тетрадрахма с Афиной

Редчайшее подражание тетрадрахме Афин. Известно всего несколько экземпляров с Афиной влево.

 

LEVANT OR ARABIA, Unknown Mint, ca. 4th century BC. 

Silver AR Tetradrachm imitative issue based on an Athenian tetradrachm, 16.60 g., die axis: 3

Obv. Helmeted head of Athena facing left in a very animated linear style.

Rev. ATHE, Owl to right, head facing, olive sprig and crescent to left.

Extremely rare, with few known. The coin bears a close resemblance to a left-facing tetradrachm acquired by the ANS in 2005 and published in Peter G. van Alfen, "A New Athenian 'Owl' and Bullion Hoard from the Near East", AJN Second Series 16-17 (2004-2005), pp. 47-61, cf. no. 71. Van Alfen states: "The one stand-out in this group is no. 71 with its left-facing owl. Rarely seen, two other left-facing owl imitations were found in the 1973 Iraq Hoard (van Alfen 2000: nos. 116-117), neither of which has any close affinity to this coin."

AU, sharp strike, test cut on reverse.