Tiny Ancients (10mm and under)

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by ancientone, Feb 12, 2017.

  1. Whipps

    Whipps Well-Known Member

    I don't collect ancients but I really like this one. Can you tell me what it is? Is it gold?
    IMG_2431.PNG
     
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  3. I_v_a_n

    I_v_a_n Well-Known Member

    Electrum. An alloy of gold and silver.
     
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  4. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

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  5. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Partly inspired by this thread, I just picked up a tiny coin. The seller didn't know what it was, and neither do I. Any idea? (I'll post a better photo when I receive it.) It's 6mm and 0.055 g.

    Screen Shot 2017-02-15 at 11.34.57 AM.png
     
  6. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

  7. stevex6

    stevex6 Random Mayhem

    Ummm, a super-bad photo?

    [​IMG]
     
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  8. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    :smuggrin: Yup, Frank isn't known for his photography skills! For the longest time he just provided descriptions... which are occasionally (intentionally) hilarious. I always enjoy perusing his lists.
     
  9. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Yeah, me too. I do not like the way his auctions are set up, having to flip from description to image. But I guess it works for Frank, and I've gotten some nice coins in the end.
     
  10. Another one. Phokaia, Ionia Diobol 9.7mm 1.43g - Most say Archaic fem on obverse, some say a nymph. about 520-500 BC.
    Ionia Phokaia Diobol.png
     
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  11. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Just like iamtiberius' but only 0.1g. These come in many sizes.
    g61450bb1809.jpg

    Mylassa, 0.1g lion forepart reverted/bird
    g61660bb0379.jpg
     
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  12. Andres2

    Andres2 Well-Known Member

    I only have 4 tiny coins , compared to Doug's coins they are huge :)

    P1160991.JPG P1160996.JPG lepton.jpg P11504645.jpg
     
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  13. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    Finally got around to taking a photo of this one. Frank got the weight wrong... it's actually 0.18g (and 6 mm). I also think I've got the ID figured out, but I won't post it yet in case someone wants to have a go at it!

    Screen Shot 2017-08-14 at 1.05.09 PM.png
    Screen Shot 2017-08-14 at 1.06.38 PM.png
     
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  14. Justin Lee

    Justin Lee I learn by doing

    My Miletos, Ionia. 1/12 AR stater
    20170526_082225.jpg 20170526_082259.jpg 20170526_082411.jpg
     
  15. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Since my last posting, I have captured and even smaller coin:

    upload_2017-8-14_16-52-1.png
    Ionia AR Tetartemorion 4mm 0.13g 530-500 BCE Rosette - Incuse sq punch 5 pellets SNG von Aulock 1807

    It amazes me how a small coin would be used in transactions, carried around, and even recognized for a value. Cool
     
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  16. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

  17. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Not only are those awesomely cool little things, but I also love how those tiny coins have such a big name!

    Tetartemorion. That's what, five syllables?

    A more apt name would've been "blip".
     
  18. Ed Snible

    Ed Snible Well-Known Member

    We have not yet seen a tiny Celtic coin.

    8YzHgc7He4BLGfF92pFdgX52Z6aA3w.jpg
    Celtic, Atrebates & Regni, Verica 10-40 AD?, Minim 0.15g
    Obv: "COF" within a tablet flanked by pellets.
    Rev: Facing head of Medusa
    SCBC (Standard Catalogue of British Coins) 141
    I suspect this came out of an Elsen sale but I have not yet found this coin in his catalogs.

    Verica was a British client king of the Roman Empire in the years preceding the Claudian invasion of 43 AD. Reattributed to Verica by J. P. C. Kent. Simon C. Bean says “The earliest minum … appears to be a reworking of the design used on Tincomarus’ classical ¼ stater.”
     
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  19. Multatuli

    Multatuli Homo numismaticus

    IMG_4525.JPG
    Ionia, circa 650-550 BC Electrum 1/24th stater, SNGvA 1802; Rosen 370; SNG Kayhan 713, aF, 0.527g, 5.8mm, obverse facing lion head; reverse incuse punch. Uncertain atelier.

    This is not my smallest coin, but is the only that I have a pic on this moment.
    Well, is the smallest in electrum as well.
    And maybe, the older...

    (Sorry, guys! I don't know yet how to put pics on a bigger (or better) size.)
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2017
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  20. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    This Troas, Birytis bronze with Kabeiros on it was about 8mm, as I recall.

    [​IMG]

    These were pretty tiny, too, but I can't recall offhand if they were <10mm or not.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  21. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan 48-year collector Moderator

    Here you go:

    [​IMG]


    And here is @Ed Snible's Celtic coin, in the full-sized picture:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2017
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