2 tiny Octopuses added, one RRR!

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Jay GT4, Mar 9, 2018.

  1. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Added a very rare (unlisted?) AR tetronkion from Syracuse with Octopus, weighing in at slightly over 0.2g! Could only find 1 other like it on acsearch. It will be a nice project trying to find it!

    Octopus fraction2.jpg

    http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-144463

    and a fantastic AR Litra with an Octopus weighing in at just 0.65g!

    Octopus_Litra.jpg

    http://www.forumancientcoins.com/gallery/displayimage.php?pos=-144462

    Loving the detail on these fantastic tiny coins!

    Let's see your octopus coins or tiny fractions under 0.7g
     
    Last edited: Mar 9, 2018
    galba68, RAGNAROK, chrsmat71 and 30 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. Alegandron

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

    WOW, @Jay GT4 , I really like those AR examples! Really really nice!

    Couple of my Syracuse Octopi:

    upload_2018-3-9_20-52-22.png
    SYRACUSE 2nd Democr 466-405 BCE Æ Tetras 2.7g 15mm c.425 BCE Arethusa dolphins - Octopus 3 pellets SNG ANS 376 Calciati II.21.1

    Sicily Syracuse AE Onkia 12-10mm 1.4g 425-415 BCE Arethusa - Octopus BMC 249.JPG
    Sicily Syracuse AE Onkia 12-10mm 1.4g 425-415 BCE Arethusa - Octopus BMC 249

    Couple of my Fractions - Tetartemorions are fun...

    upload_2018-3-9_20-54-54.png
    Uncert West Asia Minor Karia 5th C BC AR tetartemorion 5mm 0.15g Female - Frprt Bull man r Kayhan 968 exc rght

    Aeolis Elaea AR Tetartemorion 460  BCE Athena L - Olive Wreath 7.8mm 0.16g SNG Cop 166.JPG
    Aeolis Elaea AR Tetartemorion 460 BCE Athena L - Olive Wreath 7.8mm 0.16g SNG Cop 166
     
    galba68, RAGNAROK, chrsmat71 and 18 others like this.
  4. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Thanks! I'm loving these tiny pieces. That Man faced bull reverse is great!
     
    Alegandron likes this.
  5. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    Lovely coins. I would love to get a coin with an octopus someday.
     
  6. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Some awesome additions Jay!
     
  7. Severus Alexander

    Severus Alexander find me at NumisForums

    WOW, both fantastic coins!! Especially the RRR tinier one... what incredible detail on the reverse of that tiny flan!
     
  8. TJC

    TJC Well-Known Member

    Awesome!
     
  9. AncientJoe

    AncientJoe Well-Known Member

    Congrats on your octopodes! My eyes could be playing tricks on me but it appears that your litra reverse isn't front-facing but rather slightly to the side, which would be quite artistically interesting.

    Here's my litra, with a classical head versus your archaic example:

    Octopus.jpg
     
  10. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    That's a work of art Joe, congrats!
     
    AncientJoe likes this.
  11. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    Oh, I love those. Have wanted one for a while. Octopi have eluded me so far, however.

    @AncientJoe ups the bar, as usual. Wow. What a strike on that one.
     
    AncientJoe likes this.
  12. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Those are both wonderful coins! My octopus is a fat 0.8g junker which once spelled out the city name on the obverse.

    g20440bb0121.jpg

    From Syracuse, My smallest is this ghost of a hexas now weighing 0.05g but before lamination took its toll probably was twice that. 300 of these would buy you a dekadrachm back then but today there are not 300 left. I've seen a couple others and mine is not the worst.
    g20420fd0595.jpg
     
    RAGNAROK, Nerva, chrsmat71 and 11 others like this.
  13. TIF

    TIF Always learning.

    Fantastic coins, Jay! Those are so hard to find in good condition.

    I have no silver octopodes but here are some bronzes:

    [​IMG]
    Sicily, Syracuse. Dionyisos I, tetras. Nymph / octopus

    [​IMG]
    Sicily, Syracuse. AE 13, c. 425 BCE. Nymph (Arethusa?)/hippocamp & octopus
     
    RAGNAROK, Nerva, chrsmat71 and 18 others like this.
  14. lordmarcovan

    lordmarcovan Eclectic & Eccentric Moderator

    I'll take one from off those dies, with nice surfaces and contrasting patina, please.
     
    Jay GT4 and TIF like this.
  15. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    The little one is really something else. The litra is great too. Congrats on the two excellent pickups!

    Syracuse Onkia - Octopus 1585.jpg
    SICILY, Syracuse
    AE Onkia. 1.35g, 12.1mm. SICILY, Syracuse, Second Democracy, circa 466-405 BC. CNS 10. O: ΣVPA, Head of the nymph Arethusa, right; dolphin behind. R: Octopus; pellet between tentacles.

    Tarentum - Nomos Hippocamp 2244 new.jpg
    CALABRIA, Tarentum
    AR Nomos. 7.86g, 19.3mm. CALABRIA, Tarentum, circa 500-490 BC. Vlasto 115. O: Phalanthos riding dolphin right, holding octopus in right hand, left hand extended; TAPAΣ (retrograde) below. R: Hippocamp left; scallop below, TAPAΣ (retrograde) above.
     
    RAGNAROK, chrsmat71, Topcat7 and 12 others like this.
  16. Jay GT4

    Jay GT4 Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the comments and great coins everyone. You have to wonder how they carried these tiny pieces around. I almost lost them twice trying to photograph them!
     
    Jbruce and lordmarcovan like this.
  17. David Atherton

    David Atherton Flavian Fanatic

    Awesome coins @Jay GT4!
     
  18. kaparthy

    kaparthy Well-Known Member

    I have one. A silver litra (obol) from 474-443, 0.65 grams. SGCV 929.

    syracuse2_rev.jpg syracuse2_obv.jpg
     
    RAGNAROK, chrsmat71, TIF and 9 others like this.
  19. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    Great little coins everybody! How did they strike them?
     
  20. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    My tiniest coin, though still more than 1 gram:

    Kyzikos Trihemiobol.jpg
    Mysia, Kyzikos (c.480 BC)
    AR Trihemiobol, 10 mm, 1.16 g
    Obv: Forepart of boar left ; Tunny upward
    Rev: Head of roaring lion left, outstretched tongue, all within incuse square
    Ref: Von Fritze, Nomisma IX Kyzikos, Group II, 9 / Table V, 10-11.
     
    RAGNAROK, chrsmat71, Jay GT4 and 9 others like this.
  21. Sallent

    Sallent Live long and prosper

    Nice octopus coins everyone

    zER75bWwyc3D8ePSmFx46nnRL9tk2r.jpg
    Sicily, Syracuse, c. 425-415 BC. Æ Onkia (12mm, 1.47g, 6h). Head of Arethusa r. R/ Octopus; pellet below. CNS II, 9; SNG ANS 383; HGC 2, 1434. Dark green patina
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page