GENUINE ANCIENT OWL COINS
in chronological order.
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Velia, Lucania, Dichalkis, AE 11mm, 1.8g. 450-400 BC.
Head of Herakles right, with lionskin headdress.
YE-ΛH to left and right, Owl standing facing, wings spread.
Sambon (Italie Meridionale), 36. |
AR Old Style Tetradrachm, Attica, Athens, 449-404 BC.
Helmeted head of Athena right, countermark on cheek
AΘE, Owl standing right on branch. Countermark in r.h. side of body. The coin isn't all that fantastic but it is genuine and it is my only genuine old style tetradrachm, nearly 2500 years old. |
Silvered fourré Old Style Tetradrachm, Attica, Athens, 449-404 BC.
Helmeted head of Athena right, serpent on helmet.
AΘE, Owl standing right on branch.
This is a fourré, i.e. an ancient counterfeit with a base metal (bronze) core, and silvered surface. It has suffered a lot of breakage and damage but the Athena's helmet and the owl can be clearly seen on the coin in hand. |
AR (silver) Triobol or hemidrachm), Attica, Athens, ca 449-415 BC.
Helmeted head of Athena right.
Owl standing facing, wings closed, between two olive sprigs. A above, Θ at bottom right (E at bottom left, off flan)
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 47, Sear 2528
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AE14, Athens, 166-57 BC.
Bust of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet
AΘE beneath two owls facing on thunderbolt, all within olive wreath.
Agora 99; Svoronos 24.60-68; Kleiner Type 16. (Another example further below)
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AR (silver) Obol, Athens, Attica. 454-404 BC. 7.5 mm, 0.66 g.
Helmeted head of Athena right.
AΘE, Owl standing right, olive sprig and crescent at upper left.
Ref. Kroll Agora 13; SNG Cop. 53-56.
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AE Obol, Sicily, Kamarina. 425-405 BC.
Head of Gorgoneion facing.
KAMA, Owl standing right, head facing, holding lizard; dot below.
Ref. Calciati III, 4
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AE Obol or Triantes, Sicily, Kamarina. 425-405 BC.
Head of Gorgoneion facing
KAMA, Owl standing half right, head facing, lizard on left; dot below.
Ref. Calciati III, 31; SNG ANS 1064.
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AR obol, ancient Judaean imitation, 4th Century BC.
A tiny silver obol, a birthday present for myself several years ago. The detail of the owl on this tiny 0.7g coin is quite astounding, though Athena's helmet visor has slipped down over her eyes by the look of it.
Ref: Sear SGV 2530 |
Velia, Lucania, AE12, 4th - 2nd Century BC.
Laureate head of Zeus right / YEΛHTΩN beneath owl standing facing, wings spread.
Ref: HN Italy 1330; SNG Cop. 1603. On wildwinds.com.
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Velia, Lucania, 4th-2nd centuries BC. AE 12mm, 2.37 g.
Laureate head of Zeus right, wreath behind head / YEΛHTΩN beneath owl standing facing, wings spread.
Ref: HN Italy 1326; SNG ANS 1428.
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AE 12mm, 1.95g, Sigeon, Troas, 400-350 BC.
Head of Athena facing slightly right.
ΣIΓE, Owl standing right, head facing, wings slightly spread.
Ref. BMC 11-13; SNG Cop 497-498; McClean 7860-7862; Weber 5439-5440; SNG von Aulock 7637.
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AR 1/16th Shekel, Tyre, Phoenicia, ca. 377-357 BC.
Hippocamp left with curved wing, waves below.
Egyptian style owl standing right, head facing, crook and flail over shoulder, Phoenician numeral in left field.
Ref. Betlyon 20, BMC Phoenicia 43, Sear Greece 5916.
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AR obol, Judaean ancient imitation, 4th Century BC.
Helmeted head of Athena right
AΘH, Owl standing right, olive leaf to left, all in incuse square.
There were hundreds of Judaean forgers turning out thousands of these coins in Judaea. They seem to have circulated in Judaea only, as the Greeks probably wouldn't have touched these obvious fakes with a barge pole !
Ref. Rosen 201. |
Sigeon, Troas, Civic issue, AE13. Ca. 350 BC.
No legend, helmeted head of Athena right.
ΣIΓE, Owl standing right.
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 498. |
Sigeon, Troas, City Coinage, AE13. Ca. 350 BC. Similar to above, but this one has circular countermarks on both sides.
No legend, helmeted head of Athena right, marked with circular countermark.
ΣIΓE, Owl standing right, marked with circular countermark.
Ref: SNG Copenhagen 498.
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Tarentum (Taras), Calabria, Civic Coinage, silver drachm, 302-272 BC.
No legend, helmeted head of Athena left.
ΔIO (magistrate) beneath owl standing half-right on thunderbolt, wings spread.
Ref: SNG ANS 1317; Vlasto 1077.
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Amisos, Pontus, City Coinage, silver hemidrachm, 300-200 BC. 11mm, 1.47 gr.
No legend, Head of Tyche right, hair tightly rolled and wearing low, turreted stephanos.
AΣKΛEOYΣ (magistrate) beneath owl standing facing on shield, wings spread.
Ref: Walcher 1772. |
AE15, Pergamon, Mysia, Late 3rd century BC
Head of Athena right wearing close fitting Corinthian helmet
AΘHNAΣ - NIKHΦOΡOY to right and left of owl standing facing, wings closed; monogram of Pergamon mint (looks a little like ΠΡE) below, all within olive-wreath.
Ref: BMC 15, SGC 3965
According to Athena in the Classical World the monogram shows that Pergamon was commissioned by the sanctuary to strike these coins to finance the Nikephoria festival. The first of these festivals took place in 283 BC, commissioned by a member of the Attalid monarchy, to celebrate Athena specifically as a bringer of victory. |
AE19, Pergamon, Mysia, Late 3rd century BC
Head of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet decorated with star.
AΘHNAΣ NIKHΦOΡOY above and beneath owl standing facing on palm branch, wings spread, club in left field, B in right field.
Ref: Mionnet Supp. V, 908.
Many thanks to Ars-Aeterna Switzerland for this lovely coin.
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AE15, Attica, Athens, 297-255 BC
Bust of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet
Owl standing right, head facing, wings closed
AΘH (NA) below
Ref: Svor. 22.62-63 AA58c (?) |
AE17, Priene, Ionia, 290-170 BC. Magistrate: Dionysos.
Bust of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet
Owl standing right, head facing, wings closed, on overturned amphora above palm branch, all within olive wreath.
ΠΡIH ΔION(YΣIOY in three lines to left and right.
Ref: BMC 50; Sear Greece 4554 var (magistrate); Mionnet III, 894.
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AE11, Priene, Ionia, 290-170 BC. Magistrate: Dionysos.
Bust of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet
ΔION(YΣIOΣ) around, ΠΡIH below, owl standing right, head facing, all within olive wreath.
Apparently unpublished with the legend in these positions. Not in Isegrim or any of the many catalogs consulted. My ref: P178.
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Philip V, Macedonian Kingdom, AE17. 3.756 gr. 221-179 BC.
Laureate head of Zeus right
B-A Φin two lines, Athena standing right, brandishing spear in right, shield in left, owl at lower right.
Ref: Mamroth 11c; SNG Alpha Bank 1076. Scarce. On wildwinds.com.
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Bruttium, The Brettii, Ca 215-205 BC. AE Reduced 1/6th Uncia, 11mm, 1.05g.
Bust of Athena left wearing Corinthian helmet
BΡETTIΩN, Owl standing right, head facing, wings closed.
Ref: Scheu 35; SNG ANS 69; HN Italy 1985.
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AE14, Athens, 166-57 BC.
Bust of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet
AΘE beneath two owls facing on thunderbolt, all within olive wreath.
Agora 99; Svoronos 24.60-68; Kleiner Type 16.
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Pergamon, Mysia, Bronze AE 18mm, 3.79g. 133-116 BC.
Laureate head of Asklepios right.
AΣKΛHΠIOY / ΣΩTHΡOΣ, snake-entwined staff of Asklepios, countermark: owl facing within incuse circle.
BMC Mysia p. 128, 150 ff. (various magistrates on obverse); SNG Cop 368 ff. (same).
Countermarks were used very widely, took many forms and for a variety of reasons. This countermark is an owl standing facing. |
Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochos VII Euergetes (Sidetes), 136-135 BC., Bronze 16.8mm, 3.450g. Ake-Ptolemais mint
Helmeted head of Athena right.
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOCOY EYEΡΓETOY to left and right of owl standing right, head facing. ΓA monogram to left, IOP (year 177) below.
Houghton & Lorber 2119.1, SNG Spaer 2116, Houghton CSE 880, Hoover 1102.
Rare. |
AE9 of Neonteichos, Aeolis, Ca. 2nd C BC.
Helmeted head of Athena right
NE, Owl standing right, head facing.
Ref. cf. SNG Cop 245, BMC p. 141, 3, Klein 243, SNG v Aulock 1670.
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Another AE9 of Neonteichos, Aeolis, Ca. 2nd C BC. Similar to the one further above, but the NE monogram is clearer on this one, though Athena and the owl are not.
Helmeted head of Athena right
NE beneath Owl standing right, head facing.
cf. SNG Cop 245, BMC p. 141, 3, Klein 243, SNG v Aulock 1670. |
AE of Mysia, Pergamon, 2nd-1st Century BC.
Head of Athena right, helmeted, decorated with star
AΘTH-NAΣ NIKHΦOΡOY, Owl standing facing on branch, wings spread.
Ref. BMC 133, SG 3963.
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Another AE of Mysia, Pergamon, 2nd-1st Century BC.
Helmeted head of Athena right, star on helmet
ΘHNA / Γ-A / KH_, Owl facing, with wings spread, on palm branch, KH below.
Ref. BMC 133, SG 3963. On wildwinds.com.
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AE20, Mysia, Pergamon. (Nicephorus). 200-133 BC.
Helmeted head of Athena Nicephorus right
AΘH-NAΣ NIKHΦOΡOY, Owl standing facing on palm branch, wings spread.
Ref. BMC 195-99
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AE of Pergamon, Nicephorus, ca 200-133 BC.
Helmeted head of Athena right
AΘHNA, Owl standing facing on thunderbolt, wings spread, NIKEΦOΡOY below.
Ref. Goebl 43/24; BMC 190ff, SNG Cop 382ff.
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AE20 of Seleukeia, Cilicia. 200-0 BC. 4.35g, 20mm. Magistrate Dioskoyridos.
CEΛEY, Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet.
ΔIOΣKOYΡIΔO, owl standing left on branch, head facing.
Ref. SNG France 2 957; Paris 1970.70; cf. SNG Pfalz 1043 var (rev. legend). On wildwinds.com.
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AE20 of Seleukeia, Cilicia. 200-1 BC. 19.11 mm, 5.06 g. Magistrate Dioskoyridos.
CEΛEYKE, Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet.
ΔIOΣKOYΡIΔO, owl standing left on branch, head facing.
Ref. BMC 16; SNG France 2 957; ; SNG Pfalz 1043-1044; SNG Levante 711. On wildwinds.com.
The difference between this coin and the one above is the slightly different obverse legend.
Ex Timeline-Originals.
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AE19 of Bruttium, Vibo Valentia AE Triens. Ca 192-89 BC. 4.66g, 19mm.
Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet, earring and necklace, four dots behind.
VALENTIA, owl standing right, head facing, four dots to right.
Ref. BMC 20; SNG Cop 1850; Sear 662.
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AE13, Attica, Athens, 166-157 BC
Head of Athena right wearing Attic helmet within dotted border
Two owls standing facing left and right, heads facing, all within olive wreath
AΘE below.
Ref: BMC 214; SNG Copenhagen 90; SG 2570 |
Another AE13 from Attica, Athens, 166-157 BC
Helmeted head of Athena right / Two owls standing facing left and right, heads facing forwards, within laurel wreath, AΘE below.
Ref. SGI 2562, BMC 214
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A new style tetradrachm, Class III, of Attica, Athens, 163 BC.
Helmeted head of Athena right
A-ΘE across, EV/MH left, EΠI / Ref. Thompson 447d.
I think the ladies who modeled as Athena for these new style tetradrachmae, must have been the most beautiful women of the ancient world.
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Priene, Ionia, AE22, 150-125 BC. Magistrate Achilleides.
Helmeted head of Athena right
ΠΡI-H AXIΛΛEIΔHΣ across fields and below, owl standing front on amphora, caps of the Dioskuri surmounted by a star to left and right.
Ref: BMC 48; Regling Priene 166-167; SNG von Aulock 2156; Wiczay 7259; Mionnet Supp. VI 1367.
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Ancient Greek lead seal. Possibly 1st-2nd century AD.
ΣO.. behind owl standing right on amphora, head facing. ΔΓ or ΔΣ at lower right.
There is a hole through the lead lump on the back, for attaching the seal's string. The letters are faint. No reference. My Var67.
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AE17, Antiochos VII, Seleukid Kingdom, Gaza mint, 136-134 BC
Bust of Athena right wearing plain helmet
BAΣIΛEΩΣ ANTIOCOY EYEΡΓETOY, Owl standing facing, wings closed
Ref: Spaer 2117
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AE20, Antiochus III and Cleopatra Thea, 125-121 BC.
Radiate head of Helios right
BAΣIΛIΣΣHE KΛEOΠATΡAΣ and KAI BAΣIΛEYE ANTIOXOY to left and right of owl standing right, head facing, on amphora. Struck by Antiochus III. King of Syria in Antioch,
Refs: BMC 105, SNG Cop 377, SNG Israel I, Spaer 2441
Antiochus VIII in co-regency with his mother Cleopatra Thea, 125-121 BC. This is not "the" Cleopatra but a Seleukid queen of the same name
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Another Antiochus III and Cleopatra Thea, AE19.5, 125-121 BC.
Radiate head of Helios right
BAΣIΛIΣΣHE KΛEOΠATΡAΣ and KAI BAΣIΛEYE ANTIOXOY to left and right of owl standing right, head facing, on amphora. Struck by Antiochus III. King of Syria in Antioch,
Refs: BMC 105, SNG Cop 377, SNG Israel I, Spaer 2441
Antiochus VIII in co-regency with his mother Cleopatra Thea, 125-121 BC. This is not "the" Cleopatra but a Seleukid queen of the same name.
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And a third (I like these coins!) Antiochus III and Cleopatra Thea, AE19, 125-121 BC.
Radiate head of Helios right
BAΣIΛIΣΣHE KΛEOΠATΡAΣ and KAI BAΣIΛEYE ANTIOXOY to left and right of owl standing right, head facing, on amphora. Struck by Antiochus III. King of Syria in Antioch,
Refs: BMC 105, SNG Cop 377, SNG Israel I, Spaer 2441
Antiochus VIII in co-regency with his mother Cleopatra Thea, 125-121 BC. This is not "the" Cleopatra but a Seleukid queen of the same name.
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AE 20.5 of Philadelphia in Lydia, 1st century BC
Laureate head of Artemis right, quiver at shoulder
EΡMIΠΠOΣ EΡMOΓENOYΣ / AΡXIEΡEYΣ ΦIΛAΔEΛΦEΩN, Apollo seated left, holding patera, lyre on omphalos to right, owl on l.h. back of throne.
Ref. BMC 10-12; Winterthur 3844; Imhoof LS 6; SNG Tuebingen 3746-3747; SNG Lewis 998; Weber 6874; Mionnet Supp. VII, 372; Mionnet 917; Hunter 1-2; Mionnet IV, 534; Paris 915 and 917.
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AE 20 of Philadelphia in Lydia, 1st century BC
Same as the previous coin but clearer legends.
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Miletopolis, Mysia, City Coinage, AE13. Ca. 1st century BC.
No legend, Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet.
MIΛHT(OΠOΛI)TΩN, double-bodied owl standing facing.
Refs: BMC 6; Sear Greek 3915; SNG Cop. 250.
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Alaisa, Sicily?, 95-44 BC. Lead tessera. 15mm.
Head of Athena right wearing Attic helmet.
Owl standing right, head facing, wings closed. There is a trace of a legend at lower right, ending AΣ, which would correspond to Hoover 208.
Ref: Lead version of Hoover 208.
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Roman Republic. AR denarius. 46 BC. Moneyer Mn. Cordius Rufus.
RVFVS, owl standing facing on a crested Corinthian helmet.
(MNP CORDIVS, anti-clockwise from lower right) around aegis of Minerva with head of Medusa in the centre.
Cordia 4; Crawford 463/2; Sydenham 978.
Found in England. Thankyou to Pete Haworth ("Peatstuff") for sending me his find.
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AR 14 x 10mm hemiobol, Sear 2530, an ancient Judaean imitation.
Head of helmeted Athena right
Owl standing right, head facing
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AE13, Laodikeia ad Mare, Syria. 42-41 BC. 2.2 gr.
Helmeted head of Athena right
ΛAOΔIKEΩN TΩN ΠΡOΣ ΘAΛAΣΣH, AN below, to left and right of owl standing facing, all within wreath.
RPC I 4419.
Note: This reverse legend was used by Laodikeia only in year 7 (42 - 41 BC.) as the result of Cassius' occupation of the city in 43 BC.
Rare.
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AE11, Laodikeia ad Mare?. 38-40 BC. ?
Helmeted head of Athena right
AΘN- / ..ΔI_H..., legend to left and right of owl standing facing, all within wreath.
No ref. found yet. Closest and most similar in style is BMC 28 of Laodikeia ad Mare, Syria.
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Synnada, Phrygia, AE15, semi-autonomous issue. AD 14-37. Magistrate Valerianus.
CYNNAΔEΩN, eagle standing right, head left, wings spread.
OYAΛEΡIANOY, owl standing right on amphora.
Var of RPC I 3182; BMC 8-9; Paris 2014. (these legends on the other sides).
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Another example: Synnada, Phrygia, AE16, semi-autonomous issue. AD 14-37. Magistrate Valerianus.
CYNNAΔEΩN, eagle standing right, head left, wings spread.
OYAΛEΡIANOY, owl standing right on amphora.
Var of RPC I 3182; BMC 8-9; Paris 2014. (these legends on the other sides).
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Nero, brass (orichalcum) Quadrans, Rome mint. 62-64 AD.
NERO CLAV CAE AVG GER, owl, wings spread, standing facing on garlanded, rectangular altar.
P M TR P IMP P P S-C, upright olive-branch.
Ref: RIC I 260; Sear 1988; MacDowall WCN 354; Cohen 185.
A generous Christmas gift from Tony Owens and "Dr. Sam".
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AE Diobol. Attica, Athens, 1st century BC.
Helmeted head of Athena right / AΘE, Double-bodied crested owl standing facing, olive-leaves above.
Ref SNG 300_1887f, BMC Vol 12, Attica, PLate V, 16.
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Domitian, Silver denarius, Rome mint. AD 90.
IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TRP X, laureate head right.
IMP XXI COS XV CENS P PP, Minerva advancing right on capital of rostral column, holding spear and shield; owl at foot right. AD 90.
RIC 720; Sear 2735; RSC 266.
Thankyou Tony for this lovely "Christmas-in-Summer" present!
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Domitian, Silver denarius, Rome mint. AD 92.
IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM PM TRP XI, laureate head right.
IMP XXI COS XVI CENS P PP, Minerva advancing right on capital of rostral column, holding spear and shield; owl at foot right. AD 92.
RIC 730; RSC 274.
Ref: Ex Robert Kopp collection.
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Domitian, Silver denarius, Rome mint, similar to above but struck 3 years later, AD 95.
IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV, laureate head right
IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P, Minerva standing right on capital of rostral column, holding spear and shield; owl at foot right. 95 AD. Letters scratched on the reverse are often ancient bankers' marks, in this case "KA".
Ref: RIC 788; RIC (old) 191; BM 231-233
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AE Quadrans, Time of Domitian to Antoninus Pius, ca AD 81-161.
Helmeted and draped bust of Minerva right
Owl standing half right, head facing; S-C across fields.
Ref. RIC II, 7; Cohen 7
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Another AE Quadrans, a little different to the one above. Time of Domitian to Antoninus Pius, ca AD 81-161.
Helmeted and draped bust of Minerva right
Owl standing half right, head facing; S-C across fields.
Ref. RIC II, 7; Cohen 7
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AE Quadrans, Time of Domitian to Antoninus Pius, ca 81-161 AD.
Helmeted and draped bust of Minerva right
Owl standing left, head facing; S-C across fields.
Ref. RIC II, 8
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Antoninus Pius, Silver/Billon, 25mm, Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt
ANTΩNINOC CEBEV CEB, laureate head right
L ΔE-KATOV, Athena standing left, holding owl and resting hand on shield. Year 10 = 146-147 AD.
Ref: Milne 1884
A scarce coin.
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Unlisted Antoninus Pius AE Quadrans, (2.71g), Struck 140-144 AD.
ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TRP, laureate head right
COS III, Peacock on left, standing right, tail spread, eagle in the centre, head right, and on the right, an owl standing right, head facing; SC below.
Ref RIC III, 711 var, Cohen 178 var.
Rare. This obverse legend is listed for RIC 709b which has a reverse with the owl on the left, the eagle with head left and the peacock on the right. RIC 711 has this coin's reverse but a different obverse legend. On wildwinds.com.
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Antoninus Pius billon tetradrachm, Alexandria, Egypt, 159 AD
ANTΩNINO CEBEY CEB, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right / Athena standing right resting on spear against which stands a shield and holding owl on outstretched left hand; L-K (Year 20 = 159 AD) across fields.
Ref: Milne 2320 |
Marcus Aurelius orialchum dupondius, AD 154-155.
AVRELIVS CAESAR AVG PII FIL, bare-headed, draped bust right, seen from the back / TR POT VIIII COS II, Minerva standing left, holding owl and spear, shield resting against her legs. S-C across fields.
Ref: RIC 1321 [ant. pius] var (denomination), BMCRE 1986. Not in RIC as dupondius or As
On wildwinds.com.
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Marcus Aurelius AE Sestertius, 155-156 AD.
AVRELIVS CAES ANTON AVG P II F, bare-headed, draped bust right / TRP X COS II, Minerva standing left, holding owl and spear, shield resting against her legs.
Ref: RIC 1325b; Cohen 687.
On wildwinds.com.
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Faustina II (wife of Marcus Aurelius), AE (Bronze) 21mm, of Pautalia, Thrace. ca 147-153 AD
ΦAYCTEINA CEBACTH, head of Faustina right
OYΛΠIAC ΠAYTAΛIAC, Athena seated left, holding owl, resting on spear, shield at side.
Ref: Ruzicka 106; Moushmov 4102
A scarce coin. On wildwinds.com.
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Commodus, AE of Gabala, Syria (modern day Jableh), AD 180-192.
AYT KAICAP M KOMOΔON, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Commodus left
above: ΓAΣ over ΓABAΛEΩN, ΔC left, owl standing right on globe, and sphinx (modius on head) standing left on base; KT below.
Ref: BMC 8, SNG II 3234, Lindgren 2055
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Elagabalus AE26 (bronze 26mm), Pentassarion of Markianopolis, Magistrate Ant. Seleucus. AD 218-222.
AVT K M AVΡ ANTΩNEINOC AΓ, laureate, draped, cuirassed
bust of Elagabalus right, seen from back
VΠ IOVΛ ANT CEΛEYKOY MAΡKIANOΠOΛITΩN, Athena standing left, holding owl in her extended right hand and resting left hand on shield.
Ref: Varbanov Bulg. 1300, AMNG 936 var
A scarce Elagabalus coin of Athena holding her owl.
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Gordian III and Tranquillina AE27 (bronze 27mm), Pentassarion of Odessos, Thrace. AD 238-244.
AVT K M ANT ΓOΡΔIANOC AV CE TΡANKVΛΛEINA, laureate head of Gordian right, facing diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina left.
OΔHCCEITΩN, Athena standing left, holding owl in her extended right hand and vertical spear in left, shield at her side.
Ref: Moushmov 1683; AMNG 2386;
Scarce.
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| GENUINE MODERN OWL COINS etc
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Kazakhstan 50 Tenge. Issued 2011. CuNi 30mm.
KAPWbIfA ΡEHΔI CAΡAΛAK and SURIA ULULA 2011 around owl standing right on branch, head facing.
KA3AKCTAH YΛTTbAK bAHKI 50 TEHΓI around rocky mountain side with tree branches extending left, to which an owl is flying. Uncirculated. |
Gough Island, Tristan da Cunha, 2009. 25 pence, bimetallic (aluminium-bronze centre in copper-nickel ring). 9.1 g. 26mm. Engraver: Robert Elderton.
Obv: QUEEN ELIZABETH II GOUGH ISLAND and date 2009 below, crowned head of Queen Elizabeth right.
Rev: TWENTY FIVE PENCE, barn owl standing left, head facing.
Ref: KM 7. |
Poland, 2 Zloty, 2005. 28mm, 8 g. gold-coloured "Nordic Gold" (CuAl5Zn5Sn1 = copper-zinc-aluminium-tin).
Obv: PUCHACZ Bubo bubo, Great Horned Owl standing left, looking right, on the branch of a tree beside a nest with three owl chicks.
Rev: RZECZPOSPOLITA POLSKA above, 2005 Zt 2 Zt beneath the crowned Polish imperial eagle, head left, wings spread. |
Democratic Republic of Congo, 20 Francs, 2003.
24k .999 proof Gold, 13.92 mm, 1/25th oz
AΘH, Classical Athenian owl standing right, head facing, olive branch and crescent to left
Rev: JEUX OLYMPIQUES 2004 ATHENS / REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO / 2003 / 20 FRANCS, lion standing left, head facing.
I am not in the habit of buying gold coins because I can't afford them but I bought this one for quite a low price from a German seller. It's quite small but very lovely.
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Greece 1 Euro, 2002, shortly after the Euro was introduced. Bi-metal coin, 1 EURO superimposed on map of Europe
(Switzerland is not included in the outline because it is still a free, non-EU country :-)
Classical owl, standing right, olive spray to left, all within incuse square.
Thanks to my friend John in Greece for this one.
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Ukraine, 2 Grivni, 2002
Obv: YKPAIHA ("Ukraine") 2 ΓΡNBHI, date 2002 below, all within wreath of redcurrant branch with fruit, bird, thistle, oak branch with acorns, frog on lily leaf and flowers; Ukrainian coat of arms above; mintmark below date.
Rev: ΠYΓAY - BUBO BUBO to left and right of eagle owl standing right on oak branch, head left, moon and stars above left.
Ref. KM-155. |
This is the reverse of a 1999 Canadian 25 cent piece.
(The obverse has the head of Queen Elizabeth II in profile)
Rev: owl superimposed on a polar bear and APRIL 1999 AVRIL reflecting the bilingual nature of Canada.
Canada issued a series of "collector" quarters for the provinces in 1992 and for 1999 and 2000 they issued 24 designs, one per month. The April 1999 (bear-owl) coin was for "Our Northern Heritage". But normally, there is only the year on Canadian coinage.
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AlMg 16mm 20 Stotin Coin from Slovenia, 1992. ASIO OTUS owl standing facing, value (20) to left.
DVAJSET STOTINOV ("Twenty Stotins") REPUBLIKA SLOVENIJA around value (20).
These coins, produced and issued in 1992 though officially introduced in 1993 have been out of circulation since January 15th, 2007. Ref. K-8
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USSR, 5 Rubles, Bi-metal, outer part: copper-nickel alloy, inner part: copper-zinc alloy, 1991
Obv: KPACHAЯ KHИΓA CCCP HИVИΦ PbIБHbIЙ (Red Data Book of the USSR) in Cyrillic around Blakiston's fish owl standing facing, reeds to left and right.
Rev: ΓOCYДAPCTBEHHBIЙ БAHK CCCP (Central Comrades Bank of the USSR) around 5 PYБΠEЙ, date 1991 below, branch to left, oak branch with acorn to right.
Ref. K-280, Y280
This coin is part of the Red Data Book series issue. The Red Data Book is a state document which documents rare and endangered species existing within the Russian Federation.
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CuNi 1 Drachm, 1973
2 ΔΡACMH to right of classical owl standing right, engraver's name N. ΠEΡ. below left
EΛΛHNIKH-ΔHMOKΡATIA around phoenix rising from flames, engraver's name I. Σ TIN and year 1973 below. Light signs of circulation, Ref K-107
(As of December 2008 I have 1 spare copy of this coin, slightly worn. If anyone wants to swap one for an ancient coin which may interest me (not necessarily owls or Fel Temps), please contact me).
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CuNi 2 Drachmae, 1973
2 ΔΡAXMAI below classical owl standing right, engraver's name N. ΠEΡ below left
EΛΛHNIKH-ΔHMOKΡATIA around phoenix rising from flames, engraver's name I. Σ TIN and year 1973 below. Uncirculated, Ref K-108
(As of February 2008 I have 3 more of these coins left, all uncirculated. If anyone wants to swap one for an ancient coin which may interest me (not necessarily owls or Fel Temps), please contact me).
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France, Ni. 1 Franc, 1973. REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE, Woman walking left, sowing seed.
LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE, 1 FRANC 1973, olive branch and berries - owl mintmark to the right of the date.
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France, brass 20 Centimes, 1970. REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE, Draped bust of Marianne left.
LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE, 20 CENTIMES 1970 - owl mintmark to the right of the date.
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France, Ni. 1 Franc, 1965. REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE, Woman walking left, sowing seed.
LIBERTE EGALITE FRATERNITE, 1 FRANC 1965, olive branch and berries - owl mintmark to the right of the date.
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AL 10 Lepta, 1912
Owl standing right, head facing on amphora, olive branch right, value 10 Lepta to right, engraver's name Ch. Pillet below.
BAΣΛEION THΣ EΛΛAΔOΣ in three lines, crown and year 1912.
Charles Pillet (1869-1960) was a French engraver who engraved many stunningly beautiful plaques, medallions and coins in the Late 19th and early 20th century.
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| MODERN ERA OWL MEDALLIONS, TOKENS etc.
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USA (Lilsilver.com). 2014. Silver 14 x 5 mm.
These small 1 gr. slices of silver with an owl on them are available on ebay, often for $2 or $3 plus $1 or so postage. They also offer pieces with other animals on them.
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Owl keychain, 2013
Keyring depicting a new style tetradrachm of Athens from 110/109 BC. Magistrates Theodotos, Paltos and Kleophanes.
Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right.
Rev: A-ΘE and the three magistrates' names ΘEO-ΔO-TOΣ, ΠAΛ-TΩN and KΛE-OΦA-NHΣ, owl standing right, head facing, Δ on the amphora, ME below. No symbols.
I can find these names in various lists, but the listed coins all have L on the amphora. The original coin is probably listed in Svoronos, but I need to look through the book. Bought on ebay for 3 SFr.
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"Leeds Halfpenny", Bronze, 30mm, 1791
ARTIS NOSTRAE CONDITOR dot, Bishop Blaize wearing mitre standing facing, head left, holding shepherd's crook, book and woolcomb; at foot right a lamb standing right, head turned back
LEEDS HALFPENNY 1791 around and below Leeds coat of arms: a shield, three stars and fleece, above, an owl standing left, head facing
In the 18th century, Leeds in NE England was a major centre of the woollen industry.
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Order of the Owls Token. 31mm (dollar size), brass, year unknown.
Obv: HEADS YOU WIN IF YOU JOIN THE ORDER OF OWLS, to left of owl's head and neck facing left.
TAILS YOU LOSE IF YOU DO NOT JOIN THE ORDER OF OWLS, to the right of the back half of the owl.
I am not sure to which Order of Owls that this refers. There was a masonically related "Independent Order of Owls", founded in St. Louis, MO in the 1890, and an "Order of Owls" fraternity, founded in 1904 in South Bend, IN, still exists. There was also a Boy Scout "Order of Owls" at Camp Caudle AK, prior to 1938. I bought this on ebay from a Canadian seller.
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Order of the Owls Token. Hexagonal, alloy, year unknown.
Obv: ORDER OF OWLS 1572, three owls sitting facing on a branch.
Rev: GOOD FOR 5 CENTS IN TRADE AT THE BAR.
I am not sure to which Order of Owls this refers, either - in any case they had a bar!. Ebay purchase (USA). I presume that the 1572 is simply the token number, rather like a ticket number.
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Fisk Tyres advertising gift. 31mm (dollar size), brass, 1938.
Obv: INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER above owl standing facing on branch, cloud-like pattern behind.
TIME TO RE-TIRE above a boy in pyjamas, standing facing, tyre over right shoulder and holding candle in candlestick. GET A FISK / 1938 below, cloud-like pattern behind.
The Fisk tyre boy first appeared in 1907 in an oil painting by Burr Giffen. It was registered as the Fisk trademark in 1914. Fisk manufactured automobile tyres from 1899 in Springfield Massachusets and moved to a factory in Chicopec Falls in 1916. In 1940 the company was aquired by the US Rubber Co. (now Uniroyal).
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German Spielmarke. 20.5mm, brass, 1950s ?.
Obv: owl standing left on branch, head facing.
Rev: SPIELMARKE within wreath of oak leaves
No reference. I do not know who manufactured this token.
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US Mardi Gras "Dubloon" Coin Token, 39 mm light Aluminium, 1978
Obverse (not photographed); KREWE OF JUPITER, NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS above and below fancy shield with sun in centre, fleur de lys and two spears crossed behind crown below
TRIUMPHS OF ARTS & SCIENCES below owl standing facing, scrolls, scales and artist's pallet before; stars in lower field; date 1978 on book pages below
Mardi Gras dubloon-coin-tokens were first made in 1960 by the die-maker H. Alvin Sharpe. The obverse of each dubloon has the Krewe (Club) name and the reverse shows the theme for that year. Aluminum dubloons are often thrown from Mardi Gras floats during their annual parade of the Mardi Gras season in the New Orleans area.
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US Mardi Gras "Dubloon" Coin Token, 39 mm light Aluminium, 1974
Obverse KREWE OF ATHENA above and below Athena standing facing on rocky mound; to left an owl standing facing; to right a laurel wreath; MARDI GRAS across fields below.
Reverse (not photographed); ATHENA AND THE OLYMPIANS above Apollo standing half left, examining lyre; cymbal, book, scroll and lyre to left; palm branch, trumpet, masks to right, date 1974 below.
See above for the history of Mardi Gras dubloon-coin-tokens.
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German board game place holder, 18 mm, 1960s?
No legend, owl standing left on branch, head facing
Raven (?) standing left on tree stump, with clump of grass at base.
The German owl coin collector, Rudolf Schaaf has kindly informed me: Such pieces were made for games in the 1920s but also again in the 1960s. They exist with various creatures on them, but owls crop up quite often. They were usually made in a brass alloy (copper and zinc). .
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US Military token, Vietnam, Danang area, nickel plated brass, 18 mm (5 cent)
No legend, owl standing left on branch, head facing
No legend, heron standing left, head turned back, branches with needles and berries to left and right, moon (?) at top right.
Ref: SVN B-495
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US Military token, Vietnam, Danang area, nickel plated brass, 21.5 mm (10 cent)
No legend, owl standing left on branch, head facing
No legend, heron standing left, head turned back, branches with needles and berries to left and right, moon (?) at top right.
Ref: N86-10 (Die 1)
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US Military token, Vietnam, Danang area, nickel plated brass, 21.5 mm (10 cent)
No legend, owl standing left on branch, head facing
No legend, heron standing left, head turned back, branches with needles and berries to left and right, moon (?) at top right.
Ref: N86-10 (Die 2)
(Differences are (Obverse:) the line of feathers on owl's wing, shape of owl's tail feathers, top line of the branch; (Reverse:) length of heron's wing, amount of foliage on branches on reverse, length of bird's bill)
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US Military token, Vietnam, Danang area, nickel plated brass, 24 mm (25 cent)
No legend, owl standing left on branch, head facing
No legend, heron standing left, head turned back, branches with needles and berries to left and right, moon (?) at top right.
Ref: N89-25
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31.5mm Aluminium US "Woodsy Owl", United States Forest Service
"WOODSY OWL - GIVE A HOOT - DON'T POLLUTE" around the owl emblem of the USFS.
WOODSY SPREAD THE WORD . NEVER BE A DIRTY BIRD; IN THE CITY OR IN THE WOODS . HELP KEEP AMERICA LOOKING GOOD.
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| MODERN COPIES AND REPLICAS OF OWL COINS
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Phellus, Lycia, AR tetrobol, ca 440-410 BC. Tetrobol, struck by Kheriga. Modern replica.
Female head right, hair in a plait in the neck and tied with a triple band around head, wearing earring in the form of a bunch of grapes and a necklace; HC at upper left.
HK-like monogram (Lycian for Kher) at upper right, Owl standing right in the circle of a tetraskelis. Note that this coin has no marking showing that it is a replica.
Ref. No. of the original: Morkholm and Zahle, "The Coinage of the Lycian Dynasts Kheriga, Kherei and Erbbin", 7.
A lovely gift from Pete Haworth.
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Amisos as Peiraesos, Pontos. Replica of an AR Siglos. 17mm.
Turreted head of Tyche left, wearing necklace and trident-shaped earring, flowers on the crown.
AI-ΔN (should be ΔI-AN) across fields, ΠEIΡA below, eagle standing front in typical Amisos fashion, wings spread. Note that this coin has no marking showing that it is a replica.
Ref. No. of the original: Weber 4761. Genuine examples are about 19mm and ca. 5.7 g.
Another lovely gift from Pete Haworth.
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The Sikeliotes, Sicily. Replica of a gold 25 litrae or quarter-stater. 12mm. Original was minted in Morgantina.
Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet; two dots behind neck, thunderbolt behind head.
ΣIKEΛIΩTAN, Owl standing half right, head facing, wings closed. TIΣ or HΣ monogram in right field.
Ref. No. of the original: Hoover HGC 907.
Another lovely gift from Pete Haworth.
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Sophytes. Baktria, AR Didrachm replica.
Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves over visor and a spiral palmette on the bowl; AΡ behind head.
AΘE, Owl standing right, head facing; to left, curved back, prow of galley right above branch with grape bunch and leaf.
Ref. No. of the original: SNG ANS 6; cf. MIG Type 24.
Another lovely gift from Pete Haworth.
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Tarentum, Calabria. Replica of an AR Drachm struck in 302-281 BC. 17mm.
Helmeted head of Athena right, helmet decorated with Skylla hurling a stone.
TAΡ at upper right, owl standing right on olive branch, wings closed.
Ref. No. of the original: Vlasto 1052ff. Genuine examples have the city name at top left and a date on the right. Note that this coin has no marking showing that it is a replica.
Another lovely gift from Pete Haworth.
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Tetradrachm replica.
Helmeted head of Athena right, refined archaic style, helmet adorned with three olive leaves and a floral scroll.
AΘE around owl standing right, head facing, tilted slightly right, fots on chest and upper wing, wings closed, olive spray and crescent to left, all within incuse square.
Ref. of the original: SNG Cop 63.
A lovely gift from Pete Haworth.
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An original of this dekadrachm is the most valuable coin in the world. Most of them in a Turkish museum, following the confiscation of a hoard before it was smuggled out of Turkey, and the return of another hoard to the Turkish government after it had been smuggled out of the country and offered for sale in US auctions. An English coin dealer had 12 made from 99.9% sterling silver and I am lucky to have one. Weight: 31.8g.
Helmeted head of Athena right, refined archaic style, helmet adorned with three olive leaves and a floral scroll, hair arranged in wavy bands across the temples
AΘE around owl standing facing, wings spread, olive spray to left, all within incuse square.
Refs of originals: Seltman 445-452; BMC 40, Historia Numorum, p. 311 (ill. 210)/312
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Silver AR 12mm hemiobol ? copy of an archaic style tetradrachm.
Helmeted head of Athena right, archaic style, eye not in profile, and wearing crested Attic helmet
AΘE, Owl standing right within incuse square, olive twig at top left, one leaf of which extends beyond the incuse.
This is a tiny little thing, almost perfectly circular. It is well made but has some characteristics which give it away as a copy, probably modern, perhaps from the 1950s-1960s.
Replica of Berry 862; Hendin 449 (both obols).
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Nestle Promotion Replica of a New Style Tetradrachm, 1975
Type without magistrates' names, 157-63 BC
Bust of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet
AΘH, Owl standing facing on upturned amphora, fantasy monogramms to left and right, club right. NP75 ("Nachprgung 1975") stamp below.
A set of 10 or so replica coins was given away in 1975, attached to the inside of the lids of jars of Nescaf instant coffee.
Replica of Sear 2553v
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Westair Reproductions 22K gold-plated cast replica of Gold Stater
Helmeted bust of Athena right, eye in profile, WRL stamped below.
AΘH, Owl standing right, olive-leaf and crescent behind, incuse square to right
Replica of the Staters described in Head Historia Numorum I, p. 313. The originals of these staters were made 430-350 BC, (not 300-262 BC as described by Westair, at which time the New Style bust of Athena was being used and hardly any gold coins were being produced in Athens).
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Modern AE copper cast copy of a tetradrachm.
Helmeted head of Athena right
AΘH, Owl standing right, olive leaf to left, all in incuse square.
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CuNi BP Collection replica from the 1960s.
ANTIEKE GRIEKS ROMEINSE MUNTEN around, III TETRADRACHME UIT ATHENE, Ve eeuw v. Christ. (= "5th century BC") in five lines, COLLECTIE BP below
AΘE, classical type owl standing right on branch, olive branch at top left. These coins were issued by the petroleum company BP in the 60s, (similar to Shell's series of Racing Car commemorative coins in the early 80s). They were also issued with legends in French.
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Tetradrachm, modern replica
Helmeted bust of Athena right
AΘH, Owl standing right, olive-leaf behind,
Replica of Sear GCV 2530. Reid ("Mr Owl") Goldsborough kindly informs me that this is a Wilbert replica, originally part of a 12-replica set marked "Wilbertly Yours" on the box and distributed as a free promotion to businesses by Wilbert Funeral Services of Broadview, Ill., USA, in the 1960s and 1970s. Another example on Reid Goldsboroughs Website |
Tetradrachm, modern replica
Helmeted bust of Athena right
AΘH, Owl standing right, olive-leaf behind,
Replica of Sear GCV 2530. Reid Goldsborough, who knows these things, tells me it appears to be a cast copy of a Museum Reproductions replica, made by Museum Reproductions of Cheshire, England. The ones they sell have an "R" countermark on the reverse.
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