Helvetica's Feathered Friends

Genuine Ancient Coins and Ancient Imitations

Medallions and Tokens

Genuine Modern Coins

Elongated owl Coins

Replicas and Copies of owl coins

ODDITIES
This strange object is 70 mm (2.75") in diameter, quite thick and heavy. Between the owl's chest and the legend are some odd squiggles. Holding the article up the right way, and reading downwards, it reads W / ES / S. Holding the article upside down it reads ShMo... On the reverse, there is a dodo standing right with two stylized letters, an S and an M. Another, identical one was offered on ebay in November 2009, (obviously from the same casts) and was bought by my friend Reid Goldsborough. Update: Reid has done some very clever research into these (and other) owl objects and has discovered that they were part of a promotion by Proctor & Gamble Co. for Crest toothpaste given to dentists in the late 1960s. See his owl medals website for lots of information about them (near the bottom of that page).
This object was described as a vintage Greek paperweight. It is 7.5 cm (3") diameter and weighs 210g. It was apparently made in Greece, as a paperweight or tourist momento, because the back of it is protected by felt and stuck onto this is the original label in English, French, German and Greek describing the coin it was made from (a tetradrachm) and what appears to be the manufacturers reference number: No. 3 DE 21.693 and Made in Greece.
Owl pendant. 5 cm (2") diameter, 26.2g. Helmeted head of Athena facing left on the obverse and the classical owl standing left, with AQE to right and olive branch at upper left on the reverse.

GENUINE ANCIENT OWL COINS in chronological order.
Velia, Lucania, Dichalkis, AE 11mm, 1.8g. 450-400 BC. Head of Herakles right, with lionskin headdress. YE-LH, Owl standing facing, wings spread. Sambon (Italie Meridionale), 36.
AR Old Style Tetradrachm, Attica, Athens, 449-404 BC. Bust of Athena right, with countermark on cheek AQE, Owl standing right on branch. Countermark in r.h. side of body. The coin isn't all that fantastic but it is genuine and it is my only genuine old style tetradrachm, nearly 2500 years old.
AR (silver) Triobol (= hemidrachm), Attica, Athens, ca 449-415 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right. Owl standing facing, wings closed, between two olive sprigs. A above, Q at bottom right (E at bottom left, off flan) Ref: SNG Copenhagen 47, Sear 2528
AE Obol, Sicily, Kamarina. 425-405 BC. Head of Gorgoneion facing. KAMA, Owl standing right, head facing, holding lizard; · below. Ref. Calciati III, 4
AE Obol or Triantes, Sicily, Kamarina. 425-405 BC. Head of Gorgoneion facing KAMA, Owl standing half right, head facing, lizard on left; · below. Ref. Calciati III, 31; SNG ANS 1064
AR obol, ancient Judaean imitation, 4th Century BC. A tiny silver obol, a birthday present for myself several years ago. The detail of the owl on this tiny 0.7g coin is quite astounding, though Athena's helmet visor has slipped down over her eyes by the look of it. Ref: Sear SGV 2530
AR obol, Judaean ancient imitation, 4th Century BC. Helmeted head of Athena right AQH, Owl standing right, olive leaf to left, all in incuse square. There were hundreds of Judaean forgers turning out thousands of these coins in Judaea. They seem to have circulated in Judaea only, as the Greeks probably wouldn't have touched these obvious fakes with a bargepole ! Ref. Rosen 201.
Sigeon, Troas, City Coinage, AE13. Ca. 350 BC. No legend, helmeted head of Athena right. SIGE, Owl standing right. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 498.
Sigeon, Troas, City Coinage, AE13. Ca. 350 BC. Similar to above, but this one has circular countermarks on both sides. No legend, helmeted head of Athena right, marked with circular countermark. SIGE, Owl standing right, marked with circular countermark. Ref: SNG Copenhagen 498.
Tarentum (Taras), Calabria, Civic Coinage, silver drachm, 302-272 BC. No legend, helmeted head of Athena left. DIO (magistrate) beneath owl standing half-right on thunderbolt, wings spread. Ref: SNG ANS 1317; Vlasto 1077.
AE15, Pergamon, Mysia, late 3rd century BC Head of Athena right wearing close fitting Corinthian helmet AQHNAS - NIKHFOPOY to right and left of owl standing facing, wings closed; monogram of Pergamon mint (looks a little like PRE) below, all within olive-wreath. Ref: BMC 15, SGC 3965 This type of owl coin, with the Pergamon monogram beneath the owl has a special history: According to Athena in the Classical World the monogram indicates that the mint of Pergamon was commissioned by the sanctuary to strike these coins for the financing of the Nikephoria festival. The first of these festivals took place in 283 BC, commissioned by a member of the Attalid monarchy, to celebrate Athena specifically as a bringer of victory.
AE19, Pergamon, Mysia, late 3rd century BC Head of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet decorated with star. AQHNAS NIKHFOROU above and beneath owl standing facing on palm branch, wings spread, club in left field, B in right field. Ref: Mionnet Supp. V, 908. Many thanks to Ars-Aeterna Switzerland for this lovely coin.
AE15, Attica, Athens, 297-255 BC Bust of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet Owl standing right, head facing, wings closed AQH (NA) below Ref: Svor. 22.62-63 AA58c (?)
AE17, Priene, Ionia, 290-170 BC. Magistrate: Dionysos. Bust of Athena right wearing Corinthian helmet Owl standing right, head facing, wings closed, on overturned amphora above palm branch, all within olive wreath. PRIE DIONU SIOU in three lines to left and right. Ref: BMC 50; Sear Greece 4554 var (magistrate); Mionnet III, 894.
Bruttium, The Brettii, Ca 215-205 BC. AE Reduced 1/6th Uncia, 11mm, 1.05g. Bust of Athena left wearing Corinthian helmet BRETTIWN, Owl standing right, head facing, wings closed. Ref: Scheu 35; SNG ANS 69; HN Italy 1985.
Pergamon, Mysia, Bronze AE 18mm, 3.79g. 133-116 BC. Laureate head of Asklepios right. ASKLHPIOU / SWTHROS, snake-entwined staff of Asklepios, countermark: owl facing within incuse circle. BMC Mysia p. 128, 150 ff. (various magistrates on obverse); SNG Cop 368 ff. (same).	Countermarks were used very widely, took many forms and for a variety of reasons. This countermark is an owl standing facing.
Seleukid Kingdom, Antiochos VII Euergetes (Sidetes), 136-135 BC., Bronze 16.8mm, 3.450g. Ake-Ptolemais mint Helmeted head of Athena right. BASILEWS ANTIOCOU EUERGETOU to left and right of owl standing right, head facing. GA monogram to left, IOP (year 177) below. Houghton & Lorber 2119.1, SNG Spaer 2116, Houghton CSE 880, Hoover 1102. Rare.
AE9 of Neonteichos, Aeolis, Ca. 2nd C BC. Helmeted head of Athena right NE, Owl standing right, head facing. Ref. cf. SNG Cop 245, BMC p. 141, 3, Klein 243, SNG v Aulock 1670.
Another AE9 of Neonteichos, Aeolis, Ca. 2nd C BC. Similar to the one further above, but the NE monogram is clearer on this one, though Athena and the owl are not. Helmeted head of Athena right NE beneath Owl standing right, head facing. cf. SNG Cop 245, BMC p. 141, 3, Klein 243, SNG v Aulock 1670.
AE of Mysia, Pergamon, 2nd-1st Century BC. Head of Athena right, helmeted, decorated with star AQTH-NAS NIKHFOROY, Owl standing facing on branch, wings spread. Ref. BMC 133, SG 3963
Another AE of Mysia, Pergamon, 2nd-1st Century BC. Helmeted head of Athena right, star on helmet QHNA / G-A / KH_, Owl facing, with wings spread, on palm branch, KH below. Ref. BMC 133, SG 3963
AE20, Mysia, Pergamon. (Nicephorus). 200-133 BC. Helmeted head of Athena Nicephorus right AQH NAS NIKHFOROY, Owl standing facing on palm branch, wings spread. Ref. BMC 195-99
AE of Pergamon, Nicephorus, ca 200-133 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right AQHNA, Owl standing facing on thunderbolt, wings spread, NIKEFOPOY below. Ref. Goebl 43/24; BMC 190ff, SNG Cop 382ff.
AE19 of Bruttium, Vibo Valentia AE Triens. Ca 192-89 BC. 4.66g, 19mm. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet, earring and necklace, four dots behind. VALENTIA, owl standing right, head facing, four dots to right. Ref. BMC 20; SNG Cop 1850; Sear 662.
AE13, Attica, Athens, 166-157 BC Head of Athena right wearing Attic helmet within dotted border Two owls standing facing left and right, heads facing, all within olive wreath AQE below. Ref: BMC 214; SNG Copenhagen 90; SG 2570
Another AE13 from Attica, Athens, 166-157 BC Helmeted head of Athena right / Two owls standing facing left and right, heads facing forwards, within laurel wreath, AQE below. Ref. SGI 2562, BMC 214
A new style tetradrachm, Class III, of Attica, Athens, 163 BC. Helmeted head of Athena right A-QE across, EV/MH left, EPI / GENH and SWSAN / DROS right, in five lines, Owl standing facing on amphora; eagle on thunderbolt (fulmen) left. 3 magistrates names, two are EPIGENHS (Epigenes) and SWSANDROS (Sosandros). Ref. Thompson 447d. I think the ladies who modeled as Athena for the celators of these new style tetradrachme, must have been the most stunningly beautiful women of the ancient world.
AE17, Antiochos VII, Seleukid Kingdom, Gaza mint, 136-134 BC Bust of Athena right wearing plain helmet BASILEWS ANTIOCOU EUERGETOU, Owl standing facing, wings closed Ref: Spaer 2117
AE20, Antiochus III and Cleopatra Thea, 125-121 BC. Radiate head of Helios right BASILISSHE KLEOPATPAS and KAI BASILEVE ANTIOXOY to left and right of owl standing right, head facing, on amphora. Struck by Antiochus III. King of Syria in Antioch, Refs: BMC 105, SNG Cop 377, SNG Israel I, Spaer 2441 Antiochus VIII in co-regency with his mother Cleopatra Thea, 125-121 BC. This is not "the" Cleopatra but a Seleukid queen of the same name
AE19.5, Another Antiochus III and Cleopatra Thea, 125-121 BC. Radiate head of Helios right BASILISSHE KLEOPATPAS and KAI BASILEVE ANTIOXOY to left and right of owl standing right, head facing, on amphora. Struck by Antiochus III. King of Syria in Antioch, Refs: BMC 105, SNG Cop 377, SNG Israel I, Spaer 2441 Antiochus VIII in co-regency with his mother Cleopatra Thea, 125-121 BC. This is not "the" Cleopatra but a Seleukid queen of the same name
AE19, And a third (I like these coins!) Antiochus III and Cleopatra Thea, 125-121 BC. Radiate head of Helios right BASILISSHE KLEOPATRAS (and, off flan: (KAI BASILEUE ANTIOCOU) to left and right of owl standing right, head facing, on amphora. Struck by Antiochus III. King of Syria in Antioch, Refs: BMC 105, SNG Cop 377, SNG Israel I, Spaer 2441 Antiochus VIII in co-regency with his mother Cleopatra Thea, 125-121 BC. This is not "the" Cleopatra but a Seleukid queen of the same name.
AE 20.5 of Philadelphia in Lydia, 1st century BC Laureate head of Artemis right, quiver at shoulder ERMIPPOS ERMOGENOUS / ARXIEREUS FILADELFEWN, Apollo seated left, holding patera, lyre on omphalos to right, owl on l.h. back of throne. Ref. SNG UK 0601-0998, Weber 6874
AE Diobol. Attica, Athens, 1st century BC. Helmeted head of Athena right / AQE, Double-bodied crested owl standing facing, olive-leaves above. Ref SNG 300_1887f, BMC Vol 12, Attica, Plate V, 16.
Miletopolis, Mysia, City Coinage, AE13. Ca. 1st century BC. No legend, Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet. MILHT(OPOLI)TWN, double-bodied owl standing facing. Refs: BMC 6; Sear Greek 3915; SNG Cop. 250.
AE16 Athena/owl, damaged. From a low quality lot of uncleaned coins. Head of Athena right, wearing plain Corinthian helmet Owl standing facing, wings closed (part of body, 1 wing and 1 leg visible). Ref probably SNG ANS2, 1432
AR 14 x 10mm hemiobol, Sear 2530, an ancient Judaean imitation. Head of helmeted Athena right Owl standing right, head facing
AE13, Laodikeia ad Mare, Syria. 42-41 BC. 2.2 gr. Helmeted head of Athena right LAODIKEWN TWN PROS QALASSH, AN below, to left and right of owl standing facing, all within wreath. RPC I 4419. Note: This reverse legend was used by Laodikeia only in year 7 (42 - 41 BC.) as the result of Cassius' occupation of the city in 43 BC. Rare.
AE11, Laodikeia ad Mare?. 38-40 BC. ? Helmeted head of Athena right AQN- / ..DI_H..., legend to left and right of owl standing facing, all within wreath. No ref. found yet. Closest and most similar in style is BMC 28 of Laodikeia ad Mare, Syria.
Domitian, Silver denarius, Rome mint. 94 AD. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P (P TR P XI), laureate head right IMP XXI COS XVI CENS P P P, Minerva standing right on capital of rostral column, holding spear and shield; owl at foot right. 94 AD. Some black degradation/patination of the silver. Ref: RIC (2008) 730; RSC 274.
Domitian, Silver denarius, Rome mint, similar to above but struck one year later, 95 AD. IMP CAES DOMIT AVG GERM P M TR P XV, laureate head right IMP XXII COS XVII CENS P P P, Minerva standing right on capital of rostral column, holding spear and shield; owl at foot right. 95 AD. Letters scratched on the reverse are often ancient bankers' marks, in this case "KA". Ref: RIC (2008) 788; RIC (1962) 191; BM 231-233
AE Quadrans, Time of Domitian to Antoninus Pius, ca 81-161 AD. Helmeted and draped bust of Minerva right Owl standing half right, head facing; S-C across fields. Ref. RIC II, 7; Cohen 7
Another AE Quadrans, a little different to the one above. Time of Domitian to Antoninus Pius, ca 81-161 AD. Helmeted and draped bust of Minerva right Owl standing half right, head facing; S-C across fields. Ref. RIC II, 7; Cohen 7
AE Quadrans, Time of Domitian to Antoninus Pius, ca 81-161 AD. Helmeted and draped bust of Minerva right Owl standing left, head facing; S-C across fields. Ref. RIC II, 8
Faustina II (wife of Marcus Aurelius), AE (Bronze) 21mm, of Pautalia, Thrace. ca 147-153 AD FAUSTEINACEBACTH, head of Faustina right OULPIAC PAUTALIAC, Athena seated left, holding owl, resting on spear, shield at side. Ref: Ruzicka 106; Moushmov 4102 A scarce coin. On wildwinds.com
Antoninus Pius, Silver/Billon, 25mm, Tetradrachm of Alexandria, Egypt ANTWNINOC CEBEV CEB, laureate head right LD E-KATOV, Athena standing left, holding owl and resting hand on shield. Year 10 = 146-147 AD. Ref: Milne 1884 A scarce coin.
An unlisted Antoninus Pius AE Quadrans, (2.71g), Struck 140-144 AD. ANTONINVS AVG PIVS PP TRP, laureate head right COS III, Peacock on left, standing right, tail spread, eagle in the centre, head right, and on the right, an owl standing right, head facing; SC below. Ref RIC III, 711 var, Cohen 178 var. Rare. This obverse legend is listed for RIC 709b which has a reverse with the owl on the left, the eagle with head left and the peacock on the right. RIC 711 has this coin's reverse but a different obverse legend.
Antoninus Pius billon tetradrachm, Alexandria, Egypt, 159 AD ANTWNINO CEBEYCEB, laureate, draped & cuirassed bust right / Athena standing right resting on spear against which stands a shield and holding owl on outstretched left hand; L-K (Year 20 = 159 AD) across fields. Ref: Milne 2320
Commodus, Gabala in Syria (modern day Jableh), 180-192 AD AYT KAICAP M KOMODON, laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Commodus left above:GAS over GABALEWN, DC left, owl standing right on globe, and sphinx (modius on head) standing left on base; KT below. Ref: BMC 8, SNG II 3234, Lindgren 2055
Elagabalus AE26 (bronze 26mm), Pentassarion of Markianopolis, Magistrate Ant. Seleucus. 218-222 AD. AVT K M AVP ANTWNEINOC AG, laureate, draped, cuirassed bust of Elagabalus right, seen from back VP IOVL ANT CELEVKOY MAPKIANOPOLITWN, Athena standing left, holding owl in her extended right hand and resting left hand on shield. Ref: Varbanov Bulg. 1300, AMNG 936 var A scarce Elagabalus coin of Athena holding her owl.
Gordian III and Tranquillina AE27 (bronze 27mm), Pentassarion of Odessos, Thrace. 238-244 AD. AVT K M ANT GORDIANOC AV CE TRANKVLLEINA, laureate head of Gordian right, facing diademed and draped bust of Tranquillina left. ODHCCEITWN, Athena standing left, holding owl in her extended right hand and vertical spear in left, shield at her side. Ref: Moushmov 1683; AMNG 2386; Scarce.

GENUINE MODERN ERA OWL MEDALLIONS & TOKENS
"Leeds Halfpenny", Bronze, 30mm, 1791 ARTIS NOSTRAE CONDITOR·, Bishop Blaize wearing mitre standing facing, head left, holding shepherd's crook, book and woolcomb; at foot right a lamb standing right, head turned back LEEDS HALFPENNY 1791 around and below Leeds coat of arms: a shield, three stars and fleece, above, an owl standing left, head facing In the 18th century, Leeds in the English North-East was a major centre of the woollen industry.
Order of the Owls Token. 31mm (dollar size), brass, year unknown. Obv: HEADS YOU WIN IF YOU JOIN THE ORDER OF OWLS, to left of owl's head and neck facing left. TALES YOU LOSE IF YOU DO NOT JOIN THE ORDER OF OWLS, to the right of the back half of the owl. I am not sure to which Order of Owls that this refers. There was a masonically related "Independent Order of Owls", founded in St. Louis, MO in the 1890, and an "Order of Owls" fraternity, founded in 1904 in South Bend, IN, still exists. There was also a Boy Scout "Order of Owls" at Camp Caudle AK, prior to 1938. I bought this on ebay from a Canadian seller.
Fisk Tyres advertising gift. 31mm (dollar size), brass, 1938. Obv: INDEPENDENT TIRE DEALER above owl standing facing on branch, cloud-like pattern behind. TIME TO RE-TIRE above a boy in pyjamas, standing facing, tyre over right shoulder and holding candle in candlestick. GET A FISK / 1938 below, cloud-like pattern behind. The Fisk tyre boy first appeared in 1907 in an oil painting by Burr Giffen. It was registered as the Fisk trademark in 1914. Fisk manufactured automobile tyres from 1899 in Springfield Massachusets and moved to a factory in Chicopec Falls in 1916. In 1940 the company was aquired by the US Rubber Co. (now Uniroyal).
German Spielmarke. 20.5mm, brass, 1950s ?. Obv: owl standing left on branch, head facing. Rev: SPIELMARKE within wreath of oak leaves No reference. I do not know the manufacturer of this token.
US Mardi Gras "Dubloon" Coin Token, 39 mm light Aluminium, 1978 Obverse (not photographed); KREWE OF JUPITER, NEW ORLEANS MARDI GRAS above and below fancy shield with sun in centre, fleur de lys and two spears crossed behind crown below TRIUMPHS OF ARTS & SCIENCES below owl standing facing, scrolls, scales and artist's pallet before; stars in lower field; date 1978 on book pages below Mardi Gras dubloon-coin-tokens were first made in 1960 by the die-maker H. Alvin Sharpe. The obverse of each dubloon has the Krewe (Club) name and the reverse shows the theme for that year. Aluminum dubloons are often thrown from Mardi Gras floats during their annual parade of the Mardi Gras season in the New Orleans area.
US Mardi Gras "Dubloon" Coin Token, 39 mm light Aluminium, 1974 Obverse KREWE OF ATHENA above and below Athena standing facing on rocky mound; to left an owl standing facing; to right a laurel wreath; MARDI GRAS across fields below. Reverse (not photographed); ATHENA AND THE OLYMPIANS above Apollo standing half left, examining lyre; cymbal, book, scroll and lyre to left; palm branch, trumpet, masks to right, date 1974 below Mardi Gras dubloon-coin-tokens were first made in 1960 by the die-maker H. Alvin Sharpe. The obverse of each dubloon has the Krewe (Club) name and the reverse shows the theme for that year. Aluminum dubloons are often thrown from Mardi Gras floats during their annual parade of the Mardi Gras season in the New Orleans area.
German board game place holder, 18 mm, 1960s? No legend, owl standing left on branch, head facing Raven (?) standing left on tree stump, with clump of grass at base. The German owl coin collector, Rudolf Schaaf has kindly informed me: Such pieces were made for games in the 1920s but also again in the 1960s. They exist with various creatures on them, but owls crop up quite often. They were usually made in a brass alloy (copper and zinc). .
US Military token, Vietnam, Danang area, nickel plated brass, 18 mm (5 cent) No legend, owl standing left on branch, head facing No legend, heron standing left, head turned back, branches with needles and berries to left and right, moon (?) at top right. Ref: SVN B-495
US Military token, Vietnam, Danang area, nickel plated brass, 21.5 mm (10 cent) No legend, owl standing left on branch, head facing No legend, heron standing left, head turned back, branches with needles and berries to left and right, moon (?) at top right. Ref: N86-10 (Die 1)
US Military token, Vietnam, Danang area, nickel plated brass, 21.5 mm (10 cent) No legend, owl standing left on branch, head facing No legend, heron standing left, head turned back, branches with needles and berries to left and right, moon (?) at top right. Ref: N86-10 (Die 2) (Differences are (Obverse:) the line of feathers on owl's wing, shape of owl's tail feathers, top line of the branch; (Reverse:) length of heron's wing, amount of foliage on branches on reverse, length of bird's bill)
US Military token, Vietnam, Danang area, nickel plated brass, 24 mm (25 cent) No legend, owl standing left on branch, head facing No legend, heron standing left, head turned back, branches with needles and berries to left and right, moon (?) at top right. Ref: N89-25
31.5mm Aluminium US "Woodsy Owl", United States Forest Service "WOODSY OWL - GIVE A HOOT - DON'T POLLUTE" around the owl emblem of the USFS. WOODSY SPREAD THE WORD * NEVER BE A DIRTY BIRD; IN THE CITY OR IN THE WOODS * HELP KEEP AMERICA LOOKING GOOD*

GENUINE MODERN OWL COINS
Kazakhstan 50 Tenge. Issued 2011. CuNi 30mm. KAPWbIfA REHDI CARALAK and SURIA ULULA 2011 around owl standing right on branch, head facing / KA3AKCTAH ULTTbAK bAHKI 50 TEHGI around rocky mountain side with tree branches extending left, to which an owl is flying. Uncirculated.
Democratic Republic of Congo, 20 Francs, 2003. 24k .999 proof Gold, 13.92 mm, 1/25th oz AQH, Classical Athenian owl standing right, head facing, olive branch and crescent to left Rev: JEUX OLYMPIQUES 2004 ATHENS / REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO / 2003 / 20 FRANCS, lion standing left, head facing. I am not in the habit of buying gold coins because I can't afford them but I bought this one for quite a low price from a German seller. It's quite small but very lovely.
Ukraine, 2 Grivni, 2002 Obv: YKPAIHA ("Ukraine") 2 GRNBHI, date 2002 below, all within wreath of redcurrant branch with fruit, bird, thistle, oak branch with acorns, frog on lily leaf and flowers; Ukrainian coat of arms above; mintmark below date. Rev: PYGAY - BUBO BUBO to left and right of eagle owl standing right on oak branch, head left, moon and stars above left. Ref. KM-155
USSR, 5 Rubles, Bi-metal, outer part: copper-nickel alloy, inner part: copper-zinc alloy, 1991 Obv: KPACHAЯ KHИGA CCCP HИVИF PbIБHbIЙ (Red Data Book of the USSR) in Cyrillic around Blakiston's fish owl standing facing, reeds to left and right. Rev: GOCYДAPCTBEHHBIЙ БAHK CCCP (Central Comrades Bank of the USSR) around 5 PYБPEЙ, date 1991 below, branch to left, oak branch with acorn to right. Ref. K-280, Y280 This coin is part of the Red Data Book series issue. The Red Data Book is a state document established for documenting rare and endangered species of animals, plants, fungi, and local subspecies existing within the Russian Federation.
CuNi 1 Drachm, 1973 2 DRACMH to right of classical owl standing right, engraver's name N. PEP. below left ELLHNIKH-DHMOKPATIA around phoenix rising from flames, engraver's name I. S TIN and year 1973 below. light signs of circulation, Ref K-107 (As of December 2008 I have 1 spare copy of this coin, slightly worn. If anyone wants to swap one for an ancient coin which may interest me (not necessarily owls or Fel Temps), please contact me).
CuNi 2 Drachmae, 1973 2 DPAXMAI below classical owl standing right, engraver's name N. PEP. below left ELLHNIKH-DHMOKPATIA around phoenix rising from flames, engraver's name I. S TIN and year 1973 below. Uncirculated, Ref K-108 (As of February 2008 I have 3 more of these coins left, all uncirculated. If anyone wants to swap one for an ancient coin which may interest me (not necessarily owls or Fel Temps), please contact me).
AL 10 Lepta, 1912 Owl standing right, head facing on amphora, olive branch right, value 10 Lepta to right, engraver's name Ch. Pillet below BASLEION THS ELLADOS in three lines, crown and year 1912. Charles Pillet (1869-1960) was a French engraver who engraved many stunningly beautiful plaques, medallions and coins in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Thanks to my friend John in Greece for this one. It is a Greek 1 Euro coin, made in 2002, shortly after the Euro was introduced. Bi-metal coin, 1 EURO superimposed on map of Europe (Switzerland is not included in the outline because it is still a free, non-EU country :-) Classical owl, standing right, olive spray to left, all within incuse square.
This is the reverse of a 1999 Canadian 25 cent piece. (The obverse just has the usual head of Queen Elizabeth II in profile) The reverse shows an owl superimposed on a polar bear and APRIL 1999 AVRIL reflecting the bilingual nature of Canada. Seeing my former question here, about why the coin has the month on it, a friend has told me that Canada issued a series of "collector" quarters for the provinces in 1992 and the idea went so well that for 1999 and 2000 they issued 24 designs, one per month. The April 1999 (bear-owl) coin was for "Our Northern Heritage". But normally, there is only the year on Canadian coinage.
AlMg 16mm 20 Stotin Coin from Slovenia, 1992. ASIO OTUS owl standing facing, value (20) to left. DVAJSET STOTINOV ("Twenty Stotins") REPUBLIKA SLOVENIJA around value (20). These coins were produced in 1992 and officially introduced in 1993 (though issued in 1992) and have been out of circulation since January 15th, 2007. Ref. K-8

MODERN COPIES OF OWL COINS
An original of this dekadrachm is the most valuable coin in the world. Less than 20 or so are know, most of them in a Turkish museum, after being the subject of an international smuggling investigation. An English coin dealer had a dozen made from 99.9% sterling silver. I am lucky to have one. Weight: 31.8g. Helmeted head of Athena right, refined archaic style, helmet adorned with three olive leaves and a floral scroll, hair arranged in wavy bands across the temples AQE around owl standing facing, wings spread, olive spray to left, all within incuse square. Refs of originals: Seltman 445-452; BMC 40, Historia Numorum, p. 311 (ill. 210)/312
Siver AR 12mm hemiobol ? copy of an archaic style tetradrachm, Helmeted head of Athena right, archaic style, eye not in profile, and wearing crested Attic helmet AQE, Owl standing right within incuse square, olive twig at top left, one leaf of which extends beyond the incuse. This is a tiny little thing, almost perfectly circular. It is well made but has some characteristics which give it away as a copy, probably modern perhaps from the 1950s-1960s. Replica of Berry 862; Hendin 449 (both obols)
Nestlé Promotion Replica of a New Style Tetradrachm, 1975 Type without magistrates' names, 157-63 BC Bust of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet AQH, Owl standing facing on upturned amphora, fantasy monogramms to left and right, club right. NP75 ("Nachprägung 1975") stamp below. A set of 10 or so replica coins was given away in 1975, attached to the inside of the lids of jars of Nescafé instant coffee. Replica of Sear 2553v
Westair Reproductions 22K gold-plated cast replica of Gold Stater Helmeted bust of Athena right, eye in profile, WRL stamped below. AQH, Owl standing right, olive-leaf and crescent behind, incuse square to right Replica of the Staters described in Head Historia Numorum I, p. 313. The originals of these staters were made 430-350 BC, (not 300-262 BC as described by Westair, at which time the New Style bust of Athena was being used and hardly any gold coins were being produced in Athens).
Modern AE copper cast copy of a tetradrachm. Helmeted head of Athena right AQH, Owl standing right, olive leaf to left, all in incuse square.
CuNi BP Collection replica from the 1960s. ANTIEKE GRIEKS ROMEINSE MUNTEN around, III TETRADRACHME UIT ATHENE, Ve eeuw v. Christ. (= "5th century BC") in five lines, COLLECTIE BP below AQE, classical type owl standing right on branch, olive branch at top left. These coins were issued by the petroleum company BP in the 60s, (similar to Shell's series of Racing Car commemorative coins in the early 80s). They were also issued with legends in French.
Tetradrachm, modern replica Helmeted bust of Athena right AQH, Owl standing right, olive-leaf behind, Replica of Sear GCV 2530. Reid ("Mr Owl") Goldsborough kindly informs me that this is a Wilbert replica, originally part of a 12-replica set marked "Wilbertly Yours" on the box and distributed as a free promotion to business accounts by Wilbert Funeral Services of Broadview, Ill., USA, in the 1960s and 1970s. Another example on Reid Goldsboroughs Website
Tetradrachm, modern replica Helmeted bust of Athena right AQH, Owl standing right, olive-leaf behind, Replica of Sear GCV 2530. Reid Goldsborough, who knows these things, tells me it appears to be a cast copy of a Museum Reproductions replica, made by Museum Reproductions of Cheshire, England. The ones they sell have an "R" countermark on the reverse.

ELONGATED COINS WITH OWLS
Copper elongated coin, WORLD BIRD SANCTUARY above / ST. LOUIS MO. below barn owl standing right. Made from a 199_ Lincoln penny (year unclear on reverse).
Copper elongated coin, COINS FOR TEACHERS above, 500 SPEIGHT ST. / WACO TEXAS 76798-7175 below classical owl standing left. Made from a 1991 Lincoln penny.
Copper elongated coin, ZOO AMERICA above, HERSHEY PA. below tawny owl right on rock.
Copper TEC elongated coin, made from a 1974 cent, USA, Membership coin 1974
Copper TEC elongated coin, made from a 1964 cent, USA, Tenth Anniversary TEC 1976
Copper TEC elongated coin, made from a 1977 cent, USA, Membership coin 1978
Copper TEC elongated coin, made from a 1987 cent, USA, Membership coin 1988
Copper TEC elongated coin, made from a 1982 cent, USA, TEC Award, Arkansas
Copper TEC elongated coin, made from a 1982 cent, USA, TEC Convention, Boston, 1982
CuNi elongated coin, made from a 1977 5-cent (?), USA, ANA Convention, Detroit, 1984
CuNi elongated coin, TEC TIME ANA 2007 Milwaukee around a clock with owl standing within, blank reverse (but under the right light you can see the traces of a 2000 "Maryland quarter" with "THE OLD LINE STATE" to left and right of the domed Maryland Statehouse, White Oak branches to left and right.