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Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 339 | SilverAuction date: 30 August 2026
Lot number: 64

Price realized: 300 EUR   (Approx. 349 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Arabia. Southern. Saba' circa 300-200 BC. Imitating Athens
1/4 Unit AR

12 mm, 1,18 g

Helmeted head of Athena right; X in cheek / Owl standing right.

Extremely Fine

Munro-Hay, Arabia Fe Typ I Taf.1. 18; HGC 735.

Athena, in Greek mythology, is one of the twelve Olympian deities and the daughter of Zeus, the king of the gods. She is often referred to as the goddess of wisdom, courage, warfare, strategy, and crafts. Athena is typically depicted wearing armor and a helmet, and she is often shown carrying a shield and a spear.
She is known for her strategic and intellectual abilities, and she represents the more rational and disciplined aspects of human nature. Athena was considered the protector of heroes and played a significant role in the epic tales of ancient Greece.
Athena is often associated with the city of Athens, which was named in her honor. The city considered her its patron goddess and built the Parthenon, a magnificent temple, as a tribute to her. The Parthenon became one of the most iconic examples of ancient Greek architecture.
Athena's birth is also noteworthy in Greek mythology. According to one myth, she sprang fully grown and armored from the head of her father, Zeus, after he swallowed her mother, Metis, in fear of a prophecy that their child would be more powerful than him.
In addition to her role in warfare and wisdom, Athena was also considered the goddess of crafts and the arts, especially weaving. She was often associated with the concept of a civilized society and the pursuit of knowledge. Athena was a revered figure in the pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses, and her influence extended beyond Greece, as she became the inspiration for various aspects of Western culture and philosophy.



Starting price: 50 EUR

Match 1:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 339 | SilverAuction date: 30 August 2026
Lot number: 63

Price realized: 160 EUR   (Approx. 186 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Arabia. Southern. Saba' circa 400-300 BC. Imitating Athens
1/2 Unit AR

10 mm, 1,94 g

Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette; on cheek 𐩬 / ΑΘE, Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent.

Very Fine

cf. SNG ANS 1455.



Starting price: 50 EUR

Match 2:
Davissons, Ltd. > E-Auction 53Auction date: 8 July 2026
Lot number: 87

Price realized: 750 USD   (Approx. 657 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:




ARABIA. Southern. Saba' 4th-3rd centuries B.C. AR nsf or unit. 5.34 gm. 15 mm. Imitating Athens. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet; 'n' in South Arabian (mark of value) on cheek / Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig and crescent to left, crescent and AΘE to right. Van Alfen, Studies, Group SII.A, 4a (O1/R3 - this coin). CAF 1.1i. SNG ANS 1455. HGC 10, 720 var. (crescent not noted). Very Fine; lightly iridescent toning; well centered on even flan. Choice for issue.

The Peter Bartlett Collection. Ex CNG 41 (19 March 1997) lot 789.

In ancient times, the Athenian tetradrachm was widely accepted as a trade coin around the Mediterranean and frontier regions to the East, due to its high mintages and the reliable fineness of its silver. Its recurring motif of the head of Athena and the owl were widely imitated by various local authorities. In the 5th and 4th centuries B.C., these included Persia, Baktria, Phoenicia, Judaea, Samaria, Egypt, and Arabia, peaking in the 4th century B.C. when official production of owls declined after the Peloponnesian War ended in 404 B.C. The arrival of Alexander the Great and the spread of his tetradrachms replaced the owls, with the exception of South Arabia, where the obverse evolved from the female form of Athena to the male.

Estimate: 300 USD

Match 3:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 339 | SilverAuction date: 30 August 2026
Lot number: 58

Price realized: 130 EUR   (Approx. 151 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Arabia. Southern. Saba' circa 400-300 BC. Imitating Athens
Unit AR

18 mm, 4,82 g

Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette; on cheek 𐩬 / ΑΘE, Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent.

Very Fine

SNG ANS 1455.



Starting price: 50 EUR

Match 4:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 339 | SilverAuction date: 30 August 2026
Lot number: 56

Price realized: 110 EUR   (Approx. 128 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Arabia. Southern. Saba' circa 400-300 BC. Imitating Athens
Unit AR

16 mm, 4,94 g

Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette; on cheek 𐩬 / ΑΘE, Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent.

Very Fine

SNG ANS 1455.



Starting price: 50 EUR

Match 5:
Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Online Auction 339 | SilverAuction date: 30 August 2026
Lot number: 59

Price realized: 140 EUR   (Approx. 163 USD)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


Arabia. Southern. Saba' circa 400-300 BC. Imitating Athens
Unit AR

15 mm, 4,93 g

Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with three olive leaves and palmette; on cheek 𐩬 / ΑΘE, Owl standing right, head facing; to left, olive sprig and crescent.

Very Fine

SNG ANS 1455.



Starting price: 50 EUR