Yah, it's funny when a lot of people think Greek - they envision 1950-60 Homoerotic looking movie characters - Oiled up wrestling man on man - 300 Airbrushed abs ( Spartans in No Freakin Armor whaaa?) Then you show em a insane hand made Corinthian Helmet with custom Horsehair crest and all they can say is " it looks like....you know.. kinda...right " I say " Whatever! "
This is my favorite Itty Bitty Coin because I can actually see the little owl without optical magnification. The little owl just jumps out from this little coin: ATTICA, Athens. AR Hemiobol 454-404 B.C. 0.34 grams, 6.2 - 6.9 mm Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right. Rev: Owl standing right, head facing, olive sprig behind. AΘE. Grade: Overall VF with the owl, olive sprig, and AΘE sharply struck & centered. The Athena obverse is somewhat more worn & off center. Other: SNG Copenhagen 59. May 2014 Pecunem Sale 16, lot # 498.
Not a big fan of those small dinky coins but I have a few of them. Phoenicia Sidon Ba'alshillem II 401-366 BC, 1/32 AR Shekel, .46g, 9mm OBV: Galley left above waves "9"=B above REV: Persian king standing right slaying a lion standing left "O" between REF: Unlisted Roman Imperial Barbarous Radiate Antoninianus, 0.6g, 11mm OBV: Radiate head right. REV: Altar with horned roof, cross above. Five dots on altar, one panel. Dot to left, right and below. REF: None Similar to the official CONSACRATIO issues for Claudius II. Obverse portrait looks like Tetricus I.
Istros Obol 7.77mm, 0.42g My smartphone at the time didn't have a very good macro setting. I should try again.
Great lifetime obol Severatus. I love these small coins, especially those of Alexander and his contemporaries. Here's the nicest sub-10mm in my collection, shown not to long ago, but at 6mm, I think it gets me into the IBCC.
If you insist! IONIA. Uncertain. EL 1/24 Stater 600-550 BCE 6mm 0.57g. Obv: Bridled head of Pegasus Left. Rev: Incuse punch with four raised squares. Often described as a horse because the wing is usually off flan.
wow david, those are tiny!! (holy schmokes => are those your cool coins?) ... congrats!! yah again, my smallest is a mere 5 mm in one direction (8 mm in the "long" direction) ... 0.17 grams => wow sorry, but I just can't seem to get over just how cool this is (*my favourite*)
Many thanks to the comedy team of Oki and Steve----it's getting late in the pm and I needed a few chuckles... I am astounded at how the ancients managed to engrave such intricate artistry on coins 10mm and smaller, as AJ's coins so beautifully depict and all others posted show so vividly.... Perhaps TIF has a 'photo shop' of a ancient engraver wearing his magnifiers (glasses?)...