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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 26591576, member: 110226&quot;]The owl&#039;s weight is below Attic standard of 17.4 grams, but this is also a coin that was imitated extensively in the eastern Mediterranean, Arabia, Bactria and India mainly in the 4th century BCE, but extending beyond that period for some kingdoms.&nbsp; So it is possible that this coin was struck using a lower weight standard.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>Numerous locally made owls have come to light, and still appear to this day as hoards and individual coins are unearthed,&nbsp; such as the one below, which might have its origin in Persia or Mesopotamia:</p><p><br /></p><p>Persia, tetradrachm after Athens, circa 4th century BCE. Possibly unpublished.</p><p>16.92 grams</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1694329[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Here&#039;s one more imitation owl issued by the Satrap Mazakes, who served first under Darius III of Persia and then Alexander III following his conquest of Persia in 330 BCE.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mesopotamia, Mazakes Satrap, tetradrachm, circa 331-323/2&nbsp; BCE.</p><p>Le Rider, Alexander, pp. 214-9; Van Alfen, Owls, Group IVd, 87.</p><p>16.41 grams</p><p>[ATTACH=full]1694332[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Getting back to the OP owl, with enlargement I see signs of what appears to be crystallization, a grainy crisscross pattern on parts of the obverse, which has also been improperly cleaned.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>The style of the portrait is based on an Athenian classical owl.&nbsp; The style of the palmette, on the helmet near the ear is a local one stylistically, as is the overall style of the portrait. I also see what seems to be a countermark on the cheek of some sort, a circle with a flared outer pattern. </p><p><br /></p><p>The reverse is patterned after that of an Athenian classic owl, with rotation of the A. As with the obverse the style is crude compared to a typical Athenian owl of the late 5th century BCE.</p><p><br /></p><p>So, I think the OP owl is an imitation of local minting somewhere in the vast region of the eastern Mediterranean, probably of the 4th century BCE.&nbsp; However, there is the outside chance that it is a modern fantasy coin made to look ancient.&nbsp; I doubt the latter, however, due to the coin&#039;s pretty bad surface condition. Also the time and expense to create such as coin wouldn&#039;t be very cost effective, but I guess anything is possible these days.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>If there is a seam along the edge or filing, that would be a red light for me for casting.&nbsp; Transfer dies could also have been used, but again cost is a factor that would likely rule this option out.&nbsp; Also, my experience with transfer die owls is that they are too perfect, having detail that lacks sharpness and imperfections of the seed coin, particularly flan splits, are weak and often filled in.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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