I haven't bought coins for nearly two months as I'm saving up, but I got really bad itch in the meantime so I splurged a whopping sum of 23 dollars on this teeny tiny Attica Owl from the German seller Andre Chicos! Seller's image (I for my life couldn't get a focus on the coin for a photo). Weighing at 0.22g my guess would be it is a hemiobol, although it should weigh around 0.3g I'm sure the test cut even on this tiny coin (could be a jewelry hole ) along with the wear took a significant bite out of the silver weight. I'm always happy to add the first owl to my collection, also a type that would've been actually used in daily transactions in the local Athenian markets! And this thing is tiny!
Yeah, that's small and I wouldn't consider a snack, more like a bread crumb. This was my owl snack. MYSIA.,Pergamon (200 - 133 B.C.) Æ16 O: Helmeted head of Athena right. R: AΘΗ-ΝΑΣ ΝΙΚΗΦΟΡΟΥ, owl standing facing on palm, with wings spread, A monogram left and AP right. 3.6g 16mm SNG von Aulock 1375-6 var; SNG Copenhagen 388 var
I agree that this started out as a hemiobol but the missing chunk and overall erosion of the surfaces has reduced its weight significantly. Perhaps your post will remind me of my intention to photograph a series of these coins on a modern coin for scale. Will I do it? I have been losing 'weight' recently but all of it is 'between the ears'. I should do it now but it will lose out to other non-coin projects --- like breakfast. This hemiobol is a more average 0.35g. The question: Since this is a very 'International' group, what US coin should I use? My first coin based tiny treasure was on a Lincoln cent reverse. A fell set of Athenian fractions would be crowded there. Would a US quarter dollar be as recognizable to those of you who spend Euros or Pounds (or many other things)? I know that my familiarity with a UK fraction is not good. The one below was a lot more work since the two halves were shot separately and merged in postprocessing with a seam between that made some steps wavy. It would be easier to drop four different obverses on one side of a coin and the same four reverses on the other.
Cool, @JayAg47 ! I always enjoy the smaller, fractional denomination coins... like you said, they were for everyday use. Here is my smallest owl: Tyre 5th-4th BCE AR 1/16-Shekel 10mm 0.47g Hippocamp left over waves - Owl with Crook & Flail behind Sear Greek 5916.BMC Tyre 43 Ex: @Valentinian
That's definitely tiny! Mine is not as small but still dwarfish compared to the well-known tetradrachms: Attica, Athens, AR triobol or hemidrachm, ca. 390–295 BC. Obv: head of Athena with Attic helmet r. Rev: Owl standing facing between olive twigs, retrograde ethnic [A]ΘE around. 12.5mm, 2.06g. Ref: SNG Munich 206–7.
My only Athenian owl is also the micro version Attica. Athens circa 454-404 BC. Hemiobol AR 6 mm., 0,27 g. Obv. Helmeted head of Athena right. Rev. AΘΕ ; Owl right head facing, wings folded, olive-leaf and berry behind, all within an incuse square. Sear SG 2531 The problem with the centering, especially on the obverse, made it affordable and I don't complain. I only have one other owl, I am happy with the contrast and the overall details, especially the fully readable legend SELEUKID KINGS of SYRIA. Cleopatra Thea & Antiochos VIII. (126/5-121/0 BC) AE20 Antioch, Dated SE 190 = 123/2 Radiate and diademed head of Antiochos VIII right Rev: Owl standing right on fallen amphora, head facing; IE to inner right; below, PP (date, first P retrograde) and palm. Legend: BAΣΙΛIΣΣHΣ KΛEOΠATPAΣ KAI BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ ANTIOXOY SC 2263.2f. 6,66 gr, 20mm
The Washington quarter is also easily recognized. I don't collect US coins but everybody knows this coin.