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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;elgeedublu, post: 2000157, member: 72086&quot;]Hi...I collect Starr group owls.&nbsp; Since I&#039;m about the only person I know who&#039;s even heard of these (except the dealers that sold them to me!), I just thought I&#039;d post a few &quot;latest discoveries&quot; simply to share, and hopefully hear from others who share this interest.&nbsp; I apologize for the &quot;quality&quot; of the pics--still can&#039;t figure out the camera.&nbsp; Anyway, I suppose I&#039;m not the only owl collector who has spent significant time trying to identify either die matches or at least stylistic similarities with the Starr plate coins.&nbsp; After the latest study session, I now think I probably have three matches in my collection(!)&nbsp; First, let&#039;s look at what was catalogued as a Starr IV, undoubtedly because of the style of the owl, but what I think it actually one of the first Group Vs--a transitional from IV to V [ATTACH=full]358395[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]358396[/ATTACH]&nbsp; </p><p>&nbsp;&nbsp; Owl collectors will notice the die break behind Athena&#039;s neck, at the base of her helmet, and a diagnostic raised &quot;line&quot; below her chin.&nbsp; I think these two characteristics make an obverse die match to Starr 162; here is that example: [ATTACH=full]358400[/ATTACH]</p><p>The reverse of my coin does not seem to be a match with any Starr coin; the leaves and berry appear to be &quot;floating&quot; in the upper left corner, without any stems or other connection to be found!&nbsp; Has anyone else ever seen this die--and the obverse die for that matter?&nbsp; Next up is a Starr V that I thought would be too difficult to ID--the coin has definitely &quot;been through the wars&quot; as you can see:&nbsp; [ATTACH=full]358401[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]358402[/ATTACH]</p><p>I&#039;ve not been able to match the reverse die, but look closely at the obverse--because of the test cuts, punches, dings, etc., it took me a long time to notice the dagger-shaped die break under Athena&#039;s chin.&nbsp; But now take a look at Starr 179:&nbsp; [ATTACH=full]358403[/ATTACH]</p><p>Between that die break, and the matching position of the palmette, I think it&#039;s a match...any other opinions?&nbsp; Lastly, I recently purchased this Starr V:&nbsp; [ATTACH=full]358407[/ATTACH]</p><p>[ATTACH=full]358408[/ATTACH]</p><p>Again, I pored over the Starr plates several times, not finding a match, until I noticed Starr 187:&nbsp; [ATTACH=full]358409[/ATTACH] Admittedly, I&#039;m less sure of an obverse match on this one.&nbsp; I think my coin displays Starr&#039;s Group V.B series (3) &quot;unusual treatment of the hair by the ear, which comes around wellnigh horizontally to the ear&quot; (p. 55), and also has Athena&#039;s &quot;heavy, schematic appearance.&quot;&nbsp; But notice the die &quot;breaks&quot; at the front and lower middle of Athena&#039;s eye, as well as the style of her lips; they seem to match between my coin and Starr&#039;s.&nbsp; I am, however, a tad &quot;concerned&quot; over the comparison of the angle of the olive leaves in Athena&#039;s helmet, but my coin is turned slightly upwards to the right in my photo; if it were placed at the same position as Starr&#039;s, they may be the same.&nbsp; Also, the die on Starr&#039;s coin appears to be in really bad shape; perhaps the leaves might even have been recut, although I don&#039;t know if that was ever done, or is possible.&nbsp; Does anyone else have an opinion?</p><p>At any rate, it&#039;s interesting to try and find die matches...I would really enjoy hearing from other owl collectors about their Starr coins, and any successes in finding matches.......[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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