2450

Attica, Athens, c. 500-482 BC. AR Fourree[?] Tetradrachm (15.60 g). VF

Currency:USD Category:Coins & Paper Money / Coins: Ancient Start Price:4,750.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 USD and UP
Attica, Athens, c. 500-482 BC. AR Fourree[?] Tetradrachm (15.60 g). VF
Attica, Athens, c. 500-482 BC. AR Fourrée[?] Tetradrachm (15.60 g). Head right of Athena wearing Attic helmet. Reverse: Upright owl standing right, head facing; behind, in upper left field, sprig of olive. Svoronos plate 5, 42 (this coin); Seltman plate XXIII, 8 (this coin, as "ancient forgery" or fourrée); cf. Asyut 269. Very rare. Choice Very Fine. .

Fourrées, or silver-jacketed, copper-core ancient imitations, exist of types even earlier than this wonderful "owl." Often, it is easy to discern fourrées from seeing the copper core along the edge. At times fourrées exhibit mound-like disturbances on their surface. Also, their weight is usually at least 15% light and somtimes more.

In this case, it isn't so easy. The coin has been tested in antiquity (a small cut exists at 1:30 o'clock on the edge), but no copper or verdigris can be found. Again, on the favorable side, there is quite a variance in weight between existing tetradrachms of these early tyes. The Berlin museum has a specimen from a similar pair of dies weighing 15.76 grams; another example weights 18.46 grams, whereas the norm is around 17 grams. Svoronos believed this specimen to be a regular issue while Seltman has listed this coin as a fouree. We believe its beauty, numismatic importance and provenances make the lot worthy of your consideration .
Estimated Value $10,000-UP.

Provenance: Ex Hirsch Sale XXI, 1908, Consul Weber 1641. A Svoronos and Seltman plate coin.