Ok so the other two ancients I posted earlier were purchased but in coin lots with world coins. This one I purchased mostly on purpose. I say that because during the auction my daughter was pretending to be a dinosaur and attacking her prey(Me) So I thought I entered a bid on the lot previous to this one bit it was in fact this one. It has test cuts on it. I obviously won it even though once I realized my error I really wanted to be outbid lol. But now that I have it it looks much better in hand, and in fact I like the cuts because then I know it was used at a merchant and has more history attached to it.
There are many worse. I know a fellow whose cat walked on his keyboard and placed a bid. Small animals, and small people, can be dangerous at auctions.
I would be proud to own that coin.. very nice. Don't know what you paid for it - but I hope you are happy with how things worked out. Someday I will own one!!!
What a way to go for an "accidental first purchase". I don't think I will ever be able to own one. If I were you, I'd thank your daughter
You know, I've always felt that test cuts were part of the aesthetic of these coins. They lose a lot of their charm when they get too perfect, imo. I think yours strikes the balance quite nicely.
Under normal circumstances, I would try to avoid major test cuts (though I don't mind small "banker's mark" type punches). That being said, that's not a bad coin at all for an "accidental" buy, and the detail on it is quite nice. I think everything else there compensates for the cut, which as mentioned, is part of the coin's character and history.
PS- I've been collecting for 44 years now (ancients for about 13), and have yet to own a single Athenian "owl" tetradrachm. So that's an impressive "first ancient" you have. I do own one ancient owl. Not from Athens, but it does feature an Athena/owl combo. Greece (Spartans in Taras, Calabria, Italy): silver drachm; Athena and owl, ca. 302-281 BC And I used to own another (for which I have considerable seller's remorse). Greece (Pontos, Amisos): silver drachm or siglos featuring Hera and owl, ca. late 400s-300s BC
Eventhough an accident, still a great purchase! In my opinion, I do not really mind test cuts when they are on a non distracting place. If it was on the face of athena or on the owl, it is another story. When there is a very nice coin and it has a test cut on a non-distracting place, it still brings up 30% less or so compared to the same coin without the test cut, a win-win for me in my opinion.
Very nice, nothing wrong with that one. In my opinion the cut adds character. With colonial 8 real and trade dollars my preference are the coins with multiple bankers marks, and French ecu’s with file marks. It shows some economic interaction after it was hammered out.
Congrats @Arcane76 , great coin, great pictures. I wanted one with a test cut , so I bought this one for $200
My First Ancients Purchase (no animals or kids involved). I bought them for the Banker's Marks... proof they were real! My First Ancients, $250USD in-hand, fully loaded cost. Makedon Alexander III 336-323 BC AR Drachm 2 Athens Attica Owl Tetradrachmae
Great catch, although accidental. In case you would persue more ancients, this one sets the bar quite high!
I was once browsing with my tablet as I fell asleep. I awoke to an email confirming my order for an Omega watch. Oops!
Is that the only excuse you found to justify a wonderful coin purchase to your wife/husband ? Don't do that, lying is sinful The coin itself will plead your cause, it's a wonderful one (when my own wife saw one on the computer screen, she immediately offered to gift me with one. Athenian owls have a magical effect !! ) Q
I absolutely love my Athenian owl, I’m sure you will love yours too. Trust me, you won’t regret that purchase. it’s one of the first reserve currencies of the western world.
Sorry it took me a bit to reply to everyone. BUSY weekend! @dougsmit: They are very dangerous indeed! Locking myself in a room next time! @Clavdivs: I am happy with how it turned out, though it may limit what I get for awhile. It really is a nice coin! @furryfrog02: I did thank her, but it also ate up much of my coin funds. But I’m thinking I’ll sell off others to fund more ancient coins! @ominus1: too true! @ycon : I used to be US coins and the crazy everything must be prefect on a coin etc etc. Now I’m more of the crack them out(if graded) and handle them. I’m liking circulated coins more because they were in someones pocket in history. @lordmarcovan : thank you! I feel it looks good and is well compensated for the cuts. I like your ancient owl coin! As well as other coins I have seen on your recent post. You have an excellent collection! I have been looking at the Athenian owl coins for some time as I was flirting with the idea of collecting ancients. I really love that owl. But getting one that wasn’t “flawed” was pretty much out of the question due to cost. This one was a bit but not nearly the 600 or more I have seen a lot of. I have too have sellers remorse. I sold years ago a Whitman cent folder with 1909svdb, 1922 no d, 1955 DDO, you get the idea.... But needed the cash and had to do what I needed to do. They were not unc or anything but still nice enough.... regrets... @Pavlos: I agree I paid less than one without the cuts, but it still looks nice to me! @Egry : I agree it gives it more history!/ to your second post: I do love it! I have no regrets on it whatsoever now! @Andres2 : while I didn’t exactly want one with as many cuts, it grew on me as soon as I held it! @Alegandron: Nice coins! I especially like the last one that looks like it has an X on its eyes! @TJC : Thank you! @Limes : It does, but as I’m looking I’m seeing a lot of nice coins with nice designs and history to boot! @Dobbin : I haven’t done that.......yet! @Edessa: yes it was, but looks good to me! @Cucumbor : No, it did happen. But that said the wife is “tolerant” of my coin collecting not to the point of gifting an owl..... I can keep hoping though!