I like Athenian owls and I have developed a taste for their ancient imitations too. I have an Egyptian imitation tetradrachm and have been looking for an Arabian imitation that I could afford. I found the following ugly specimen within my limited budget and thought that I would get it despite it's many shortcomings. One thing in it's favour is that it still has all the attributes to allow it to be attributed. It is a little light but this could easily be accounted for by the corrosion. Arabia Felix: Himyarites and Sabaeans (ca. 3rd Century BC) AR Drachm Obv:- Helmeted head of Athena right; Sabaean "N" (mark of value) on cheek. Rev:- Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent behind, AΘE before BMC 24 ff. 4.36 gms Max diameter 15.51 mm Martin
I didn't know you traveled along this avenue, Martin. That's an important piece of ancient Arabian history. I would be thrilled to have it in my collection.
This "really ugly owl coin" could not have hoped to find a more appreciative or respectful home! Congratulations... to the coin.
Martin, I keep coming back to sneak another peek at your new imitative owl ... it is really starting to grow on me (I like it) ... I have an Egyptian imitation tetradrachm but I do not have an Arabian imitation "or" an actual Athenian owl (man, I need to buy more coins!!)
There are several phases of Athenian owl too if you want to get in to them as well as the various denominations. Sigh... Perhaps one day...
That isn't anywhere as "ugly" as some of the imitations get, btw...I'm sure you've seen the Gaza coins.
I have seen the Gaza coins.... My Egyptian imitative is almost pretty by comparison. Egypt, Athens Imitative, Silver tetradrachm Obv:– Head of Athena right, droopy eye, crested helmet with olive leaves and bent-back palmette, wire necklace, round earring, hair in parallel curves. Rev:– ΑΘΕ, right, owl standing right, head facing, erect in posture, olive sprig and crescent left, all within incuse square; Minted in Egypt from . B.C. 420 - 380. Reference:– cf. SNG Cop 31 ff., SGCV I 2526 (Athens), The metal did not fill the die completely on the obverse resulting in the rough flat high area near Athena's temple. A test cut on the reverse was filled with pitch in antiquity. The silver is quite bright making it relatively tricky to photograph. 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." 17.157g, 25.3mm, 270o
Very cool imitative owls, my friend ... => Ummm here is my example: Eastern Mediterranean area (Egypt or Syria) Athens Imitative, Silver tetradrachm after circa 413 BC Diameter: 26.3 x 22.2 mm Weight: 15.2 grams Obverse: head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet ornamented with three olive leaves along the front edge, palmette on bowl, and spiral behind ear, her hair drawn across forehead in parallel curves Reverse: ΑΘΕ (the first letter represented as a triangle) before owl standing right, head facing, in erect posture, olive sprig and lunar crescent in upper field to left, all within incuse square Reference: cf. Kraay (Archaic and Classical Greek Coins) pp. 73-4 and pl. 12, 204 Other: two deep test cuts on owl's head and wing
There are indeed various poses of the Athenian owl but the common denominations (obol, drachm and tetradrachm) have that same ol' one. The dekadrachm has a great spread wing facing owl but I've only known one collector who had one. My only variant is the facing but not spread winged (with tail between his legs) hemidrachm and it is not easy in high grade. I feel lucky to have my dog of an owl.
