Athenian Owl Tetradrachms - Egyptian Imitatives - how to distinguish?

[peterpil19]

Greeting,

I read somewhere that Athenian Owl Egyptian imitative issues can be identified via a "droopy eye" as well as a "bent back palmette".

I have looked at photos of each and I do not know what is meant by "bent back" in reference to the palmette.

On Reid Goldsborough's website, he notes the differences as : 1) coarser feathers on the reverse; and 2) Athena's lips and overall face appearing "un-Athenian".

1. Can someone please elaborate or point me to relevant reading material on the differences between Egyptian vs. Athenian owls?

2. In particular, what is meant by "bent back"?

Thanks,

Peter

[n.igma]

1. Can someone please elaborate or point me to relevant reading material on the differences between Egyptian vs. Athenian owls?

Peter G. van Alfen: The "owls" from the 1989 Syria hoard, with a review of the pre-Macedonian coinage of Egypt. AJN second series 14 (2002) pp. 1-58.

and

Peter G. van Alfen Two unpublished hoards and other "owls" from Egypt. AJN second series 14 (2002) pp. 59-72.

These papers contain many other references to other works on the matter particularly those of Buttrey who is the go to expert on the classification of the "owls." Also you can directly search the CNG Bibliography pages for the Buttrey works  if this suits.

[n.igma]

AJN 14 available for download here...
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=umn.31951d02347453u;view=1up;seq=5

[peterpil19]

Thank you n.igma,

I have downloaded and started reading it.  In due course I will post a summary of any key observations from that material on the subject of distinguishing between Athenian and Egyptian owls.

Peter

[Joe Sermarini]

I look forward to reading your summary. It can be difficult to put into words what the eyes immediately recognize. For me, some specimens are clearly from Athens, and some clearly from Egypt, but many are uncertain.

[peterpil19]

Hi Joe,

I will certainly do my best.  I cannot promise that I will be able to turn what I read into anything useable...and what you say above about it being unclear in some cases, even to your experienced eyes, certainly give me some doubt that I will be able to!

Peter