Amazing Iona-Militos

And it's always awesome!

 

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Beautiful surfaces I would say. A must have for the ancient collection.

 

There are enough interesting tiny coins that one could collect ancients for years and never get a coin over 10mm.

http://www.forumancientcoins.com/dougsmith/tiny.html

 

I read an ancient source (cant remember who was it right now) that said they use to carry them on their mouths in order not to loose them.

 

This is the reference, from Aristophanes' The Birds...

PITHETAERUS Formerly also the kite was ruler and king over the Greeks.

LEADER OF THE CHORUS The Greeks?

PITHETAERUS And when he was king, he was the one who first taught
them to fall on their knees before the kites.

EUELPIDES By Zeus! that's what I did myself one day on seeing a kite;
but at the moment I was on my knees, and leaning backwards with mouth
agape, I bolted an obolus and was forced to carry my meal-sack home
empty.

There's a fine discussion of the matter on FORVM here.

 

I've read about that too. Hey, great idea... Perhaps, for emergency cash, I will just put a little pinch between cheek and gum... tuck some coins in my mouth... Always available, will give me a return as I can spend it... better that gum or chewing tobacco!

 

Ok, but don't come crying to me when you get a flesh-eating bacteria in your gums.

 

yum...

 

Of course, the ancients wouldn't have been threatened by infection very much as silver is a biocide, but you really wouldn't want to put modern clad coinage in your mouth unless you disinfected it first. Listen to your mother!

 

LOL, i mainly collect silver... Wow, if there are animals on the coins...NIRVANA,

 

oh cool aleg, i've always wanted one of those.

i picked up a coin from a vcoins dealer and thought, well...i've already payed for shipping, so might as well throw in another coin. so grabbed another one.

then i thought that same thing again, and put a third coins in the cart.. a respectable militos lion.

arrived yesterday, looks almost just like your first coin. i'll photograph today and post here later.

 

Way cool! Post it when ur ready!

 

Thank you everyone for your incredible postings! I am truly amazed by some of the smaller sizes, as well as the quality of workmanship in the dies!

 

here it is. man, this was a pain to photograph. took many shots, couldn't get a good one of the incuse reverse at all...always slightly out of focus. gave up and edited the sellers pic, he did s better job than i did.




Ionia, Miletos, Late 6th- early 4th century BC.
1/12th Stater (1.2 gm, 10.5mm). Obv.: Forepart of lion left with head reverted left. Rev.: Starlike floral design in square incuse. SNG Helsinki II 285.

wish he wasn't missing his nose, but looks like you can have all the head, or the leg, but you can' have both. but still not a bad example of the type.

 

Fantastic Chris

 

Here is my Gold 1/24 Stater, Mysios, Kyzicos, 0.5 gm, EL6 mm,
Head of Tunny fish, Quadripartite incuse swastika.

 

now that's an awesome little coin TC!

 

Top notch Top Cat!

 

Thanks TopCat! Really like the small gold and electrums. On my list!

 

These little guys are tough to photograph, took a few myself, and mine seem slightly blurry still...