NewStyleKing

Thompson # 14. This magnificent bold specimen has a really well defined Athena, don't mess with me! A short somewhat stumpy bowl ornament a proud splayed Pegasos and large horse protomes ion the visor. The reverse is full , a less bulbous and more extended amphora has an M  on it , the 12th Athenian month, but careful scrutiny reveals that there is another date which it had superimposed on. That is a B, the 2nd Athenian month! That is a unaccountable 10 month gap! Had the reverse die fall under the sofa cushions? I mean the reverse wasn't worn out was it?

Oh look at that owl! Very much like the Cicada one. The amphora is like the 2 serpents one but dominated by the large quite crude M The symbol term of Hermes is a religious apopotraic figure often standing at the threshold of a house outside giving protection to the house and the people inside. Alcibiades went on a Term of Hermes smashing rampage before going off to battle someone!

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 151/0 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
32 3 mm 17.20 g Thompson Issue 14
Thompson catalogue: Obs 87 : Rev NEW
Rev : AΘE ethnic
Owl Standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
on which month mark M/B
2 magistrates mongrams in both fields
LF symbol : Term of Hermes
All within a surrounding olive wreath

Thompson # 13, symbol 2 Serpents. This example I bought when I  thought early NewStyles were rarer , Then parts on early hoards appeared on eBay and auctions. The obverse would have a nice sensitive, well proportioned Athena but the die is well worn! The reverse by contrast is quite fresh.

 It is a well balanced artistic concoction, a nice , but thick wreath but look at that bulbous vase, often called a Panathenaic vase after the Athenian games. The prize contained olive oil! Earlier and complete Panathenaic vases are quite common in top museums, but Hellenistic examples are rare  and appear as shards. The symbol 2 Serpents is rather poorly defined, but look at that marvellous owl proudly owning the prize-this is mine! The monograms are believed to be of the brothers Moschion and Phanias and after the 6th month the monograms swap positions It seems thus apparent that the left hand side monogram is the place of honour. Amphora control Z is the sixth Athenian month.

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 152/1 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
33mm 16.92 g Thompson Issue 13
Thompson catalogue: Obs 80 ?? : Rev 79a
Rev : AΘE ethnic
Owl Standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
on which month mark Ζ
XM monogram left, AΦN monogram right
2 magistrates : MOSCHOS PHANIAS
RF symbol : 2 Serpents
All within a surrounding olive wreath

Thompson #12. Cicada. The first NewStyle tetradrachm with a control. Although pitted this coin has a finely chiselled Athena- probably too finely and the details don't stand out. The bowl ornamentation is far too non-imposing. The reverse has a large wreath crowding the owl amphora symbol , ethnic and magistrates monograms. The symbol cicada is on the left hand side but I highlighted that examples exist with cicada on the right too. Indeed I wrote about it on academia, as well as noting new obverses! As you can see by the corrosion this came from a hoard where the coins had got sort of glued together and prised apart. This despite all this is a good example,  I bought it for the FIRST CONTROL! "A". The first of the first. Despite what one person thinks, everyone else believes that this indicates the first Athenian month, A for Alpha! This is logical, but early on the month indicator strays from the logical amphora placing Quite a common coin generally.

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 153/2 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
34.2mm 16.80 g Thompson issue 12
Thompson catalogue : Obs 66 : Rev NEW
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
on which month letter A
2 magistrates monograms in both fields
LF symbol : Cicada
All within a surrounding olive wreath
 

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Hi Theodosius, The prices have jumped but keep trying! I was fortunate when I started out when big hoards came to eBay and auctions of lots of early stuff. Much rarer now. About 500 of old style mass classic owls to 1 NewStyle  so it seems !

Thank you for your kind words and if I can be of help, please don't hesitate to ask

Regards, John aka NewStyleKing

Just for the record, I posted these NewStyle tetradrachms in  Bring out your Tets! Ding-aling-aling Bring out your Tets! Ding-aling-aling,  earlier but they should be here for comparison.

l to R, Thompson #1  a magnificent example of obverse die #3 a magnificent R4/5 Athena unspoilt by a dotted border, truly artistic with aegis. She is truly serene and yet has a "don't mess with me" undercurrent. The simple reverse artistically balanced with simple monograms to both sides flanking a lovely proportioned owl and amphora, the owl proudly perched ready to fly off. The olive wreath is beautifully rendered and frames the whole with dignity and sensibility. Bought from a NewStyle hoard off eBay for little money by today's standards and worth many times more. Despite slight corrosion I think this is the best example out there anywhere!

Thompson #2. Beautifully rendered Athena with a thinner face than previous, the reverse is lovely a sparser wreath frames the ethnic and 2 monograms which are cut by a master with a delicate owl and amphora. This issue has 2 symbols both related to the Elysian Mysteries rites, a Kernos and a Bakhos, unique to this coin only. R4

Thompson #3 Bought on eBay from a hoard which other coins in my collection come from. Sadly worn and die shifted, this coin as in Thompson #1 has no symbol. The Athena is like Thompson # 4 above, smaller , fatter, more compact/ The reverse, bigger thicker wreath, covering a less than convincing owl amphora combination, but the die shift may mask it's true nature. One of the monograms is now a partial name. R4 Pity about the die shift and wear.

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 164/3 BC

Obs: Athena Parthenos in tri-form helmet
right, wearing Aegis, Biga on neckguard
No border of dots
33.5 mm 16.15gm Thompson issue 1
Thompson catalogue: Obs 3 : Rev NEW
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
2 magistrates monograms in both fields
All surrounded by olive wreath with single tie

 

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 163/2 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
35.5mm 16.29g Thompson issue 2
Thompson catalogue : Obs 7 : Rev NEW
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
2 magistrates
1 monogram in LF & in RF
2 Symbols Kernos in RF: Bakhos below amphora
All within a surrounding olive wreath

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 162/1 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
33.6mm 16.73g Thompson issue 3
Thompson catalogue : Obs 10 : Rev NEW/ f/g (not in plates)?
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
2 magistrates
1 monogram in LF - ΦΑΝΙ in RF
All within a surrounding olive wreath

This is the apogee of the early, early NewStyles. That is ones without any controls. This is Thompson # 11 symbol caps of the Dioscuri. I bought it cheap as chips. Like many others this is in excellent condition. Well struck, well centred and both sides artistic and thought out. would go for about 5X what I paid for it! What a noble Athena, look at that owl and its posture perching on that amphoralike I own this! 2 clear monograms although who these people were is unknowable!  No wonder why they eventually moved on from monograms to their abbreviated names! Enjoy, I do.

Athens New Style tetradrachm 154/3 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
34.5mm 16.72g Thompson issue 11
Thompson catalogue : Obs 60 : Rev (not in plates)/ NEW?
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
2 complex magistrates monograms in both fields
RF symbol : Caps of Dioscuri
All within a surrounding olive wreath

Yes Donna that is true. And when I asked 2 members of Forum A C to ask the moderators to help, they were knocked back by the lesser admin. It just wasn't the head Honcho only but his spirit of pointless aggressiveness had infected them also

Thanks Donna, I still read your stuff on CT!

Thompson # 9 A stunning example of symbol Trophy. It is interesting that the 2 magistrates monograms appear on one side only. What a charming elfin-like Athena .Notice that the owls legs are spaced not upright beneath the owl as on earlier coins. Lovely balanced and depicted reverse.

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 156/5 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
32mm 16.82gm Thompson issue 9
Thompson catalogue: Obs 43 : Rev: (not in plates)/ NEW?
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
2 Complex magistrates monograms in right field
LF symbol: Trophy
All surrounded by olive wreath

Thompson #10  . Nice obverse despite the wear. A nice reverse, bit of some flat striking on the owl Symbol Grain ear

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 155/4 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
33mm 17.2gm Thompson issue 10
Thompson catalogue: Obs 50 : Rev: (not in plates)/ NEW?
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
2 Complex magistrates monograms in both fields
LF symbol: Ear of Grain
All surrounded by olive wreath

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Thompson # 8. The Athena is not charming somewhat  Acromalgic , Very sparse ornamentation on bowl. What a weird Owl ! An excellent example .From a hoard that appeared on eBay some years ago. Oh yes Pegasos has a lions' swishy tail on this obverse example.

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 157/6 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
Lions tailed pegasos type
33.8 mm 16.32gm Thompson issue 8
Thompson catalogue: 34b ? ( not in plates)
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
2 magistrates monograms in both fields
RF symbol :Nike presenting Wreath
All surrounded by olive wreath

Thompson # 7 .  An example without a Rudder symbol?  Has there been some smoothing to the fields that eliminated the Rudder symbol which should be in the bottom left field where the amphora base is. I cannot see any sign of it. I bought it from a Ma shops German dealer who mentioned nothing!  All the same this is the one with an excellent artistic Athena harking back to an earlier issue. Also she is wearing an aegis, the last time it appears on the NewStyle coinage T27 but not 27 a the Thompson plate  27a is not this reverse, so I still don't know if the missing rudder is due to artifice. The two examples of this obverse die  in Svoronos both have faint rudders but they aren't a reverse die match to this coin . The mystery remains! 6 obverses known to Thompson but many more came up in hoards,.

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 158/7 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos in tri-form helmet wearing aegis
15 55g 32.5mm Thompson issue 7
Thompson catalogue : Obs 27 : Rev NEW (no rudder)
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
2 magistrates monograms : NAUKRATES ARI....
NO RUDDER SYMBOL BELOW LF MONOGRAM
EXE graffito below left centre olive wreath
All within surrounding olive wreath

Wow that's a bit crowded Yep T579 But in quite good condition any chance for a guess at a amphora letter Great catch. I have no drachms or hemidrachms , just big flasy tetradrachms. A fairly large issue having lots of tets and drachms

A bit of double trouble on the obverse R2   Symbol Club Thompson #6

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 159/8 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
16.94gm 36mm Thompson Issue 6
Thompson catalogue : Obs 22 : Rev NEW
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
LF monogram RF monogram Π ω
2 magistrates
RF symbol : Club
All within a surrounding olive wreath

An old coin of mine waiting to be sold by Roma soon

Once again Macedonian HELMET surmounted by a star c 140,s BC, when things were really happening in Macedonia. The NewStyle should be viewed as a total Roman proxy coin, see my latest spec on academia.edu under John Arnold Nisbet called "the NewStyle problem"

That this bronze unit of Kyme has the same pose as the silver tetradrachms , ie prancing horse with one raised forelock, vase in front, maybe it is the same general time as the tetradrachms?  Is there any hoard evidence for the bronzes? I once had a silver tetradrachm  but sold it via Roma for about double what I paid for it. Those price hikes had passed on to the Athens NewStyles. Hence its ebay or the highway! It was luicky that when I seriously started to collect NewStyles there were loads of hoards sold by Lanz on ebay and others. Now fresh NewStyles are scarce to the market

Welcome to Thompson #4. This issue has two coin types one without and one with a symbol-Cornucopia. Both these coins have the same obverse die

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 161/0 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
32mm 16.66g Thompson issue 4
Thompson catalogue : Obs 13 : Rev: 3c (not in plates)/ NEW?
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
2 magistrates monograms in both fields
RF symbol: Cornucopia
All within a surrounding olive wreath

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 161/0 BC

Obs : Athena Parthenos right in tri-form helmet
34.2mm 16.97g Thompson issue 4
Thompson catalogue : Obs 13 : Rev (not in plates)/ NEW?
Rev : ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on overturned panathenaic amphora
2 magistrates monograms in both fields
No symbol type
All within a surrounding olive wreath

These actually are the complete collection of the Thompson early catalogue all  29 examples of the 28 issues. The key to the mystery is Thompson #4 which has 2 coins for the one issue...one with a symbol and one without any symbol. My two have the same obverse . not seen as separate issues by Thompson or others since.

As far as I know this is the only complete collection in Private hands, and only the ANS the complete collection and maybe one in Turkey and one in Greece. The 6th coin R5

This 2 Palms is one of only 4 known  and the only one in private hands. One of the 2 Palms in a museum has only 1 Palm! 

Athens New Style Tetradrachm 160/59 BC

Obv: Athena right in tri-form helmet
Thompson issue 5 16.97 Gm 32 mm
Thompson Catalogue: Obs: New : Rev: New
Rev:ΑΘΕ ethnic
Owl standing on amphora
2 Magistrates monograms beside each a single palm.
Symbol: 2 Palms
All surrounded by an olive wreath

My NewStyles a number have been sold since then and one or two added!

The Athens NewStyle coins , particularly the tetradrachm, are my passion. To many it appears they are boring. They however are packed with information, some of it waiting to be unravelled. A magnificent 2 volume book "The New Style Silver coinage of Athens" NSSCA, ANS 10 1961 is the bedrock. It has faults especially the chronology which gave rise to lots of revisions and investigations, but now the start date is "fixed" at c164 BC  and the finish c 42 BC. Thompson's  internal sequencing has mostly stood the test of time and I have been trying bring this to the fore. I write simple, often speculative articles on my academia.edu under my full name, John Arnold Nisbet and some resources too. I love the NewStyle and want it and the related Stephanophore's to thrive.

The picture shows a coin from Thompson middle catalogue, symbol "Grapes" Thoneman called it "Frankly a mess" Well I don't agree.

Hoe about a Macedonian HELMET and Star. NewStyle, Athens 140's BC

17 minutes ago, Curtisimo said:

Good to see you again @NewStyleKing! Always nice to have input from specialist.

Really great to be back look out for NewStyle Chat. But I have only a few coins to obtain now!

Thompson #3 R4  c162/1 BC  No symbol

Thompson #2   5 obverses ( I identified a new one unknown to the auction house, seller and Thompson) 13 reverses  R4

The above is c164/3 BC this is the next issue c163/2 BC Despite the damage a nice example. The only Athens NewStyle with 2 symbols!

Oh I've got about 60 ATHENS NEWSTYLE TETRADRACHMS  maybe one at a time, In chronological . nice to be on a sensible site

This is Thompson # 1 Obverse 3  New Reverse  of 8 known examples with 8 different reverses, my research says so. R4