Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3094 19-20 Aug 2021
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Ancients
ATTICA. Athens. Ca. 440-404 BC. AR tetradrachm (25mm, 17.20 gm, 8h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5, countermark. Mid-mass coinage issue. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet ornamented with three laurel leaves and vine scroll, circular countermark with Aramaic letter on cheek / AΘE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig with two leaves and one berry, and crescent moon behind, all within incuse square. HGC 4, 1597. SNG Copenhagen 31-40. Kroll 8. Solidly struck on satiny flan. Countermark expertly struck and placed.
The ubiquitous Athenian owl tetradrachm was widely imitated in the Levant, Arabia and Egypt, with copies ranging from crude to barely distinguishable from "official" issues of Athens. Likewise, Athenian tetradrachms were countermarked with Aramaic letters or bear graffito with one or more Aramaic letters while circulating in the Levant. An overview of these punches (van Alfen, p. 5) shows that they were personal badges of magistrates or bankers' marks.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-attica-athens-ca-440-404-bc-ar-tetradrachm-25mm-1720-gm-8h-ngc-choice-au-4-5-3-5-countermark/a/3094-34088.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 1000-2000 USD
ATTICA. Athens. Ca. 440-404 BC. AR tetradrachm (25mm, 17.20 gm, 8h). NGC Choice AU 4/5 - 3/5, countermark. Mid-mass coinage issue. Head of Athena right, wearing earring, necklace, and crested Attic helmet ornamented with three laurel leaves and vine scroll, circular countermark with Aramaic letter on cheek / AΘE, owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig with two leaves and one berry, and crescent moon behind, all within incuse square. HGC 4, 1597. SNG Copenhagen 31-40. Kroll 8. Solidly struck on satiny flan. Countermark expertly struck and placed.
The ubiquitous Athenian owl tetradrachm was widely imitated in the Levant, Arabia and Egypt, with copies ranging from crude to barely distinguishable from "official" issues of Athens. Likewise, Athenian tetradrachms were countermarked with Aramaic letters or bear graffito with one or more Aramaic letters while circulating in the Levant. An overview of these punches (van Alfen, p. 5) shows that they were personal badges of magistrates or bankers' marks.
https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-attica-athens-ca-440-404-bc-ar-tetradrachm-25mm-1720-gm-8h-ngc-choice-au-4-5-3-5-countermark/a/3094-34088.s?type=CoinArchives3094
HID02906262019
© 2020 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved
Estimate: 1000-2000 USD