So I took the plunge into ancients. I've always admired ancient coins and their history, but have been reluctant. One of my many collecting themes is to collect small. I love tiny coins! On a FB group I belong to this little gem popped up from a reputable seller and I just had to have it. I was lured in. At 1.17 g. this little beauty fits my collecting theme perfectly. I like that it's well struck and centered compared to others of the type I have seen for sale. Mysia, Cyzicus, Trihemiobol. 525-475 BC Obv: Forepart of running boar l. Rx: lion's head l. jaws wide open. Sorry about the poor pictures. I only have a phone camera.
That's a very nice example -- the tunny fish isn't even off the flan! Here's my less-centered specimen: Mysia, Kyzikos (c.480 BC) AR Trihemiobol, 10 mm, 1.16 g. Obv: Forepart of boar left ; Tunny upward. Rev: Head of roaring lion left, outstretched tongue, all within incuse square. Ref: Von Fritze, Nomisma IX Kyzikos, Group II, 9 / Table V, 10-11.
One of the coins I discovered here in CT. Before becoming a member I was not interested in Greek coins but I discovered some attractive coin designs (and I still do) and whenever possible I added an example in my collection. My example (hemiobol, unfortunately tunny fish missing)
That is a very nice example of this series which is quite extensive if you want to get into minor variations and denominations. I have a few but not the ones shown here so far. My smallest is 1/4 obol (tetartemorion) and has only the tunny. It was first shown here by Stevex6 from whose sale I bought it. 0.2g A later 1/4 obol shows two tunny fish. 0.2g My obol has a retrograde K in the field but the tunny is off flan. 0.7g At 1.2g this trihemiobol seems relatively massive. I remain uncertain of the denominations and feel it unlikely that the people who used these called them by the Athenian names but do not propose a more accurate system.
Lured in by the tuny fish Coingrats on a very handsome example Here's mine Mysia. Kyzikos 480 BC. Obol AR 11mm., 0,71g. Forepart of boar left , E (retrograde) on shoulder, with tall mane and dotted truncation, dotted line on shoulder, to right, tunny upward / Head of roaring lion left with bristling mane, outstretched tongue, and dotted truncation, all within incuse square. Ex Silicua Subastas And a coin believed to come from Cyzicus, mainly due to the similarity of the lion's style: Mysia. Kyzikos (?) Uncertain. Tetartemorion (Circa 5th century BC). Obv: Crescents in triangular arrangement; pellet in one and between two. Shield (?) Rev: Head of roaring lion left within incuse square. Condition: Good very fine. Weight: 0.09 g. Diameter: 6 mm. Ex: Savoca
Welcome @Joshua Lemons . You picked up an interesting coin. I bought mine a couple of years ago to show my Razorback relatives in Arkansas. It would take 3 or 4 of mine to make one of yours. MYSIA, Kyzikos. Circa 480 BC. AR Hemiobol Obv - Forepart of boar left, showing both front legs, lower tusks, ears & bristles raised; behind row of dots, on R tunny fish upward Rev - Head of roaring lion with spiny mane, left; star to upper left; the reverse should be within incuse square, but not much of the square is showing on this small coin. 0.35 g 7 mm
It is not at all unusual to see coins sold using different terms and it is not always certain which is closer to correct since we do not have written records for many things. A trihemiobol or 1.5 obol is also 1/4 of a drachm (six obols equal one drachm). How did the citizen of Kyzicos look at it? Do you have a US five cent piece or a nickel or perhaps even a half di(s)me? The coins shown in this thread span a period of time at least equal to the one that separates Roosevelt dimes from the first US silver and people applied different names and weight standards along the way in both cases. We study and we try to do the best we can. Then we guess.