tartanhill Posted November 2, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 2, 2022 I won an owl in the last Numismatik Naumann auction that seems to be overweight to me. It was advertised to weigh 17.51 grams but weighs 17.47 grams on my scale. My suspicion is that it may be an eastern imitation owl. Do any of you have an owl that is overweight like this? The picture is below. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kali Posted November 2, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 2, 2022 Seems a bit right to me. I've bought coins that say one weight and is off just a bit when it arrives and weighed with my scale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tartanhill Posted November 2, 2022 · Member Author Share Posted November 2, 2022 But the usual weight of an owl is in the 17.21 range. I've found none over 17.33. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deinomenid Posted November 2, 2022 · Supporter Share Posted November 2, 2022 There may be some help in this thread. There's one at 17.47. I'm outside my wheelhouse so may be comparing apples and oranges, but I just remember the discussion. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Benefactor robinjojo Posted November 2, 2022 · Benefactor Benefactor Share Posted November 2, 2022 (edited) I'd say the variance is likely due to the scales used; it's within the margin. Athenian owls and their imitations have quite a range of weights, but most Athenian standardized examples, based on my observations, seem to be in the 17.10 to around 17.25 grams. Also, the OP coin might be an imitation. Quite a few of these coins are hitting the market. The treatment of the E on the reverse is somewhat odd for an Athenian coin. Here's an Athenian intermediate owl of the 4th century BC that is on the heavy side. Attica, Athens, intermediate, Pi-style III, circa 353-340 BC. From Roma E-Sale 99, lot 115. 17.47 grams Edited November 2, 2022 by robinjojo 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romismatist Posted November 3, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 3, 2022 Interesting coin! The breast feathers look punched in rather than part of the original die. The wing feathers and olive leaves also look engraved. Has anyone ever seen these coins tooled? It's not really my collecting area so I couldn't say for sure. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewStyleKing Posted November 3, 2022 · Member Share Posted November 3, 2022 Does look NOT an official Athenian product. Somewhat heavy but no doubt a genuine ancient imitation. For a standard MASS CLASSIC OWL, 100's have been ( and still being) sold by Roma that will not break the bank. Pick your dealer and pay your dues! My example ( no longer) was thought of as a mass Classic copy of Buttrey type something or other, test cut and 17 gm and was cheap! Athens Mass Classic Owl 450-404 BC SOLD SOLD Obv :Head of Athena right 2 large and one very light test cuts. Rev : Owl facing with olive sprig and crescent moon over left field Inscription AΘE ethnic :Incuse square Grafitto poss Phoenician or Aramaic letter Beth SOLD deep test cut between owls eyes 23mm 17.07gm Buttrey " M " type un-official Egyptian produced owl--- MAYBE? 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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