I got this tetartemorion recently, and like many times before I am just astonished by the miniature art on these tiny coins, in this case the helmeted Athena. Uncertain mint in Western Asia Minor, probably Troas, Lampsakos. AR Tetartemorion (4th century B.C). Obverse: Head of Apollo left, wearing taenia. Reverse: Helmeted head of Athena left within incuse sqaure. Reference: Unpublished in the standard references. 0.16g; 7mm I really wonder how they manage to engrave the dies of these tiny coins, anyone any idea? Athena is probably only 4mm in diameter struck on an 7mm flan. Share your (hemi)tetartemorions! I want to see everyone's tiny pieces of art.
Great little Greek! My Athena has a flat face: Mysia. Lampsakos circa 500-450 BC. Obol AR 7mm., 0,77g. Female janiform head / Helmeted head of Athena left within incuse square very fine. SNG BnF 1128-31.
Also helmeted Athena, but facing right: Pamphylia, Side Circa 300 BC, Tetartemorion. 0.15g, 6mm Unpublished denomination? cf. SNG Von Aulock 4774 (obol), cf. SNG Paris 731-739 (obols)
Great coins all, thank you for sharing! @Alegandron You got a very nice collection of these tiny pieces of art.
Here's a collage of smaller coins in my collection. I have a few more since this was made. Left to right, row by row, from the top: CALABRIA, Tarentum. AR litra, 11 mm CARIA, Mylasa. AR hemiobol, 7 x 9 mm ARKADIA, Psophis. AR obol, 10 mm MACEDON, Pangeion region. AR 5 mm, 0.26 gm ARKADIA, Arkadian League, Megalopolis. AR obol, 11 mm MYSIA, Pitane. AE 9 mm IONIA, Klazomenai. AR diobol, 9 mm IONIA, Klazomenai. AR diobol, 10 mm PHLIASIA, Phlius. AR obol, 11 mm SICILY, Selinos. AR litra, 11 mm CARIA, Kindya. AR tetrobol, 11 mm (but quite thick, 2.18 gm)
Honestly, how could people even use these coins? I routinely work on musical instruments, and any pad size below 8 mm starts getting easy to lose - drop it from like 2 inches up and it'll bounce away to god knows where
I understand the Greeks made these tiny fractionals of their AR Drachm until they started using larger, lesser metal value AE Coinage as fractionals. I also recall that these small AR fractionals are usually not found in hoards, rather they are found in marketplaces where folks were more apt to transact and drop them. Like todays small denominations, if dropped, folks may not be as apt to get down and look hard for the low-value coins. Put yourself into the times: no paper currencies, and if you did not barter, then you used coinage, whether large or small. You adapted and coped with this everyday life until times and new technologies evolved. As in 200 years from now, people will be amazed how we coped with the tools and technologies of our today’s daily lives. It is life, no big mysteries.
Excellent tiny Athena @Pavlos ! Very interesting video Ed. That is some incredible skill exhibited by both the ancient and modern artists. Thanks for sharing this!
I remember this one from the auction, with its crisp Athena - almost took a stab at it myself but decided not to since I already have similar coin (written up here). Lampsakos tetartemorion c. 400 BCE, 0.18g, 6.5mm I'm glad it went to CT family!
