robinjojo

Thank you for the links. I very familiar with the information provided by Reid Goldsborough on Athenian owls, imitations and forgeries. This has been an important source of information and helped me form my interest in imitative coinage. As for the double die match, I'm having some doubts about the reverse die match possibility. My main focus is on the treatment of the olive branch leaves and olive. Although the second coin is lower in grade and weakly struck, along with possible die wear, the treatment of this design element is different compared to the top coin. Although weak and at the very edge of the second coin, the olive and leaves seem to meet at a common mid-point, whereas with the top coin they are distinctly separate and offset. So, based on that consideration I'd say the reverses were struck with different dies.

Thanks For the past several years now I've concentrated on imitative owls, and it is true that there's a chance that some might be modern fakes, but the fakes tend to be quite obvious, either through style of the devices, legends or even the composition of the flans. After collecting these coin one gets a familiarity of the fabric of these coins that makes them ancient, albeit imitations, such as surface conditions (deposits, corrosion), flaws, strike (hammer versus casting), metal composition, weight, and finally references, including auction records. This is the same approach that one would take collecting any type of ancient coin. Of course, I guess someone could go the trouble of producing an owl that would fool any experience collector of dealer, and there have been very good modern copies, such as the British Museum electrotypes of an Athenian owl. Here's a 19th century BM electrotype owl offered on VCoins: BMC Electrotype by Robert Ready or his sons. Signed British Museum electrotype Athens AR tetradrachm. Stamped BM monogram on reverse field. Head, Guide Period II. B. 31, this coin illustrated but the original. 16.95 grams However, the vast number of modern copies are not nearly as sophisticated as this coin! However, I do make mistakes. I have one owl, acquired in 2018, that was condemned by NGC as a fake. I sent the coin to David Sear, who certified it as a 19th or 20th century fake. Other dealers that I have shown it to think it might be an imitation. I still have the coin and take out sometimes to ponder it, when I'm in a pondering mood. It is an odd bird! The portrait, patterned after the archaic style, looks later, especially regarding the nose, which is not archaic style at all. The shape of the upper and lower eyelids are unlike anything that I've seen Athenian or imitative. The crest is vaguely archaic but flat. That could be due to the die engraving and strike, with the pressure of the hammer blow diminishing from the center to the edge. The owl on the reverse is quite flat, but more faithful to the archaic style owl. So what is it? If it is modern, I don't think it is a fake more than a fantasy coin. On the other hand could this be a contemporary imitation? There are certainly a lot of them out there, in all forms. The book on imitation owls is not closed by any means and may never be so. So, the mystery and fun continues. These are photos from the seller, who was based in Germany and sold the coin through eBay. I knew that this would be a somewhat controversial coin, and so it has been. 16.9 grams

Okay, I'm going to purchase a metal detector and work on the backyard!

Continuing in the weird and wonderful world of imitation owls, here are two coins that I think are die matches for both obverse and reverse. I am much more certain about the obverse die match. The origin of these owls is still up in the air and will likely remain there for some time. They could be satrap coins, but again there is controversy about this possibility. The fabric of the coins certainly excludes them from the Egyptian pharaonic owls as well, I believe, from a Levant origin. Also excluded, I think, is an Arabian origin. The owls of the Lihyan Kingdom (northwest Arabia) and Qataban Kingdom are very distinctive and unlike these coins, as are the Bactrian owls. Both came from the same UAE seller, one in much better condition (top) than the lower one, which is off center on the reverse, encrusted (with minor corrosion) and cruder overall compared to the top owl. Both have a version of the "classical" eye, with the front end nearly, but not completely, closed. The reverse owl in a faithful rendition with a very localized style of the classical owls crudely engraved. Persia imitating Athens, tetradrachms, 4th century BC. 17.08 grams (top); 17.16 grams (bottom). Any thoughts? Thanks!

That's a very nice coin, Kali. The centering is excellent.

A wonderful group for 2023! The Caracalla is really nice, as is the Commodus denarius!

I don't collect medieval coins on anything like a systematic basis, hardly at all. I have the impression that this issue of Robert is very common. In fact I might had one before but memory fails me. I am sure that many of the members of this forum have seen innumerable offerings. Roma Numismatics seems to have a virtually inexhaustible supply of these coins in their E-Sale auctions. Still, looking for a decent type example can be somewhat a challenge if one is looking for a complete and decently centered coin. The coin below seems close to meeting these criteria, albeit with a die shift of a fairly moderate nature. Naples, Robert of Anjou, AR gigliato, circa 1309-1317. MIR 28 3.91 grams My question for those familiar with this type is are there rare varieties? The reason I ask is that one lot from Roma's E-Sale 115 hammered at £300! The lot's description does not mention scarcity or rarity, but then this could just be an omission. This was lot 1522, a coin in pretty rough condition. Here's a link: https://romanumismatics.com/280-lot-1522-italian-states-napoli-naples-kingdom-roberto-i-d-angio-ar-gigliato?arr=0&auction_id=181&box_filter=0&cat_id=25&department_id=&exclude_keyword=&export_issue=0&gridtype=listview&high_estimate=3000&image_filter=0&keyword=&list_type=list_view&lots_per_page=100&low_estimate=20&month=&page_no=2&paper_filter=0&search_type=&sort_by=lot_number&view=lot_detail&year= Thanks

Thank you, Al! I'll make a note and change the attribution.

Very nice examples posted! This is my only Septimius Severus example. I actually have a leftover lot coming from Roma, a sestertius that nobody bid on. Septimius Severus, tetradrachm, Laodicea ad Mare, 209-211 AD. From Roma E-Sale 75, lot 485. Prieur 1163 15.42 grams

Stunning coins! The Gratian solidus is certainly a standout, but really this is a very choice group of coins for 2023. Congratulations!

Wonderful coins! The bracteates are exquisite! The Celtic drachm has really nice obverse and reverse strikes, and the scorpion/lion is fantastic. I guess that makes it #1 for me. Congrats!

I don't know if you have access to PBS, but a wonderful program, Ornament of the World, was broadcasted in 2019 about Moorish Spain at the height of its power and influence. It is available on DVD: https://shop.pbs.org/WC1052.html Here's a preview:

A wonderful group of coins! Medieval coins are outside my focus, if for no other reason than the scope of coins produced in this period. I love the first coin, the Aksum /Axum coin. The centering and strike is excellent and a really like the "local" style. The Taifa de Zaragoza dirhem is also a very choice example and would be my second choice.

It's a bit early, but happy 2024! Nice examples posted! Here's my rough (corroded) Ptolemy II drachm. This coin came loose in a box from Germany that was partially open. It was pure luck that it didn't fall out in transit. Ptolemy II Philadelphus, AE drachm, circa 265 BC, Alexandria, delta below eagle. SV 431 66.91 grams

David Jackson, a seller/collector based in Germany, has posted a video on YouTube of mostly owls for sale from his collection. He also has some owls listed on eBay under the name athenianowl. The video includes several coins not currently listed on eBay. I have purchased a few owls in the past from David through eBay without any issues, and the coins are very nice. So, here is a link to the video. If you have questions about individual coins, David can be reached at David Jackson <jacksonova4@googlemail.com>.

I will look around and let you know if I find one that isn't too expensive. This is my most recent pharaonic owl a Buttrey-Flament Style A, a good VF and a lovely example, from a very recent CNG e-auction. The hammer price was $425 plus a 20% buyer's fee. Here's another pharaonic owl, from Nablus. These owls circulated well beyond Egypt! Finally one more with two countermarks . Egypt pharaonic owl, late 5th-mid 4th centuries BC. Reverse cm Aramaic letter retrograde (He) Buttrey-Flament Miscellaneous. 17.08 grams

Thank you! I'll research the possible Greek connection. That lower squiggly line at the bottom on the obverse is something that I cannot identify as a character, so I think it might be an ornamental device to highlight the two upper characters.

Thanks! That is indeed why I love collecting these sometimes enigmatic coins. I think I like them primarily for their diversity of designs and styles - far more interesting than collecting the mostly monotonous classical Athenian owls that have flooded the market over the past several years now - that draws me to these imitations. The imitations indicate the clear dominance in the East that Athenian owls had prior to the introduction of the vast coinage of Alexander III and his successors. As for payment to the Greek mercenaries employed by a pharaoh in his fight against the Persians, this coin could be one of those pharaonic owls, but I have never seen one with apparent characters as part of the die. There are plenty of countermarked pharaonic owls out there, some with multiple countermarks, but the OP coin is a first for me, and it might be from a source in the vast region called the Levant. I have more imitations that I hope to post in the future.

The procession continues. This example has some interesting features. On the obverse there appear to be, top to bottom, two Aramaic characters a L and S, with an unknown character or symbol below. The reverse has graffiti in the form of an Aramaic G. There's also a test cut on the obverse. Athens eastern imitation owl, late 4th-3rd centuries BC. 16.96 grams Here are a couple of enlargements: Obverse: Reverse: As always I appreciate any comments. I am not very knowledgeable about ancient languages and the myriad variations thereof. I am pretty sure that the characters on the obverse are not die rust or die breaks. They do appear to quite intentional as part of the die engraving process. Perhaps these are some sort of control marks for this die? Any other ideas? Thanks! Edit: Here's an Aramaic alphabet for reference:

That's a very interesting coin and historical note! As for the camel, all I have to say is this coin put you over the hump! Here's my dromedary camel, courtesy of Trajan: Trajan, tetradrachm, Bosra, 112-114 AD. 11.11 grams

That's a very nice coin for a great price!

For a brief period some years back I was purchasing mostly raw peace dollars. I focused on the 1921 issue due its higher relief. Here's one example, a nice one, except for the reverse scratch🙁.

Another golden run for 2023! Wonderful coins, and again picking one is difficult for me. The Gallienus aureus is indeed very nice. I like the Magnentius solidus, especially the reverse.

Very nice! I really like the centering and bold strike.

From the Guardian: Greece would offer major treasures to UK for Parthenon marbles, minister says https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/dec/27/greece-would-offer-major-treasures-to-uk-for-parthenon-marbles-minister-says