very much a budget example, purchased in 2007 for $300. I doubt it would sell for much, if anything, more than that today. As you can see, the obverse is OK (although there are scratches on Athena's cheek that may or may not be ancient), but the reverse is not only very worn, but has a huge test cut through the owl's face and a circular bankers' mark in the owl's stomach. Still, I like it, and think it has "character," and upgrading it is not a priority for me.

Attica, Athens AR Tetradrachm, ca. 454-393 BCE (“Mass Classical Owl”). Obv. Head of Athena right [w/scratches (possibly ancient) on Athena’s face in form of open square] / Rev. Owl [w/test cut on owl’s face & circular bankers’ mark on owl’s body], olive sprig and crescent to left, Α Θ [Ε worn off] downwards to right. Seaby 2526 var. [Sear, David, Greek Coins & their Values, Vol. I: Europe (Seaby 1978)]; Flament Group II.40 [Obv.]/ II.q [Rev.] [see Flament, Christophe, Le monnayage en argent d'Athènes. De l'époque archaïque à l'époque hellénistique (c. 550-c. 40 av. J.-C) (2009)]. 25 mm., 16.79 g. (Purchased from John Jencek at 2007 NYINC.)

 

I’ve always been happy with this one, bought for the cheapest 325$ ever, in 2007. I believe this may be an imitation, though. Egyptian perhaps?
However, I think those that say buy when it’s plenty of a type are right, so I have considered buying a higher grade example if the price was right. That turned out to be last Sunday, so I’m now waiting for this coin:



This coin is not for me, though. It will be one of several treasures for my daughter on her confirmation day in April. (Don’t tell, it’s a surprise!)

 

Never tired of posting my bird



Second coin I ever bought, and from a shop I physically walked in. Those were the days...

 

Athens, AR Tetradrachm

Obv:– Head of Athena right with eye seen in true profile, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves and floral scroll
Rev:– owl standing right, head facing, to right ATE in large lettering, to left olive sprig and crescent
Minted in Athens c. B.C. 393 - 370.
Reference:– Flamen p. 126, 1 (Pi I); Svoronos Athens plate 19, 17; SNG Cop -
Ex-Forum Ancient Coins
16.699g, 24.31mm, 270o

The following information was provide by the seller with the coin:-

"Transitional style tetradrachms include all of the wide spectrum of variants with the eye in profile issued after the classic "old style" almond eye tetradrachms but before the broad thinner flan "new style" tetradrachms. Recent research has classified variations of the transitional style - Pi Type, Quadridigité Style, Heterogeneous Style and sub-groups of the styles, and proposed chronologies for the different styles and groups.

This coin is the earliest transitional type, the first Pi style type, essentially identical to the "old style" with the exception of the eye in profile. The "Pi" designation is based on the P shape of the floral spiral and palmette ornamentation on the helmet bowl. The coin can be classified as Pi style, group 1. The floral ornament on examples this early do not yet resemble Pi."

 

I think you should be patient & try your luck at auction. The coin pictured below I won at a ROMA auction about 2 years ago for $733.00 including buyers premium. This coin wasn't from the recent hoard that's on the market now. It came from a German collection that was assembled about 40 years ago.


Athens, c. 454-404 BC, AR Tetradrachm: 17.22 gm, 25 mm, 3 h.