My Athens Owl Tetradrachm!

I do not have a perfect example of this type (yet), but I got 2 ("old style") that are quite nice





And another ("new style") that I absolutely love

That new style is super dee-duper nice, that must have set you back quite a bit. Very very nice.

Wow is right! I especially like the centering and details on the first coin!

I haven't bought an "old style" that wasn't damaged by test cuts or bankers marks yet let alone gone for a decent example.



I did purchase a decent early intermediate type which bridges the gap between the "old style" and the masses of "intermediate style" coins. The following information was provided by the dealer:-

"Transitional style tetradrachms include all of the wide spectrum of variants with the eye in profile issued after the classic "old style" almond eye tetradrachms but before the broad thinner flan "new style" tetradrachms. Recent research has classified variations of the transitional style - Pi Type, Quadridigité Style, Heterogeneous Style and sub-groups of the styles, and proposed chronologies for the different styles and groups.

This coin is the earliest transitional type, the first Pi style type, essentially identical to the "old style" with the exception of the eye in profile. The "Pi" designation is based on the P shape of the floral spiral and palmette ornamentation on the helmet bowl. The coin can be classified as Pi style, group 1. The floral ornament on examples this early do not yet resemble Pi."



The intermediate style coins tend to be on smaller flans and thus seem to be more difficult to obtain with full design detail on both sides. Mine was a placeholder.



The non-Athens, imitative coins fascinate me and I had the opprtunity to purchase one from Egypt (with test cut). I am always on the lookout for others but have never been able to obtain one as yet.

From the Harald Ulrik Sverdrup Collection. Ex CNG. From a small hoard of 5 Athenian and 4 Athenian imitative issues.

Comment provided by dealer-
"Athenian tetradrachms with this droopy eye and bent back palmette have been identified as Egyptian imitative issues because they are most frequently found in Egypt and rarely in Greece.

Early in his reign the Egyptian Pharaoh Hakor, who ruled from 393 to 380 B.C., revolted against his overlord, the Persian King Artaxerxes. In 390 B.C. Hakor joined a tripartite alliance with Athens and King Evagoras of Cyprus. Persian attacks on Egypt in 385 and 383 were repulsed by Egyptian soldiers and Greek mercenaries under the command of the Athenian general Chabrias. Perhaps these coins were struck to pay the general and his Greek mercenaries."



Martin (not yet an owl-aholic)

Some great coins shown. Judging by the price of those I have looked at, I will be very lucky to even have one with many test marks.

I have been lurking in the Ancients for a little bit, and this type would probably be the one that I would want to be represented.

Question: How much would this type of coin buy "back in the day"? What would be comparable these days? $20? $50? More? Less?

Really nice examples.

My daughter was walking past and saw the "owls" and that got her attention! She loves animals of all sorts, but LOVES owls!

A tetradrachm, worth four drachms, was probably the equivalent of about four day's wages of a common laborer, or about $200 in today's money.

Some very nice coins there. I have an egyptian minted athens coin. Stylistically its quite different to the Athenian issues and the artistry is not as good nor the engraving of the die!