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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 4224921, member: 110226&quot;]No, I don&#039;t think this coin dates from the archaic period.&nbsp; It is, I think, late 5th-4th centuries BCE.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>David Sear noted that elements of Athena&#039;s profile appear to modern.&nbsp; Relative to the archaic style that is certainly true.&nbsp; As Athens proceeded with coin production the profile design become more refined and more modern in appearance.&nbsp; Going into the 4th century and up to the Roman Empire, Athens made changes to the nose, mouth, eyes hair and helmet, adopting a more natural design.</p><p><br /></p><p>The reason, as I see it, that this coin could be imitative is that the profile of Athens incorporates refinements to the nose and mouth, again compared to the archaic style.&nbsp; At the same time the eye is unlike anything one would encounter with an Athenian tetradrachm from any period.&nbsp; They are highly stylized.</p><p><br /></p><p>I can&#039;t say for certain that this coin was produced in this, the 20th or the 19th centuries.&nbsp; Elements, as previously discussed point to a much older origin.</p><p><br /></p><p>The whole field of imitative coinage is still unfolding, with the discovery of new hoards and as new examples are sold at auction or through private sales.&nbsp; What is known about Athens, and her owls used throughout the Eastern Mediterranean, the Levant, Arabia, Syria, Asia Minor, Persia, Bactria, India and the Greek colonies in Italy and Sicily is that, until the rise of Alexander III, they were the sine qua non of commerce.&nbsp; As such they were copied, at first faithfully (more or less), but later much less so, taking on all sorts of changes to design and legend to suit the local needs of the issuing authorities.</p><p><br /></p><p>Now, having said all of this, I think we&#039;re going to remain a square one as far as this coin is concerned, unless more information is forthcoming from other members.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thanks for your input![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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