The Owl type was imitated not only outside the ancient Greek world but also within it. Because of the popularity of these coins, many cities and rulers copied the obverse or reverse or both of the famous design while using their own legends. Though it's not always clear if the intention was to copy or to base the design on a similar concept, I'm calling these "derivations." Included here, undoubtedly among others, are certain coin types of Aigai, Aigeira, Akanthos, Amastris, Amisos, Arkesine, Azetion, Gortyna, Halikarnassos, Herakleia ad Latmon, Ilion, Kalate, Kamarina, Kherei, Klazomenai, Komana, Kydonia, Kyzikos, Lebedos, Magnesia, Menander, Myrina, Mytilene, Naulokos, Neonteichos, Orthe, Patara, Pergamon, Pharsalos, Priene, Priansos, Sigeion, Sinope, Soloi, Taras/Tarentum, Tauremenion, Teate, Tegea, Thourioi, Thyrrheion, and Velia. What follows are two ancient Greek coin types that closely follow both the obverse and reverse designs of Athenian Owls. On the obverse Athena's head is depicted facing right and wearing an Attic helmet (other coins depict Athena in other poses or wearing a Corinthian helmet). On the reverse the owl is standing with closed wings, with its body positioned to the right and its head facing forward (other coins depict an owl in other poses). |
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| Tarentum drachm (3.13g), Tarentum/Taras, Calabria, Magna Graecia (Italy), c. 302- 281 BC, Sear 367v., SNG ANS 1303, Vlasto 1047-1052, Historia Numorum Italy 975. This silver coin depicts on the obverse the head Athena in an Attic helmet, like Athenian Owls. But instead of a laurel wreath the helmet is ornamented with an image of Skylla/Scylla, the female sea monster of Greek mythology who devours sailors, with Skylla throwing a rock. On the reverse is an owl with its body turned right and facing forward. But it's standing on an olive branch that continues into the right field. The legend in the left field is TAP for "Of the Tarentines." On this variety the letters ZOP, the magistrate's initials, appear in the upper right field, but it's off the flan on this specimen. Other varieties of Tarentum drachms of this type include those depicting Athena facing left, an owl with open wings, an owl standing on an anchor, snake, thunderbolt, or bucranium, TAR spelled out or the magistrate's name spelled out, and other mint marks in the right field instead of an olive branch. Ironically, though this coin of Tarentum copies Athens' famous coins, Tarentum was a colony of Sparta and supported the Peloponnesian side against Athens in the Peloponnesian War of a century earlier. This coin was issued during the time that Rome was beginning to assert its power in southern Italy. The two cities repeatedly waged war, which Rome would eventually win despite the aid Tarentum received from Pyrrhus of Epirus, with Rome conquering Tarentum in 272 BC, not long after this coin was minted. |
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| Neonteichos bronze (AE-10), Neonteichos, Aeolis, Western Asia Minor (Turkey), 2nd century BC, Sear 4223, SNG Cop. 244-245, SNG von Aulock 1669-1670, SNG München 598-600, Klein 341-342, BMC Troas 1. This small bronze coin also features Athena in an Attic helmet and an owl with its body turned right and facing forward. Athena's helmet is unadorned, and the owl is standing on an NE monogram, for Neonteichos, though on this specimen encrustation has obstructed the E. A larger c. AE-17 denomination also exists (Sear 4222). |
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| Neonteichos bronze (AE-11), Neonteichos, Aeolis, Western Asia Minor (Turkey), 2nd century BC, Sear 4223, SNG Cop. 244-245, SNG von Aulock 1669-1670, SNG München 598-600, Klein 341-342, BMC Troas 1. This is the same coin type as the previous, only with this variety the owl is larger. This coin also shows evidence to a much greater extent of the potential corrosive effects on bronze of being in the ground for more than two millennia. |
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