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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 4578732, member: 110226&quot;]One of the advantages, if one could call it that, of having a failing memory is the joy of rediscovering a coin that was assumed to be long gone.&nbsp; It&#039;s almost as good as a new acquisition coming through the door.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is one such coin, a coin that is not of a feather, at least as an owl would be concerned.&nbsp; It is an Attica tetradrachm of the late 3rd - early 2nd centuries BC.&nbsp; It was acquired from Harlan Berk in the last century (impressive, isn&#039;t it?), in 1991.</p><p><br /></p><p>The features of this coin are quite unusual, and I am almost inclined to say it is not Athenian at all, but I guess it is.</p><p><br /></p><p>On the obverse, there&#039;s the expected profile eye portrait of Athena.&nbsp; However, her hair line is much reduced and it eventually disappears with the new style tetradrachms.&nbsp; The edge of the helmet has a fancy curl over the ear, and the end tendrils of the floral ornament are thick, almost resembling leaves from a tropical plant. Additionally, look at how Athena&#039;s eye opens up more, at both ends, giving the lower lid a more natural appearance.&nbsp; This style of eye carries on into the new style tetradrachms, with some refinements.</p><p><br /></p><p>The reverse, which is really different, does not have an owl, but a parrot!&nbsp; No, I guess it is an owl, or perhaps a hybrid owl-parrot (a parowlot?).&nbsp; The feathers are rendered a large dots, and the owl has thick lower feathers, covering the legs almost like the old flapper dresses of the 1920&#039;s.&nbsp; If fact, I imagine this owl would be quite good doing the Charleston.&nbsp; Other features: a very large crescent moon, seemingly conjoined with the olive leaves. It seems that these two elements were engraved in a single die punch. Also, the owl&#039;s eyes are decidedly un-owl like, but maybe this happens to these critters if they eat too many crackers.</p><p><br /></p><p>Harlan Berk dated this coin in very broad terms, 293-166 BC.&nbsp; I think it is more likely that it post dates the quadridigité tendril style of 286-262 BC and is more of an early 2nd century creation, pre-dating the &quot;new style&quot; tetradrachms.</p><p><br /></p><p>There is an apparent very small countermark on the upper lip of Athena, but I cannot make out what it is.</p><p><br /></p><p>Athens, Late 3rd - early 2nd centuries BC</p><p>Tetradrachm</p><p>Obverse: Athena facing right, countermark on cheek</p><p>Reverse: Facing Owl, AOE to the right, crescent moon and olive leaves left</p><p>16.96 grams</p><p>21 mm, 12 h.</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1133718[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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