Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3033 8 August 2014
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Ancients
ATTICA. Athens. Ca. 500-480 BC. AR tetradrachm (21mm, 16.14 gm, 6h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig to left; AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Seltman Group Gii. Svoronos pl. 2, 5. Boldly struck and nicely toned, with a charming owl. NGC Choice VF 4/5 - 3/5. Formerly in the collection of Dr. Arthur Ziegler, purchased privately in Brussels, October, 1992.Coinciding with the fall of the Peisistratid tyranny and the introduction of democracy in ca. 511 BC, the Athenian "owl" tetradrachms were introduced and became and archetype that would last nearly half a millennium. The earliest "owls" display remarkably crude workmanship and poor production standards, surprising given Athens' position as the foremost Greek city in terms of artistic achievement. This present example is actually an outstanding example of this early phase of production, with a well-centered head of Athena and a bold owl, well-struck owl, putting it in the top 5% for Athenian coins of this era.
Estimate: 8000-10000 USD
ATTICA. Athens. Ca. 500-480 BC. AR tetradrachm (21mm, 16.14 gm, 6h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig to left; AΘE to right; all within incuse square. Seltman Group Gii. Svoronos pl. 2, 5. Boldly struck and nicely toned, with a charming owl. NGC Choice VF 4/5 - 3/5. Formerly in the collection of Dr. Arthur Ziegler, purchased privately in Brussels, October, 1992.Coinciding with the fall of the Peisistratid tyranny and the introduction of democracy in ca. 511 BC, the Athenian "owl" tetradrachms were introduced and became and archetype that would last nearly half a millennium. The earliest "owls" display remarkably crude workmanship and poor production standards, surprising given Athens' position as the foremost Greek city in terms of artistic achievement. This present example is actually an outstanding example of this early phase of production, with a well-centered head of Athena and a bold owl, well-struck owl, putting it in the top 5% for Athenian coins of this era.
Estimate: 8000-10000 USD