Hello ladies and gentlemen. Just won an Abydos obol I was hunting for a while Troas. Abydos circa 460-430 BC. Obol AR 8 mm, 0,59 g Would you say that this coin was cut or this was the original flan shape? I have never seen this shape on a coin (without being altered). The weight makes me think there is a chance this was its original condition. The coin is not yet with me so I cannot analyze the edge.
Great score! I believe you stole that thing for a song. I almost bid you up on that but had already had some success. I do believe our strong suspects are that the coin was clipped (maybe due to being heavy) or chipped due to its crystallization. But like you said, in hand you'll be able to tell more. Today's bidding on a blue auction was pretty cra cra. 10-20 euro coins getting chased up into the hundreds. Some really fun Neros slipped through my fingers. But that damnatio went for bonkers amounts(though, that cut is clearly ancient). Here is one of my snacks from today. Also crystalized but has the whole head. Excited to see her in hand. These little guys n gals always impress way more in hand as the eye cannot zoom in like this from a camera Ionia. Phokaia circa 521-478 BC. Diobol AR 9 mm, 1,29 g nearly very fine Savoca March 2021
So it's you I'm fighting with on the blues? such a small world. Very funny - I recognize your Phokaia as it was exactly before the one I got but without the whole head. I didn't bid on yours though. I am very curious about the Abydos one, if the flan is "original" it will be a cool coin. As for the prices, yes, I like to watch almost all the lots and I try to predict the price. Sometimes I just nod. There were cases when I paid 70-75 EUR on coins I would normally pay 50 because I wanted them, but some prices just seem out of this world.
The weights on fractions of Abydos vary a lot! They vary so much that I was trying to figure out if they had a non-standard set of denominations, or just poor quality control. I spent a long time trying to convince myself there were hemiobols, 1/5 drachms, trihemiobols, etc. I finally gave up and decided the standard three denominations (tetartemorion, obol, drachm) is enough. The data set is all the examples in my collection, the ANS, SNG Copenhagen, CNG sales, and and Asia Minor Coins. I feel this is a representative sample. Here is an example at 0.24g I recorded the picture and weight on eBay, thinking it was a hemiobol. However, I later purchased it (Agora Auctions, May 2015, Lot 33-352 (part of)), and decided it was merely clipped. I have no clue if your example was clipped, overstruck on a square coin, or if the mint was having a bad day.
