I fell off the wagon so bad...my new Athenian Owl

Remember when I said I was done with Greek and Roman coins for a while? That I would only be chasing Asian coins for the rest of the year?

Well, here is my October, November, and December ancient/medieval Asian coin budget gone! This truly may be my last purchase of the year...it is coin #70 after all.


Attica Athens
AR Tetradrachm (22mm, 17.10 g)
Athens Mint, 4rth Century BCE
Helmeted head of Athena, r.
Owl standing r., head facing, olive sprig and crescent to l; AOE in r. field.
SNG Copenhagen 63ff.

Notes: Nice dark toning, with hints of remaining lustre on reverse. Small test cut on edge. Transitional style.

I don't know what to say. I've fallen off the wagon before, but never for this much cash. Oh well, I guess those ancient and medieval Asian coins will have to wait till late December or early January unless you guys can send me some slip/fall cases or accident cases. Lawyer could use some more ancient coin money.

 

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Oh nice!

 

Very nice and at 1,710g too D). Really, it's a very nice example.

 

I like it a lot. A very nice pickup!

 

Yeah, I'd be happy taking her home.

 

Yeah, thanks for pointing out the typo. It's amazing what a forgotten dot can do.

 

"sigh", lucky, still want one for myself. Would take me months to save too. Congrats.

*Continues to sit in the no Athens tet corner*.

 

That Tet has a ton of eye-appeal and the reverse is terrific!!! Congrats @Sallent !!!

The obverse of your coin is so unusual to me that it fascinates me--- and that's after sorting through literally hundreds of the 'type' prior to purchasing a budget example of an 'early transitional' period variety at my price. What I've learned from all of that is: I'm still ignorant as hell LOL

Anyway I guess I might as well post it here, since I'm only two coins away (currently at bid) from being on a year ending shopping spree.... I hate being on the wagon

Poor dude has three cuts marks----Damned bankers And has that 'big eye' style with an unusual obverse that looks a bit 'Egyptian' to me

AR Tetradrachm of Athens; 16.95 grams, 25 mm; circa 449-413 BC:

 

Yeah, these coins are a tad too expensive for how common they are, but everyone wants them and is willing to pay a bit for them.

This is not the first time I was tempted to get one, but the test cuts on the face of the owl or on key areas of Athena's face were too much for me, so I passed on them quite a few times. I also wanted one with clear AOE legend on it. So when this one presented itself without the obtrusive test cuts and clear legend, I knew I had to jump on it fast before someone else did. Even if it meant soaking my coin budget for the rest of the year. It's not like I don't have enough coins to hold me over for the next 2 and a half months anyway.

 

Really cool, it definitely has an Egyptian influence.

 

Nice coins! I'd post mine, but my pictures still embarrass me.

 

We want to see them anyway.

 

My Jean Stapleton version:

 

Wow, lawyer => what the frick happened? ... you did a complete 180 and scored a sweet owl!! (congrats, I like it)

=> curious though? ... you're hinting that it cost soooo much (what was the ballpark price on this fine looking bird of prey?) ... totally non of my biz, but always an interesting question, eh?

Cheers, either way

 

Very cool, and if you all don't mind me asking: what's the lowest amount one could expect to pay for any Athenian Owl in a reasonable grade? I've always found them fascinating.

 

Fantastic example, worth every penny!

 

Well done @Sallent . Nice Athena Tet.

I have mine for sentimental reasons. First Ancients that I purchased, and my friend whom I purchased from has passed.

I love them for the bankers marks: They have been traded and proven. Additionally, they must have traded in areas that may have hated the Athenians with the face of Athena being marked!

All of them are from 17.2 to 17.4g

 

Well, it wasn't a lot of cash per se, only $500, but that's how much I had set aside for mid-October through December to chase more Indian coins. I figured that would have net me 5-8 sweet Indian silver coins. Oh well.

As far as the budget being so tight, I'm saving for my Cuba trip, so I've cut back on my hobby budget. Got to have some cash when I get to Havana. Them Cuba cigars and bottles of rum will set you back some cash. It will be my first time in Cuba in more than 21 years.

 

=> have fun in Cuba

 

Times change. Only 22 years ago I was sitting in a classroom in Cuba being told that when the Americans invaded we would have to charge the tanks with sticks and rocks, and whatever else we could find. It didn't sound like a bad idea at the time, but then again I was only 9 years old (kids are naive like that).

And now I'm the one that's going to be landing in Cuba in an American plane only a handful of months from now. Except I'm part of the invading army of American tourists, and not a U.S. Marines Division, which is what my teachers told me to expect when the American planes landed. I wonder what they would make of this now? It sure didn't turn out so dire like they predicted.