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.
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.
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.
Another one. Phokaia, Ionia Diobol 9.7mm 1.43g - Most say Archaic fem on obverse, some say a nymph. about 520-500 BC.
Just like iamtiberius' but only 0.1g. These come in many sizes. Mylassa, 0.1g lion forepart reverted/bird
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!
Since my last posting, I have captured and even smaller coin: 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
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".
We have not yet seen a tiny Celtic coin. 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.”
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.)
This Troas, Birytis bronze with Kabeiros on it was about 8mm, as I recall. These were pretty tiny, too, but I can't recall offhand if they were <10mm or not.