Alright, this will be my 2000th post here on Coin Talk, so I figured why not post a couple new ancients. The thing is, 2000 posts ago I was introduced to this ancient coin forum and it was those threads that got me curious about the dark side. I've learned a lot just from reading those threads and seeing all of your write ups and amazing coins, but still have a lot to learn and I am working on that. Anyways, I was hesitant about posting these two coins specifically. You see, they are from the collection of stevex6. I dont know him and he may have posted a couple of comments on a few of my threads in the past but that was about it. I am a bit of an outsider with you ancient guys and that is ok, but steve's coins were pretty inspiring to me. There was never a coin of his I disliked. So when I saw that he was selling his collection, I had to take a look. And so far these are the two I have walked away with. This one was the first and I couldn't resist. That darn owl is just so freaking cool: CLEOPATRA THEA & ANTIOCHUS VIII Antioch, AE18 125-121 BC Radiate head of Antiochus right. BASILISSHS KLEOPATRAS KAI BASILIEWS ANTIOXOY, owl standing facing on amphora Sear 7139 5.31 grams, 19mm ex. stevex Collection And the second one, I think this might be my new favorite. I actually found steve's thread on this one and couldn't resist it. IONIA, MILETOS AE 4th Century BC Lion walking left, head forward, monogram MI to left, ΑΛΙ above. Sun/star Ashton/Kinns, 2003: 6pl. 1B ( I believe this is from the Numismatic Chronical) 2.2 grams, 12mm 1 of 3 known, experimental and earliest inscribed coins of Miletus. ex. stevex6 Collection Thanks for looking. Post anything you would like.
I would love to hear some more about the Miletos coin. Minted around the transition from tiny silvers to bronze, I take it?
I found a neat website that talks about these a bit. I will post a link when i get back home. Basically as far as i know, they are supposed to pre-date those that have the lion looking backwards. These are the first of those issues from my understanding. Like I said I will post the link when im back at my computer.
Love the owl, love the patina. I've come really close to grabbing similar Seleucid owls on at least a couple of occasions, but it didn't quite happen. Congrats on 2K.
Congrats on the 2000th. I like both but think the Miletos lion is a particularly excellent score. It's nice to see more of Steve's coins 'back in circulation' .
Both are so cool and I would love to have either one. Steve always posted terrific coins---especially of animals--- and I'm glad so many will be in good homes. Among the coins I purchased because Steve had one is this denarius.....
OWL for 2000... NOT a Tet... Athens Attica 454-404 BCE AR hemidrachm 16mm 2.08g Athena frontal eye - facing Owl wings closed olive branches COP 70 SG 2528
Here is this site. If you look at section 1 there is a sub heading marked a, that is where they talk about this coin. Good info on this site. http://rjohara.net/coins/bronze-lion/
Congrats on both the excellent coins and reaching 2K posts I love coins depicting animals.... Here is a more "modern" example "Brown Bear" AV Dukat 1781 Swiss Cantons Abbey of St. Gallen Plus an "Ancient" example from Lydia " African Lion" EL Hemihekte ND Sardes Mint struck circa 620BC King Alyattes of Lydia
