Rough, pitted but still very cool?

Well, it is to me and precisely because of what it is and how it is. For those unfamiliar with the type, it's a very small, old Greek silver coin struck at Lamsakos in Mysia (modern day Turkey) circa 500-470 BC. I have another 'type' of the same size/denomination---a trihemiobol---but this one may be older if the 500 BC date is accurate. The devices caught my eye and I realized I was missing any featuring a female Janiform head and I loved the reverse of Athena, so I had to add it to my collection. It's also well centered and strongly struck on both sides, something a bit difficult to find----examples with those attributes and with superior surfaces can be quite pricey. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find any clarifying reference to whom the female Janiform might represent, perhaps that's simply unknowable or always was simply meant to depict a 'generic female'?

The dating of these first stamped coins is one of the most frequently debated topics of ancient numismatics,[15] with dates ranging from 700 BC to 550 BC. This rugged coin also represents some of the earliest struck coinage while Lydian coins are acknowledged as having been some of the earliest Greek issues dating back to at least 600 BC.

QUOTE:

"According to Herodotus, the Lydians were the first people to use gold and silver coins and the first to establish retail shops in permanent locations.[13] It is not known, however, whether Herodotus meant that the Lydians were the first to use coins of pure gold and pure silver or the first precious metal coins in general. Despite this ambiguity, this statement of Herodotus is one of the pieces of evidence most often cited on behalf of the argument that Lydians invented coinage, at least in the West, even though the first coins were neither gold nor silver but an alloy of the two called electrum.[14]"


I'm sure others will post their tiny coins, many even smaller than this one, and I still marvel over how much detail the ancients were able to engrave on the dies required for coins of this size....and perhaps tiny hammers and tongs. Not to mention, how tiny coins such as these were actually used in commerce. Naturally, I can easily imagine losing them and I wonder if they weren't used like 'gold dust', combined and 'pouched' in weight? How could that be useful for the 'common man'---each coin's value would seem to be far higher than they could obtain or use for their general needs? Hopefully, others will have opinions or theories to share

http://www.classicalcoins.com/page103.html

Since this coin sold at about average retail shipped, it wasn't a bargain and probably wont appeal to everyone but I must confess, the more I view it, the more it grows on me----despite my love of 'big bronzes' and 'pretty' coins.

This is my first and last for January since I had to reduce my monthly coin budget by more than half for a variety of reasons. So, by February and thereafter, I will be limited to 1-3 coins monthly and have to be somewhat more selective and focused.

Please feel free to indulge yourselves and share your tiniest and oldest coins

Mysia. Lampsakos, circa 500-470 BC.
Trihemiobol AR
8mm., 0.84g.

Female janiform head, wearing taenia, earring and necklace / Head of Athena left, Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, wheel with four spokes on helmet, within incuse square.
very fine
SNG Copenhagen 186. (? Is this correct?)


Lampsakos is located in the Troad on the southern side of the Hellespont, on the coast road, about midway between the ancient sites of Abydos and Parium. An inhabitant of Lampsacus was called a Lampsacene. The name has been transmitted in the nearby modern town of Lapseki. Wikipedia

 

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WOW, I REALLY like that little gal(s)! I really like the Greek Archaic Style... I have looked at these several times, and have almost pulled the trigger several times. You got a good one! Way cool... Now, I am going to have to go get one...

Hmmm... I think THIS one is my SMALLEST:


Ionia AR Tetartemorion 4mm 0.13g 530-500 BCE Rosette - Incuse sq punch 5 pellets SNG von Aulock 1807
EX: That guy giving us ALL the finger... @John Anthony

OLDEST WESTERN Coins:

Iona Kolophon AR Tetartemorion 530-520 BCE Archaic Apollo Incuse Punch 0.15g 4.5mm- SNG Kayhan 343
(And the Ionia Tetartemorion above)

OLDEST EASTERN COIN:

China Shang Dyn 1766-1154 BCE Ant Nose Ge Liu Zhu 2.6g 19.5x11 very scarce H 1.10

OLDEST INDIA COIN:

India Gandahara AR Bent Bar 11-3g 650-600 BCE RARE two dots - also have on BOTH sides VERY RARE

 

beautiful!..

 

Cool post and love your coin!

Sorry to hear about the budget. Mine took a big hit through 207.

 

The OP coin is extremely well-centered for a tiny 8 mm cutie! It has the noses on the flan and the top of the helmet on the flan. The strike is accurate to within less than 1 mm. Excellent!

 

These coins are so cute. Little baby coins!

Thank you for the write up @Mikey Zee and your little Janus is incredible! Wow! Three heads on such a tiny little thing. And incuse on the reverse, too. I'm crazy for the incuse!

@Alegandron - Your coins, I always adore! Always!

 

I was looking at this coin too, I'm glad I didn't bid it up! The variety with the wheel seems to be much scarcer than without, and it's very nicely centred with good detail. Nice catch!

I looked into these quite a lot after buying this tetartemorion, which (I argue here) dates from around 400 BC (6mm, 0.18g):


Same female head on the obverse, but not janiform. I'm also very curious about her identity! I think the best bet is that she is the semi-mythical and deified Lampsace, whom the city was named after. (The story is that she forewarned the early colonists of an attack by the resentful local populace.) According to Plutarch, she was still worshipped as a goddess in his time, i.e. 1st-2nd c. CE. I'm unsure what the janiform arrangement would signify to the Greeks.

 

Great details despite the rough surface, winner for sure!

That archaic Janiform head is awesome!

Here's my smallest silver coins at 7mm, my only Greek coin from 2017 (Lesbos).

 

That is a great little coin @Mikey Zee
Here's a couple of mine (some day I'll get pics taken)

Istros, Moesia.
AR Trihemiobol, 10mm, 1.1g; c. 380/350-330/280 BC.
Obv. Facing male heads, the right inverted.
Rev. IΣTΡIH, sea-eagle grasping a dolphin with talons


PISIDIA, Selge
AR Obol 12mm, 0.85g, 12h; 3rd Century BC.
Obv. Facing head of Medusa (gorgoneion).
Rev. Helmeted head of Athena right.
Reference: SNG France 1930; SNG Ashmolean 1532–4.

Both are ex JAZ

 

Wow @chrsmat71 ,when you set your tiny coin on top of the cent, that really shows off how small it is! Of course I love that your coin is incuse on the reverse (Did I say that right?) Your coin, Chris and yours, @Severus Alexander and of course your coins, too, @Smojo , all are so adorably precious that I don't know what to do with myself! (And is Smojo's Pisidia reverse technically incuse also? It sort of feels a little that way.)

 

It is possible that the two goddess faces on the obverse in the OP coin(beautiful coin btw) that appear janiform are just the other two of the three faced form of the Virgin goddesses- Artemis and Hestia with Athena on the "reverse" of the coin and the "hidden" third face on the obverse- facing the "other side". Just a guess however with some knowledge of the tri-form goddess in her many aspects. Here is a coin showing the full tri-form Lady Hecate. You don't I believe find her too often in this form on any coins. Most knowledge of her and her kinds of worship were only given over in the caves of initiation such as those of the Eleusian mysteries.
Greek city of Apameia in Phrygia
Bronze 16mm (2.44 grams) Struck circa 175-225 A.D.
Reference: SNG Munchen 131; SNG von Aulock 3475; SNG Leypold II 1438
AΠAMEIA, turreted and draped bust of Tyche right.
CΩTЄIPA, Hekate Triformis, three-figured, each with double-chiton and wearing kalathos, holding torches.

 

Nice!

 

Super detailed for its small size and great age.

Really top archaic style too.

John

 

These are interesting coins and the fact that parts of Turkey were key to Western Civ for so long is an important part of history that seems to be forgotten. It's a shame that it isn't study more and that it isn't a commonly known historical tidbit.

There are two absurdly small coins in the Bag o Romans, but nothing with this type of detail. At least I have a place to start when they pop up to be researched.

 

This is the smallest and oldest Greek I have
Attribution: Ionia. Miletos AR Hemiobol Rosen 403; SNG Copenhagen 378
Date: 6th-5th century BC
Obverse: Panther facing
Reverse: Scorpion in incuse square
Size: 8.49mm
Weight: 0.54 grams
good Fine

 

Here is one from the BoR:

 

Thanks so much everyone for all the cool posts and welcomed comments!!

As it is so often stated---there is so much to learn and so much more that still remains unanswered.

Well, for the moment, I have to make sure all my blizzard-like storm arrangements I made yesterday are complete....especially a minor repair/adjustment to my snowblower. Yep, a foot or so of snow is forecast for the area/region with sustained winds and freezing temperatures

 

Good luck surviving the bombogenesis winter storm...and that goes for anyone in its path.

 

Your coin has tremendous character, @Mikey Zee ! Don’t feel as though you’re alone on the budget issue. I'm in the same boat. Car repairs, house repairs, and dentist's bills are curbing my
ancient coin spending for a while. It's okay though, it’ll give me the opportunity to revisit and review the coins I have.

 

Great photo of the coin sitting on the U.S. cent piece, @chrsmat71 !