Attractive Archaic Owl & Historically Significant

CNG 84, Lot: 454. Estimate $5000. Sold for $5199. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ATTICA, Athens. Circa 485/480 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22mm, 17.03 g, 6h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Owl standing right, head facing; olive spray behind; all within incuse square. Seltman Group F (unlisted dies); Asyut Group Vb; SNG Copenhagen 16; BMC 8. VF, lightly toned, double struck but with minimal effect. Well centered with full crest showing.

This piece is truly a choice example for an archaic period owl. Not only is the crest complete, the nose, although extending to the edge, is fully on the flan. Interestingly, it appears that the coin was struck twice--the undertype neck of Athena is visible in the field just before her face, and the head of the undertype owl is visible in the field behind the overtype owl. This fact suggests that the coin was rotated and re-struck intentionally, and the logical conclusion was that it was done to attempt a better result from striking, likely to get the full type on the flan. This second striking was remarkably successful. Although a main characteristic for Seltman’s Group F is the studs on the helmet, they are not discernible on this example. However, the overall stylistic details are most similar to that of Seltman Group F (see Seltman 148 for an example probably from the same hand as this piece). This group is dated to an historically significant period, between the time of the death of Darios I (486 BC) to the year of the invasion of Xerxes I and the Battle of Thermopylai (480 BC).