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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Themes & Provenance| ▸ |Birds| ▸ |Owl||View Options:  |  |  | 

Owls on Ancient Coins

Owls are depicted on many different ancient coin types but the most prolific types are the coins of ancient Athens. The ancient slang names for the coins of Athens were "owls" (but in Greek of course) and "girls" (referring to Athena on the obverse, also in Greek). "Owls" were so popular as a central currency of the ancient world that the design remained essentially unchanged and somewhat archaic long after other cities began to produce coins of a more refined artistic style. "Owls" of Athens are still very popular. For collectors, they are perhaps the most popular ancient coin type.

Persian Empire, Gaza, Philistia, c. 353 - 331 B.C., Imitative of Athens Pi-Style

|Persian| |Rule|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Gaza,| |Philistia,| |c.| |353| |-| |331| |B.C.,| |Imitative| |of| |Athens| |Pi-Style||quarter| |shekel|NEW
The Aramaic letter Mem is the symbol of Marnas, deity of Gaza. We are uncertain of the meaning of the additional (unpublished) letters. This type and other similar silver types struck under Persian rule are often described as drachms but we follow Hendin who refers to the local coinage of Philistia, Samaria and Yehud with the names that might have been used at the time they circulated. This type can be dated to about a 20 year period. It imitates the "Pi-Style" tetradrachms first struck at Athens in 353 B.C. and would not have been struck after Alexander the Great's conquest of Gaza in 331 B.C.
GS114669. Silver quarter shekel, Apparently unpublished variant; cf. Gitler & Tal V.25D, Hendin 6010 (RR), HGC 10 542 (R2) (all without Aramaic on rev.), gVF, toned, centered on a tight oval flan, porous, weight 4.143 g, maximum diameter 15.4 mm, die axis 270o, Gaza mint, c. 353 - 331 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye, olive leaves and pi-style floral ornament on crested helmet, large round earring, Aramaic mem on cheek; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive spray and crescent upper left, AΘE downward on right, all within incuse square, Aramaic shin aleph lower inner left, Aramaic mem outer right (mostly off flan); ex CNG mail bid auction 84 (5 May 2010), lot 737 (part of); ex Dr. Patrick H.C. Tan Collection; extremely rare; $500.00 (€470.00) ON RESERVE


Persian Empire, Gaza, Philistia, c. 353 - 331 B.C., Imitative of Athens Pi-Style

|Persian| |Rule|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Gaza,| |Philistia,| |c.| |353| |-| |331| |B.C.,| |Imitative| |of| |Athens| |Pi-Style||quarter| |shekel|NEW
The Aramaic letter Mem is the symbol of Marnas, deity of Gaza. We are uncertain of the meaning of the additional (unpublished) letters. This type and other similar silver types struck under Persian rule are often described as drachms but we follow Hendin who refers to the local coinage of Philistia, Samaria and Yehud with the names that might have been used at the time they circulated. This type can be dated to about a 20 year period. It imitates the "Pi-Style" tetradrachms first struck at Athens in 353 B.C. and would not have been struck after Alexander the Great's conquest of Gaza in 331 B.C.
GS114665. Silver quarter shekel, Apparently unpublished variant; cf. Gitler & Tal V.25D, Hendin 6010 (RR), HGC 10 542 (R2) (all without Aramaic on rev.), aVF, toned, obv. off center, a little rough, weight 3.989 g, maximum diameter 14.3 mm, die axis 315o, Gaza mint, c. 353 - 331 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye, olive leaves and pi-style floral ornament on crested helmet, large round earring, Aramaic mem on cheek; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive spray and crescent upper left, AΘE downward on right, all within incuse square, Aramaic shin aleph lower inner left, Aramaic mem outer right (mostly off flan); ex CNG mail bid auction 84 (5 May 2010), lot 737 (part of); ex Dr. Patrick H.C. Tan Collection; extremely rare; $350.00 (€329.00) ON RESERVE


Persian Empire, Gaza, Philistia, c. 353 - 331 B.C., Imitative of Athens Pi-Style

|Persian| |Rule|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Gaza,| |Philistia,| |c.| |353| |-| |331| |B.C.,| |Imitative| |of| |Athens| |Pi-Style||quarter| |shekel|NEW
The Aramaic letter Mem is the symbol of Marnas, deity of Gaza. This type and other similar silver types struck under Persian rule are often described as drachms but we follow Hendin who refers to the local coinage of Philistia, Samaria and Yehud with the names that might have been used at the time they circulated. This type can be dated to about a 20 year period. It imitates the "Pi-Style" tetradrachms first struck at Athens in 353 B.C. and would not have been struck after Alexander the Great's conquest of Gaza in 331 B.C.
GS114667. Silver quarter shekel, cf. Gitler & Tal V.25D, Hendin 6010 (RR), HGC 10 542 (R2), VF, toned, well centered, marks, encrustation, porous, weight 3.900 g, maximum diameter 14.7 mm, die axis 225o, Gaza mint, c. 353 - 331 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye, olive leaves and pi-style floral ornament on crested helmet, large round earring, mem on cheek; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive spray and crescent upper left, AΘE downward on right, all within incuse square; ex CNG mail bid auction 84 (5 May 2010), lot 737 (part of); ex Dr. Patrick H.C. Tan Collection; very rare; $350.00 (€329.00)
 


Persian Empire, Gaza, Philistia, c. 353 - 331 B.C., Imitative of Athens Pi-Style

|Persian| |Rule|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Gaza,| |Philistia,| |c.| |353| |-| |331| |B.C.,| |Imitative| |of| |Athens| |Pi-Style||quarter| |shekel|NEW
The Aramaic letter Mem is the symbol of Marnas, deity of Gaza. This type and other similar silver types struck under Persian rule are often described as drachms but we follow Hendin who refers to the local coinage of Philistia, Samaria and Yehud with the names that might have been used at the time they circulated. This type can be dated to about a 20 year period. It imitates the "Pi-Style" tetradrachms first struck at Athens in 353 B.C. and would not have been struck after Alexander the Great's conquest of Gaza in 331 B.C.
GS114664. Silver quarter shekel, cf. Gitler & Tal V.25D, Hendin 6010 (RR), HGC 10 542 (R2), F, rough, toned, oval flan, weight 3.590 g, maximum diameter 15.8 mm, die axis 270o, Gaza mint, c. 353 - 331 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye, olive leaves and pi-style floral ornament on crested helmet, large round earring, mem on cheek; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive spray and crescent upper left, AΘE downward on right, all within incuse square; ex CNG mail bid auction 84 (5 May 2010), lot 737 (part of); ex Dr. Patrick H.C. Tan Collection; very rare; $250.00 (€235.00)
 


Persian Empire, Gaza, Philistia, c. 353 - 331 B.C., Imitative of Athens Pi-Style

|Persian| |Rule|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Gaza,| |Philistia,| |c.| |353| |-| |331| |B.C.,| |Imitative| |of| |Athens| |Pi-Style||quarter| |shekel|NEW
The Aramaic letter Mem is the symbol of Marnas, deity of Gaza. This type and other similar silver types struck under Persian rule are often described as drachms but we follow Hendin who refers to the local coinage of Philistia, Samaria and Yehud with the names that might have been used at the time they circulated. This type can be dated to about a 20 year period. It imitates the "Pi-Style" tetradrachms first struck at Athens in 353 B.C. and would not have been struck after Alexander the Great's conquest of Gaza in 331 B.C.
GS114666. Silver quarter shekel, cf. Gitler & Tal V.25D, Hendin 6010 (RR), HGC 10 542 (R2), gF, toned, oval flan, a little rough, weight 3.724 g, maximum diameter 14.7 mm, die axis 270o, Gaza mint, c. 353 - 331 B.C.; obverse helmeted head of Athena right, with profile eye, olive leaves and pi-style floral ornament on crested helmet, large round earring, mem on cheek; reverse owl standing right, head facing, olive spray and crescent upper left, AΘE downward on right, all within incuse square; ex CNG mail bid auction 84 (5 May 2010), lot 737 (part of); ex Dr. Patrick H.C. Tan Collection; very rare; $200.00 (€188.00)
 


Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Acmonea, Phrygia

|Other| |Phrygia|, |Nero,| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Acmonea,| |Phrygia||AE| |21|
Akmonia (Acmonea) was an important city of central Phrygia, located on a tributary of the river Senaros. Akmon was the founder of Akmonia, the first king of the region, and the father of Mygdon. His son Mygdon led a force of Phrygians against the Amazons, alongside Otreus (another Phrygian leader) and King Priam of Troy, one generation before the Trojan War. Priam mentions this to Helen of Troy in Book 3 of The Iliad.
RP113890. Brass AE 21, RPC I 3174 (37 spec.); BMC Phrygia p. 10, 41-42; SNGvA 3371; McClean 8735; SNG Cop 28, aVF, well-centered strikes, good detail, pleasing earthen contrast, flan crack, weight 3.772 g, maximum diameter 20.7 mm, die axis 0o, Akmonia (Ahat Koyu, Turkey) mint, 2nd issue, c. 62 A.D.; obverse NEPΩN KAICAP CEBACTOC (counterclockwise from lower right), laureate bust of Nero right, winged caduceus behind, crescent to right; reverse CEPOYHNIOY KAΠITΩNOC KAI IOYΛIAC CEOYHPAC (of Servenius Capito and Iulias Severa, counterclockwise from lower right), Zeus seated left, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, patera in right hand, long scepter vertical in left hand, owl at feet before throne, AKMONEΩN upwards behind, EΠI monogram over APX monogram in upper left field; Lucius Servenius Capito and Iulia Severa, magistrates; $100.00 (€94.00)
 


Nero, 13 October 54 - 9 June 68 A.D., Acmoneia, Phrygia

|Other| |Phrygia|, |Nero,| |13| |October| |54| |-| |9| |June| |68| |A.D.,| |Acmoneia,| |Phrygia||hemiassarion|NEW
Acmoneia was located on a small tributary of the river Sindros, about six miles west of Diocleia. Struck by the archon (magistrate) L. Servinius Capito and his wife Julia Severa, in his first issue. It was unusual for a magistrate to name his wife on the coinage.
RP114648. Brass hemiassarion, RPC Online I 3171; SNG Cop 27; BMC Phrygia p. 10, 39; SNGvA -, gF, dark patina, highlighting earthen deposits, deep scratch low obv., weight 4.473 g, maximum diameter 19.1 mm, Akmonia (Ahat Koyu, Turkey) mint, 1st issue, c. 55 A.D.; obverse AYTOKPATΩP NEPΩN KΛAYΔIOΣ KAIΣAP / ΣEBASTOΣ ΓEPMANIKO (clockwise, outer and inner legends), bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust right; reverse EPI ΣEPOYHNIOY KAPITΩNOΣ KAI IOYΛIAΣ ΣEOYHPAΣ (time of [Loukios] Servenios Kapito [archon] and [his wife] Ioulia Severa), Zeus seated left, nude to the waist, himation around hips and legs, patera in right hand, long scepter vertical in his left hand, owl at his feet standing left with turned head facing, crescent upper left, AKMONEΩN counterclockwise inner right; $90.00 (€84.60)
 


Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochus VII Euergetes Sidetes, 138 - 129 B.C.

|Seleucid| |Kingdom|, |Seleukid| |Kingdom,| |Antiochus| |VII| |Euergetes| |Sidetes,| |138| |-| |129| |B.C.||AE| |16|
After his brother Demetrius was captured by the Parthians, Antiochus VII was made king. He married Demetrius' wife Cleopatra Thea. He defeated the usurper Tryphon at Dora and laid siege to Jerusalem in 134. According to Josephus, the Hasmonean king John Hyrcanus opened King David's sepulcher and removed three thousand talents, which he then paid Antiochus to spare the city. Sidetes then attacked the Parthians, supported by a body of Jews under Hyrcanus, and briefly took back Mesopotamia, Babylonia and Media before being ambushed and killed by Phraates II. His brother Demetrius II had by then been released, but the Seleucid realm was now restricted to Syria. Antiochus VII was the last Seleucid king of any stature.

After seeing a coin specimen with the ΓA monogram in the outer left field and a probable ΛΠ in the outer right, one wonders if these marks are regularly paired and are not often noticed simply because the flans for this coin issue are typically small in comparison to the dies used.
GY113546. Bronze AE 16, cf. SNG Spaer 2113 ff., Houghton-Lorber II 2119.1 f., Houghton CSE 880, HGC 9 1102 (R1), F, chunky tight flan with a solid black patina and sandy dusting; small die break on reverse in left field, weight 3.101 g, maximum diameter 16.1 mm, die axis 0o, probably Ptolemais-Ake (Acre, Israel) mint, 136/5 or 135/4 B.C.; obverse bust of Athena in Corinthian helmet right; reverse BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ANTIOXOY (downwards on right) EYEPΓETOY (downwards on left), owl standing three-quarters right with head facing, ΓA monogram in outer left field, date (HOP or ΞOP - Seleukid era year 177 or 178) mostly off-flan in exergue; rare; $80.00 (€75.20)
 


Persian Empire, Philistia (Gaza or Samaria), c. 375 - 333 B.C., Imitative of Athens

|Judaea| |&| |Palestine|, |Persian| |Empire,| |Philistia| |(Gaza| |or| |Samaria),| |c.| |375| |-| |333| |B.C.,| |Imitative| |of| |Athens||obol|
A Persian Period imitation of Athenian types from the Holy Land. In the past these coins were all attributed to Gaza, however, recent hoard finds indicate a mint at Ashkelon probably also struck this type. It is likely that at least several small mints struck these imitative types.
JD97053. Silver obol, cf. Samaria Hoard pls. 45 - 50, SH269 ff.; Gitler-Tal 4.4.IX-X; SNG ANS 15 ff., aF, toned, squared flan (normal for the type), weight 0.738 g, maximum diameter 8.7 mm, die axis 90o, Gaza(?) mint, c. 375 - 333 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl, hair in parallel bands, eye in profile; reverse owl standing right, wings closed, head facing, olive spray with one olive between two leaves and a crescent behind, AΘE downward on right, all in incuse square, no Aramaic inscription; $50.00 (€47.00)
 


Ambrakia, Epirus, Greece, c. 360 - 338 B.C.

|Epirus|, |Ambrakia,| |Epirus,| |Greece,| |c.| |360| |-| |338| |B.C.||stater|
Ambracia (modern Arta) was founded as a Corinthian colony 650 - 625 B.C. Its economy was based on farmlands, fishing, timber for shipbuilding, and the exporting the produce of Epirus. In 433, Ambracia fought with Corinth at the Battle of Sybota, against the rebellious Corinthian colony of Corcyra (modern Corfu). Ambracia was besieged by Philip II and forced to accept a Macedonian garrison in 338. In 294, after 43 years of semi-autonomy, Ambracia was given by the son of Cassander to Pyrrhus, king of Epirus, who made it his capital, and adorned it with palace, temples and theaters. In the wars of Philip V of Macedon and the Epirotes against the Aetolian league (220-205) it changed sides and ultimately joined the Aetolians. Against Rome, it stood a stubborn siege, including the first known use of poison gas, against Roman siege tunnels. It was captured and plundered by Marcus Fulvius Nobilior in 189 B.C., after which it gradually fell into insignificance.Epirus and Environs
SH19463. Silver stater, BMC Corinth p. 105, 14; Ravel 70, gVF, toned, weight 8.544 g, maximum diameter 21.7 mm, die axis 270o, Ambrakia (Arta, Greece) mint, c. 360 - 338 B.C.; obverse Pegasos with pointed wing flying right, A below; reverse head of Athena (or Aphrodite) left in Corinthian helmet over leather cap, owl behind; ex CNG auction 9/94, lot 202; SOLD







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