Ancient Greek Coin?

It's ancient. The circular depression is most likely a countermark--it could be Seleucid.

This is a wild stab in the dark, because I cannot make out the reverse details.
To my eyes, the 'fabric' of the coin reminds me of Seleucid coins. Here is a counterstamped Seleucid coin bearing Athena on the obverse.



SYRIA, SELEUKID KINGDOM, Antiochos I., 280-261 BC, Bronze 280-261 BC mint in Asia

The obverse motiffs are definately similar. The coin is about 17 mm in diameter. I cant really make out anything on the reverse, except for what appears to be a wing near the edge

Doucet-- your coin's style looks much closer.

The website says,

Side, Pamphylia, 2nd - 1st Centuries B.C.
81378. Bronze AE 16, SNG France 740, aVF, cleaning scratches, Side mint, 3.593g, 16.3mm, 0°, 2nd - 1st Cent B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right; reverse ΣIÎ"HTΩN, Nike flying left, wreath in right hand, pomegranate left

But what exactly does that mean besides the description of the features on the coin? Does it have a specific denomination or ruler attached to it? And is it common for ancient coins to have countermarks?

I see several examples in much better condition have gone for around $70, but none are counterstamped.

So an "owl" does not refer to the image of an owl, but simply a counterstamp or other added mark on an ancient coin?

Some research shows that Side was an ancient greek city in Asia minor. This coin apparently dates from a period when the city was independent after the defeat of the Seleucid Empire by an alliance consisting of the Romans, Kingdom of Pergamum, and Rhodes in 188 BC. The area surrounding Side was not granted to any specific member of the Alliance, but the peace treaty ending the war required the Seleucids to abandon control of the area. As such the people of Side asserted their independence, becoming a haven for pirates that attacked roman shipping in the area. Side began to decline after being defeated by the romans in 78 BC and was incorporated into Rome by 67 BC.

The owl I mentioned was for the image, I thought I could see an owl within the counter stamp, but it could be any number of different images or symbols.

For example here is a Side coin with a pomegranate counter mark.
http://www.arminius-numismatics.com...um=38&pos=11

And here a silver example with an anchor-like counter mark.
http://wildwinds.com/coins/sg/sg5432.html

Here is a similar coin I have from a different part of Asia Minor, Mysia Pergamon, with an owl counter mark.


Sometimes, if you hold the coin up to the light and rotate it around at different angles you might be able to make out the image.

It most cases it is a matter of opinion. Personally, I find that if the countermark does not deface the obverse or reverse, it lends more credibility and some idea as to where the coin traveled and when. They can make the coin's history more interesting. Also, there are collectors of coins with countermarks, so they would tell you it makes them more valuable to them.