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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 8296453, member: 110226&quot;]The dots on the helmet are decorative.&nbsp; The vast number of archaic owls don&#039;t have this feature. </p><p><br /></p><p>I do have one that displays these dots.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1467094[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>The archaic owls are among the crudest coins produced by Athens.&nbsp; The flans were usually narrow, poorly prepared resulting in details missing (off the flan) and rough surfaces due to flaws in the metal. Add to the equation crudely engraved dies, worn dies and haphazard strikes, and the result is usually a quite primitive appearing coin, especially one produced by Athens.</p><p><br /></p><p>However, I find their crude nature part of their charm.&nbsp; They are most idiosyncratic and as different from the later classical owls as night is to day.&nbsp; The basic designs are the same, but that&#039;s just about all they share in common.</p><p><br /></p><p>The presence of a pupil can be seen in many archaic owls, especially those struck with dies that are not worn.&nbsp; I cannot say that this feature is present in all archaic owls, as demonstrated in the posted examples.&nbsp; There was quite a variation in the dies that were produced, at multiple mints, according to Seltman.&nbsp; The abilities of the engravers varied from mint to mint, and the artistic influences of the period often influenced how the dies were engraved.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here&#039;s one more example.&nbsp; The reverse of this owl is my avatar for CT.</p><p><br /></p><p>&nbsp;[ATTACH=full]1467100[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>This is a classic situation.&nbsp; The obverse die used for this coin is worn and the metal is pitted and flawed.&nbsp; The result is a portrait of Athena that is recognizable, but lacking in much detail.&nbsp; The reverse die, on the other hand, as a very skillfully engraved owl, far better than most, which tend to be stiff and lacking in much detail.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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