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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 8350459, member: 110226&quot;]I think there&#039;s more to collecting ancients than just focusing on one aspect of a particular issue, such as the Athenian owls.&nbsp; True, full crest owls are rare, but I&nbsp; think the focus, indeed the hype behind the marketing of &quot;full crest&quot; owls pushes other considerations off the stage, in my opinion.</p><p><br /></p><p>There are distinct artistic qualities for each period of owl production, from the classical transitional types to the huge output of the standardized types (&quot;mass production&quot; owls).</p><p><br /></p><p>The fact is that the mushrooming volume of owls being produced to meet the needs of civil projects, building ships and booming commerce translated into less care in the engraving of the dies and the striking of the coins.&nbsp; Volume trumps quality.</p><p><br /></p><p>I am very happy when an expressive Athena is available at not too outrageous a price, by today&#039;s standards.&nbsp; Whether or not the full crest, or any crest is present really doesn&#039;t factor in when I assess these coins.&nbsp; Yes, a full crest is impressive, and if a coin is bright and &quot;mint state&quot; or &quot;near mint state&quot; I am impressed as are a great number of collectors eager to bid on these coins.&nbsp; But, such a coin is truly the exception in my collection.&nbsp; I&#039;ve posted the three that I have.</p><p><br /></p><p>Instead I look at the modeling of the portraits on both sides.&nbsp; I like my Athena to be evocative and I like my owls to have appealing qualities.&nbsp; If one side of an owl meets such criteria I might very well buy it, budget permitting.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1481502[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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