The Love Birds

[stevex6]

I love this sweet coin ... two love birds with a heart in the background (okay sure, maybe it's Ivy ... close enough)

... anyway ...

I hope you big-shooters can tell me if this is an Obol or if it may be something else, like maybe a tritartemorion?

Thanks in advance (I have confidence in this awesome coin-squad)


MACEDON, Eion, AR Obol? (Tritartemorion?)
Circa 460-400 BC
Diameter: 10 mm
Weight: 0.37 grams
Obverse: Two geese standing right; ivy leaf and H to left
Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square
Reference: SNG ANS –; SNG Copenhagen 181
Other:  VF, toned, typical porosity

[stevex6]

 

gorgeous, eh?

[Enodia]

a beautiful coin, and one of my very favorite types.
I do believe this is a trite, as the obols of Eion are somewhat different. the heavier trihemiobols with the single goose looking back and a lizard over his head are far more common than either of the smaller types.

geese are known to mate for life, so the goose is sacred to Hera, the goddess of marriage. by some accounts these birds are swans, which also mate for life and are sometimes associated with Aphrodite. both birds are indigenous to Macedonia.
and the ivy leaf above looks to me very much like a heart.  
what a romantic coin!

these smaller coins are also very scarce... nice acquisition Steve.

~ Peter

[David Atherton]

A lovely example of pareidolia working in a coin's favour. Great piece Steve!

[stevex6]

Thanks for the coinpliments, fellas ... I appreciate your comments

 

[stevex6]

Oh, and thanks for the denomination classification, Peter (a trite, eh?)

 

Ummm, here is my other Eion example (yup, I might as well toss 'er in otherwise it'll get jealous)

Macedon Eion, AR Trihemiobol
Ca. 460-400 BC
12 mm
0.87grams
Obverse: Goose standing right, head left; lizard above, H below.
Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square.
Ref. SNG ANS 287. Ex CNG. Seaby Coins 5/93. Nice VF

"Please" feel free to show me your examples ... I love seeing other people's coins

[stevex6]

Oh, and thanks for mentioning "Hera" ... curious, is that what the "H" stands for on both of my coins?

 

[Enodia]

trite as in my shorthand for tritartemorion.
and no, i doubt the H is for Hera, more likely a control mark or magistrate.

i really want to get one of those tiny little Eions someday, but for now here is my trihemiobol...
https://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-137595

A lovely example of pareidolia working in a coin's favour

yes, most likely just that kind of serendipity.
but it just may be an intentional association, like we see in the 'language' of Greek pottery, where the artist portrays through a single static image an entire dynamic and continuous scene.

or not.  

~ Peter

[stevex6]

Trite = Tritartemorion (gotcha, thanks again)

Oh and thanks for posting your example (very cool)

cheers

[Kung Pow L]