I started collecting ancient coins in October 2020. I discovered this forum, or rediscovered it, in the same time (I had an account made years ago but was not active). I knew a thing or two (a small thing or two) about Roman Imperial coins then, but my knowledge about Greek coins was extremely limited. I stated reading about Greek coins on CT and I found out that you could get nice coins for small prices, including the very small denominations I started instantly to admire. First Greek coin batch in my collection arrived in December 2020, just before Christmas. Them I won one of my favorite Greek designs - the Mysia, Kyzikos boar/lion Mysia. Kyzikos circa 480-400 BC. Hemiobol AR 9 mm., 0,40 g. Forepart of boar left, retrograde K on shoulder, to right, tunny upward / Head of lion left, to upper left, head of panther facing, all within incuse square.Rosen 522 Von Fritze II 13; SNG Ashmolean 540; SNG France 386. Archaic Timon and Pumba? I liked that coin, especially since I like small coins a lot and still wonder how they were able to add such details on extremely tiny coins. But I always wanted another example, with better centering and with the tunny fish visible. With this in mind I saw some good examples in today's auction and bought not one, but two different Kyzikos coin with similar designs. First was also without the tunny fish but has an interesting particularity - the boar is facing right. I am not an expert on these but from what I noticed, this version is scarcer than the common varieties with both animals facing left. 7 mm 0.27 g AR Obol/Hemionol 480-400 BC. Forepart of boar right, behind, a tunny fish upwards / Head of lion left, mouth open, retrograde K above, all within incuse square. BMC Mysia, 123. ... and there is always room for third, especially since I wanted also the tunny fish present. And why not going for a smaller denomination? Although corroded, I like the good centering and the oblong flan (I am always attracted to these) Mysia. Kyzikos circa 525-475 BC (other sources - 450 or 480-400 BC) Tetartemorion AR 8 mm, 0,18 g Forepart of boar left, tunny to right / Head of roaring lion left, star to upper left, all within incuse square. Von Fritze II 14; SNG France 375. Please post different denominations with similar designs from the same city you wanted in your collections!
This one is no longer with me, but it was the nicest example of a small denomination that I've come across. A trihemitetartemorion, if you will. The definitions get hazy down in that range.
Fun coins! Always a fun type to collect. I've had several. Here's my current version: And another fun tiny Kyzikos coin:
..those are neat little coins...i've bid on several thru the years, but nary one have i won...(i didn't bid enough 9_9)
