MYSIA, Kyzikos, AR Tetartemorion This coin was listed by CNG back in 2010 as a tetartemorion. It's 9mm and 0.43g. The mint date is given as ca. 525-475 B.C. It is referenced as SNG France 375 MYSIA, Kyzikos, AR Hemiobol Two years later CNG listed this coin as a hemiobol. It's 9mm and 0.37g. The mint date is given as ca. 450-400 B.C. It, too, cites SNG France 375 as a reference. I can't detect much difference between the two coins. 0.43g strikes me as on the high side for a tetartemorion, but going up to about August of 2012, CNG lists several similar coins of similar weight as Tetartemorions with the early date. After that all similar coins are listed as Hemiobols with the later date. Does anyone know the reason for the change? A new scholarly publication perhaps? Or is there an actual physical or stylistic difference that I'm not aware of?
At that weight it is indeed a hemiobol, the newest listing seems to be correct. The references are the same between the two listings, so it doesn't seem to be a new publication. Circa 450-400 BC is also the correct date, these coins came after the Archaic coinage of Kyzikos featuring predominantly the tunny fish with an incuse square on the back. Same case as this coin I have, it was listed as a tetartemorion, but looking at the weight, it must be a hemiobol. I see example like these listed at both denominations as well. Islands off Mysia, Lesbos, Methymna. AR Tetartemorion. Circa 500/480-460 B.C. Obverse: Facing head of Silenos. Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square. Reference: Hauck & Aufhäuser 14 (1998), 75. Leu Web Auction 11 (2020), 859. 0.31g; 6mm
Thanks, @Pavlos. As a general rule, would you say that a hemiobol should weigh in the neighborhood of 0.4g and a tetartemorion closer to 0.2g?
