Athenian Owl Replicas

Owls have been copied not only by scammers trying to cheat unsuspecting buyers, but also legitimately by museums and commercial replica makers, with no intent to deceive.

Collecting an inexpensive replica of an expensive ancient coin is similar to hanging on your wall an inexpensive poster of an expensive oil painting. Collecting replicas of authentic ancient coins you have in your collection can also be an interesting way to see various modern interpretations of ancient coin art. Replicas, like ancient imitations, ancient and modern counterfeits, and modern coins, currency, medals, and tokens that depict ancient iconography, are variations on a theme.

Mayer & Wilhelm 19th century electrotype replica Archaic Owl tetradrachm (16.1g). This is one of a large group of attractive unmarked replicas sold during the summer of 2006 on eBay by a volume seller from Germany. He referred to them in his auction descriptions only as "repros," without any other identifying information, and sometimes not attributing the coin that the replica copied.

When asked, the seller said he had recently purchased more than 500 electrotype replicas from a firm that had gone bankrupt, and he helpfully provided a scan of the cover of an 1893 catalog of these replicas. The catalog cover in German describes the pieces as "copies in non-noble metals for use in schools and for collectors." It indicates they were produced by Metallwaren-Fabrik Wilhelm Mayer of Stuttgart, Germany. This is a metal works company, often referred to as Mayer & Wilhelm, that was run at least for a period of time by both Wilhelm Mayer and Franz Wilhelm. It produced silver- and gold-plated pewter coin replicas along with medals, plaques, pins, and other works. The catalog cover also indicates that the coins for reproduction were selected by the Keeper of the Royal Coin Cabinet in Munich, so presumably the originals were from the Munich Coin Cabinet.

The above piece has some heft to it and is no doubt made of lead-based pewter. It appears to be an electrotype, with the edges filed and remnants of a straight edge seam visible in places. Museums of this period, including most famously the British Museum, made electrotypes of their coins, which involved soldering together two sides of the electroplated copy. If history repeats, other copies based on these newly surfaced Mayer & Wilhelm electrotypes will be entering the ancient coin marketplace, sold as authentic coins, either casts or pressed/struck copies made from cast dies. Alternatively, the above may simply be a cast of a Mayer & Wilhelm electrotype.

Gallery Mint Museum replica Early Classical Owl tetradrachm (18.3g). This is a high-quality but heavy pressed replica made of .999 fine silver by Gallery Mint Museum, a replica maker in Eureka Springs, AR. It has a "COPY" countermark on the reverse, which on these particular replicas is sometimes at the owl's feet, as on the above piece, and sometimes below this outside the incuse square. This replica copies an Early Classical Owl from c. 467-465 BC, Sear 2518.

CopyCoins replica Early Classical Owl tetradrachm (11.8g). This is a beautifully done but curious replica from CopyCoins of Madrid, Spain. It combines design elements of Owl from different eras. The hair on Athena's forehead is like that of Star Group IV Owls of 460-455 BC. Athena's mouth and the tail feathers of the owl is that of mass Owls of 449-413 BC. The reverse is lacking a crescent moon, as on archaic Owls before 480 BC. It's small in diameter and lightweight. Though purportedly of pure silver, it has the look and feel of lead-based pewter and appears to be a high-quality cast with faint remnants of a seam in the middle of the edge.

Slavey replica Early Classical Owl tetradrachm (16.7g). This high-quality pressed replica, made of .950 silver, is one of the finer works of the Bulgarian replica maker Slavey Petrov, who goes by his first name, Slavey. Charactistically, the details are beautifully though flamboyantly rendered. The fields on this specimen are overflat, noticeable in particular on the reverse outside the incuse, though this isn't the case with all Slavey Owls. It has an "SL COPY" countermark on the edge (not visible in this photo). This replica copies an Early Classical Owl from c. 455-449 BC, Sear 2521. More on Slavey replicas.

Antiquanova replica Early Classical Owl tetradrachm (17.2g). This high-quality pressed replica, made of .999 silver, is from the Czech coin replica maker Antiquanova. An S countermark, for the engraver Petr Sousek, appears either to the right of the owl's legs, as on this specimen, or under the owl's tail feathers. This replica also copies an Early Classical Owl from c. 455-449 BC, Sear 2521.

Rosa replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (17.3g). This high-quality pressed replica, made of a lead alloy, is an early work of Peter Rosa, the American replica maker. Rosa based many of this replicas on casts he bought from the British Museum. This replica is unmarked and was originally sold by one of Rosa's colleagues, a Mr. Siegel (first name unknown), in 1963. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.

Rosa/Doyle replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (11.1g). This is a lightweight silver-plated cast replica, made by Charles Doyle from Peter Rosa's molds, which he bought from Rosa's estate. Doyle also worked with Rosa, and he currently makes these replicas, which he sells on eBay. This replica is countermarked with "COPY" on the edge (not visible in this photo). The obverse of this replica is documented in Wayne Sayles 2001 book Classical Deception as No. 28. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526. The Toronto Forger used this replica as the seed coin for another of his Owl forgeries.

Charlton Mint replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (10.5g). This is a lightweight pewter cast replica also made from Peter Rosa's molds, in this case by Charlton Mint of Saratoga Springs, NY. The replica is countermarked with "COPY" on the reverse to the right of the owl. It's smaller, thinner, and lighter than the Rosa/Doyle version, and it exhibits more obvious casting pits.

NT Ancients replica of Rosa replica (6.1g). This is a cast copy of the above Rosa replica but without a "COPY" countermark on the edge. Compared with both the Rosa copy and Charlton Mint copy, it's even thinner and lighter. It's a third-generation copy, or a copy of a copy of a copy. This piece is a product of NT Ancients of Quebec, Canada.

Museum Reproductions replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (13.3g). This cast copy, made of pewter, has an "R" countermark and was made by Museum Reproductions in England. This is an inexpensively made, and inexpensive, replica with large casting pits over its surfaces, muddy and indistinct details, and Athena rendered with her nose sliced in half. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.

Metropolitan Museum of Art replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (9.6g). This low-weight silver-plated brass cast replica was made for New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art and sold by the museum's shop in large numbers in the 1950s and 1960s. This specimen like all of these particular replicas has a center dimple on the obverse, an edge cut at 8 o'clock on the obverse and 6 o'clock on the reverse, and prominent casting pits. This replica, made before the U.S. Hobby Protection Act was passed in 1973, isn't marked with a "COPY" or similar countermark. It's often auctioned on eBay as an authentic coin, though in many cases, not all, it appears that the seller doesn't know it's a replica. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.

Larson replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (17.2g). This hand-cut, struck copy is made of .900 fine silver and has a "COPY" countermark on the edge. It's a work of Charles Lawson, author of the informative but controversial 2004 book Numismatic Forgery, which sheds light on coin forgery by providing how-to tips. This replica is anything but convincing, however. Though it was produced using ancient methods (with the replacement of a hand-held hammer with a gravity hammer machine for consistency), and it's the correct weight and diameter, it's unrealistically styled, and the flan is very low relief in contrast to the evocatively high relief flans of ancient Owls. No attempt was made to tone and otherwise age this piece, though his book describes such techniques. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.

Wilbert replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (9.4g). This low-weight, undersize cast replica appears to be made of pewter, a tin alloy. This replica, which is unmarked, originally was part of a 12-replica set marked "Wilbertly Yours" on the box and was distributed as a free promotion to business accounts by Wilbert Funeral Services of Broadview, Ill., in the 1960s and 1970s. Wilbert also distributed sets of replicas of U.S. colonial coins and U.S. early Western coins. Despite the size and weight of the above Owl replica, it frequently appears on eBay as an authentic coin. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.

Turkish ceramic jewelry replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (3.0g). This is a work by Bekircan Tahberer of Sandan Art in Turkey. It's an interesting piece, an attractive clay pendant meant to be worn on a necklace that was cast from a Classical Owl c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.

Bedouin soapstone replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (17.3g, 38mm). This piece, made by a Saudi Arabian Bedouin, is another interesting replica originating from the Muslim world. It's hand cut in soapstone, a soft lightweight metamorphic rock composed mostly of the mineral talc. No doubt purely by chance, this oversize piece weighs about the same as an authentic Owl. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.

Cretan bronze replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (276g, 86/82mm). This very large off-metal unmarked replica was said to have originated in Crete in the early 1960s. It's ugly though not uninteresting. The green pockmarks on the obverse fields and the edge appear to be a clumsy attempt to simulate age. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526, though Athena's sidelock is more reminiscent of earlier Owls.

Mayer & Wilhelm 19th century electrotype replica Intermediate Style tetradrachm (16.7g). This silver-plated replica is from the same seller in Germany who sold the archaic Owl replica at the top of this page. It appears to be from the same hand as that Mayer & Wilhelm piece, though it shows evidence of the soft details of a cast, and it's likely a cast the original electrotype replica. (The first piece might be also as the seller sells casts of Slavey and other replicas). Still, the above piece is attractively done, with a small, thick flan and attractive toning, and it's full weight despite being silver plated. As with the first piece, it has what appears to be the remnants of an edge seam.

Slavey replica New Style Owl tetradrachm (16.9g). This high-quality pressed replica, made of .950 silver, is another of Slavey's better works, with beautifully cut dies, careful minting, and attractive toning. Unlike the Slavey replica of the Classical Owl pictured earlier on this page, this replica is unmarked with a "COPY" or similar countermark. It copies a New Style Owl from c. 157-63 BC, Sear 2553v.

Rosa/Doyle replica New Style Owl tetradrachm (10.6g). This lightweight silver-plated cast replica, made by Charles Doyle from Peter Rosa's molds, is not one of his better works. It's undersize, very lightweight, and with noticeable casting pits. This replica is countermarked with "COPY" on the edge (not visible in this photo). It copies a New Style Owl from c. 157-63 BC, Sear 2553v.

Athenian Owls

Owl Fourrees

Owl Imitations

Owl Forgeries

Owl Replicas

Owl Medals

Owl References

Note: All of the coins illustrated on these pages that are in my possession are stored off site.

		Owls have been copied not only by scammers trying to cheat unsuspecting buyers, but also legitimately by museums and commercial replica makers, with no intent to deceive. Collecting an inexpensive replica of an expensive ancient coin is similar to hanging on your wall an inexpensive poster of an expensive oil painting. Collecting replicas of authentic ancient coins you have in your collection can also be an interesting way to see various modern interpretations of ancient coin art. Replicas, like ancient imitations, ancient and modern counterfeits, and modern coins, currency, medals, and tokens that depict ancient iconography, are variations on a theme.


		Mayer & Wilhelm 19th century electrotype replica Archaic Owl tetradrachm (16.1g). This is one of a large group of attractive unmarked replicas sold during the summer of 2006 on eBay by a volume seller from Germany. He referred to them in his auction descriptions only as "repros," without any other identifying information, and sometimes not attributing the coin that the replica copied. When asked, the seller said he had recently purchased more than 500 electrotype replicas from a firm that had gone bankrupt, and he helpfully provided a scan of the cover of an 1893 catalog of these replicas. The catalog cover in German describes the pieces as "copies in non-noble metals for use in schools and for collectors." It indicates they were produced by Metallwaren-Fabrik Wilhelm Mayer of Stuttgart, Germany. This is a metal works company, often referred to as Mayer & Wilhelm, that was run at least for a period of time by both Wilhelm Mayer and Franz Wilhelm. It produced silver- and gold-plated pewter coin replicas along with medals, plaques, pins, and other works. The catalog cover also indicates that the coins for reproduction were selected by the Keeper of the Royal Coin Cabinet in Munich, so presumably the originals were from the Munich Coin Cabinet. The above piece has some heft to it and is no doubt made of lead-based pewter. It appears to be an electrotype, with the edges filed and remnants of a straight edge seam visible in places. Museums of this period, including most famously the British Museum, made electrotypes of their coins, which involved soldering together two sides of the electroplated copy. If history repeats, other copies based on these newly surfaced Mayer & Wilhelm electrotypes will be entering the ancient coin marketplace, sold as authentic coins, either casts or pressed/struck copies made from cast dies. Alternatively, the above may simply be a cast of a Mayer & Wilhelm electrotype.


		Gallery Mint Museum replica Early Classical Owl tetradrachm (18.3g). This is a high-quality but heavy pressed replica made of .999 fine silver by Gallery Mint Museum, a replica maker in Eureka Springs, AR. It has a "COPY" countermark on the reverse, which on these particular replicas is sometimes at the owl's feet, as on the above piece, and sometimes below this outside the incuse square. This replica copies an Early Classical Owl from c. 467-465 BC, Sear 2518.


		CopyCoins replica Early Classical Owl tetradrachm (11.8g). This is a beautifully done but curious replica from CopyCoins of Madrid, Spain. It combines design elements of Owl from different eras. The hair on Athena's forehead is like that of Star Group IV Owls of 460-455 BC. Athena's mouth and the tail feathers of the owl is that of mass Owls of 449-413 BC. The reverse is lacking a crescent moon, as on archaic Owls before 480 BC. It's small in diameter and lightweight. Though purportedly of pure silver, it has the look and feel of lead-based pewter and appears to be a high-quality cast with faint remnants of a seam in the middle of the edge.


		Slavey replica Early Classical Owl tetradrachm (16.7g). This high-quality pressed replica, made of .950 silver, is one of the finer works of the Bulgarian replica maker Slavey Petrov, who goes by his first name, Slavey. Charactistically, the details are beautifully though flamboyantly rendered. The fields on this specimen are overflat, noticeable in particular on the reverse outside the incuse, though this isn't the case with all Slavey Owls. It has an "SL COPY" countermark on the edge (not visible in this photo). This replica copies an Early Classical Owl from c. 455-449 BC, Sear 2521. More on Slavey replicas.


		Antiquanova replica Early Classical Owl tetradrachm (17.2g). This high-quality pressed replica, made of .999 silver, is from the Czech coin replica maker Antiquanova. An S countermark, for the engraver Petr Sousek, appears either to the right of the owl's legs, as on this specimen, or under the owl's tail feathers. This replica also copies an Early Classical Owl from c. 455-449 BC, Sear 2521.


		Rosa replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (17.3g). This high-quality pressed replica, made of a lead alloy, is an early work of Peter Rosa, the American replica maker. Rosa based many of this replicas on casts he bought from the British Museum. This replica is unmarked and was originally sold by one of Rosa's colleagues, a Mr. Siegel (first name unknown), in 1963. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.


		Rosa/Doyle replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (11.1g). This is a lightweight silver-plated cast replica, made by Charles Doyle from Peter Rosa's molds, which he bought from Rosa's estate. Doyle also worked with Rosa, and he currently makes these replicas, which he sells on eBay. This replica is countermarked with "COPY" on the edge (not visible in this photo). The obverse of this replica is documented in Wayne Sayles 2001 book Classical Deception as No. 28. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526. The Toronto Forger used this replica as the seed coin for another of his Owl forgeries.


		Charlton Mint replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (10.5g). This is a lightweight pewter cast replica also made from Peter Rosa's molds, in this case by Charlton Mint of Saratoga Springs, NY. The replica is countermarked with "COPY" on the reverse to the right of the owl. It's smaller, thinner, and lighter than the Rosa/Doyle version, and it exhibits more obvious casting pits.


		NT Ancients replica of Rosa replica (6.1g). This is a cast copy of the above Rosa replica but without a "COPY" countermark on the edge. Compared with both the Rosa copy and Charlton Mint copy, it's even thinner and lighter. It's a third-generation copy, or a copy of a copy of a copy. This piece is a product of NT Ancients of Quebec, Canada.


		Museum Reproductions replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (13.3g). This cast copy, made of pewter, has an "R" countermark and was made by Museum Reproductions in England. This is an inexpensively made, and inexpensive, replica with large casting pits over its surfaces, muddy and indistinct details, and Athena rendered with her nose sliced in half. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.


		Metropolitan Museum of Art replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (9.6g). This low-weight silver-plated brass cast replica was made for New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art and sold by the museum's shop in large numbers in the 1950s and 1960s. This specimen like all of these particular replicas has a center dimple on the obverse, an edge cut at 8 o'clock on the obverse and 6 o'clock on the reverse, and prominent casting pits. This replica, made before the U.S. Hobby Protection Act was passed in 1973, isn't marked with a "COPY" or similar countermark. It's often auctioned on eBay as an authentic coin, though in many cases, not all, it appears that the seller doesn't know it's a replica. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.


		Larson replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (17.2g). This hand-cut, struck copy is made of .900 fine silver and has a "COPY" countermark on the edge. It's a work of Charles Lawson, author of the informative but controversial 2004 book Numismatic Forgery, which sheds light on coin forgery by providing how-to tips. This replica is anything but convincing, however. Though it was produced using ancient methods (with the replacement of a hand-held hammer with a gravity hammer machine for consistency), and it's the correct weight and diameter, it's unrealistically styled, and the flan is very low relief in contrast to the evocatively high relief flans of ancient Owls. No attempt was made to tone and otherwise age this piece, though his book describes such techniques. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.


		Wilbert replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (9.4g). This low-weight, undersize cast replica appears to be made of pewter, a tin alloy. This replica, which is unmarked, originally was part of a 12-replica set marked "Wilbertly Yours" on the box and was distributed as a free promotion to business accounts by Wilbert Funeral Services of Broadview, Ill., in the 1960s and 1970s. Wilbert also distributed sets of replicas of U.S. colonial coins and U.S. early Western coins. Despite the size and weight of the above Owl replica, it frequently appears on eBay as an authentic coin. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.


		Turkish ceramic jewelry replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (3.0g). This is a work by Bekircan Tahberer of Sandan Art in Turkey. It's an interesting piece, an attractive clay pendant meant to be worn on a necklace that was cast from a Classical Owl c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.



		Bedouin soapstone replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (17.3g, 38mm). This piece, made by a Saudi Arabian Bedouin, is another interesting replica originating from the Muslim world. It's hand cut in soapstone, a soft lightweight metamorphic rock composed mostly of the mineral talc. No doubt purely by chance, this oversize piece weighs about the same as an authentic Owl. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526.



		Cretan bronze replica Classical Owl tetradrachm (276g, 86/82mm). This very large off-metal unmarked replica was said to have originated in Crete in the early 1960s. It's ugly though not uninteresting. The green pockmarks on the obverse fields and the edge appear to be a clumsy attempt to simulate age. It copies a Classical Owl from c. 449-413 BC, Sear 2526, though Athena's sidelock is more reminiscent of earlier Owls.


		Mayer & Wilhelm 19th century electrotype replica Intermediate Style tetradrachm (16.7g). This silver-plated replica is from the same seller in Germany who sold the archaic Owl replica at the top of this page. It appears to be from the same hand as that Mayer & Wilhelm piece, though it shows evidence of the soft details of a cast, and it's likely a cast the original electrotype replica. (The first piece might be also as the seller sells casts of Slavey and other replicas). Still, the above piece is attractively done, with a small, thick flan and attractive toning, and it's full weight despite being silver plated. As with the first piece, it has what appears to be the remnants of an edge seam.


		Slavey replica New Style Owl tetradrachm (16.9g). This high-quality pressed replica, made of .950 silver, is another of Slavey's better works, with beautifully cut dies, careful minting, and attractive toning. Unlike the Slavey replica of the Classical Owl pictured earlier on this page, this replica is unmarked with a "COPY" or similar countermark. It copies a New Style Owl from c. 157-63 BC, Sear 2553v.


		Rosa/Doyle replica New Style Owl tetradrachm (10.6g). This lightweight silver-plated cast replica, made by Charles Doyle from Peter Rosa's molds, is not one of his better works. It's undersize, very lightweight, and with noticeable casting pits. This replica is countermarked with "COPY" on the edge (not visible in this photo). It copies a New Style Owl from c. 157-63 BC, Sear 2553v.

Modern Owl Replicas