Ptolemy II, A big one :D

Ah, a obol, much smaller then the thing I have. Could never bring myself to spending $50-$100 on such a small coin, even a athena/owl version.

 

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There are smaller coins from Ionia in Asia Minor, Miletos had some that were 4-5mm in size. Coins from that part of the world were often carried in mouths - cannot imagine that happening in Egypt.

 

They kept them in their mouths to prevent theft right? If your money can knock people out when hit with them, then no need to hide them

I think mine was only a couple bucks

 

Togas didn't come with pockets, and you were more likely to drop and lose coins if you carried them in your paws. Of course with such small coins, one does wonder how many ended up passing through gastro-intestinal tracts by accident.

 

Even smaller than that. We didn't know about smaller coins since they have mostly been lost to antiquity due to size, but I read where they have discovered, by carefully sifting through sand at some dig sites where they found ancient coins, some coins 1-2 mm, being 1/128 and 1/256 units, (drachm/shekel I cannot remember).

 

I believe in the Asia Minor coins they would be fractions of a stater. I have seen some of the 1/128th coins, and yes they are really tiny. They are usually diminutive enough that even a metal detector will not give off a signal for them.

 

Yes, I think you are right, it was a stater. I think the 1/128th's were somewhat known, but I believe they found 1/256ths.

 

I have only just received my own largest ancient. Nothing as large as that huge lump that Doug illustrates but still quite a decent size.

Ptolemaic Kingdom, Ptolemy III Euergetes, 246-221 B.C., AE42
Obv:– Diademed head of Zeus Ammon right
Rev:- PTOLEMAIOY BASILEOS, eagle standing left, head left, on thunderbolt, wings closed, GreeK_Sigma between legs
Minted in Alexandria under Ptolemy III Euergetes or Ptolemy IV
Reference:- Svoronos 992

70.23g, 41.93mm, 0 degrees.



At this size it is potentially a drachm. There are several marks on the faln that remain there since the manufacture e.g. rings around the centration dimple. traces of a ring marked on the flan for the engraver to follow for the legend etc.

Regards,
Martin

 

Is that to adjust the weight?