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<p>[QUOTE="Mikey Zee, post: 2953908, member: 72818"]Well, it is to me and precisely because of what it is and how it is<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. 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'?<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie3" alt=":(" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>The dating of these first stamped coins is one of the most frequently debated topics of ancient numismatics,<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia#cite_note-15" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia#cite_note-15" rel="nofollow">[15]</a> 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.</p><p><br /></p><p>QUOTE:</p><p><br /></p><p>"According to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodotus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodotus" rel="nofollow">Herodotus</a>, the Lydians were the first people to use gold and silver <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin" rel="nofollow">coins</a> and the first to establish retail shops in permanent locations.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia#cite_note-13" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia#cite_note-13" rel="nofollow">[13]</a> 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 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrum" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrum" rel="nofollow">electrum</a>.<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia#cite_note-14" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia#cite_note-14" rel="nofollow">[14]</a>"</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>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<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. 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<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie26" alt=":bookworm:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.classicalcoins.com/page103.html" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.classicalcoins.com/page103.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.classicalcoins.com/page103.html</a></p><p><br /></p><p>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<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.</p><p><br /></p><p>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<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie9" alt=":eek:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /> focused<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie2" alt=";)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /><img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie7" alt=":p" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please feel free to indulge yourselves and share your tiniest and oldest coins<img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]722014[/ATTACH]</p><p>Mysia. Lampsakos, circa 500-470 BC.</p><p>Trihemiobol AR</p><p>8mm., 0.84g.</p><p><br /></p><p>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.</p><p>very fine</p><p>SNG Copenhagen 186. (? Is this correct?)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]722011[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]722013[/ATTACH]</p><p>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. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lampsacus" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lampsacus" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Mikey Zee, post: 2953908, member: 72818"]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,[URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia#cite_note-15'][15][/URL] 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 [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herodotus']Herodotus[/URL], the Lydians were the first people to use gold and silver [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coin']coins[/URL] and the first to establish retail shops in permanent locations.[URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia#cite_note-13'][13][/URL] 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 [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrum']electrum[/URL].[URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydia#cite_note-14'][14][/URL]" 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:D. 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:bookworm: [url]http://www.classicalcoins.com/page103.html[/url] 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:D. 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:eek: focused;):p. Please feel free to indulge yourselves and share your tiniest and oldest coins:) [ATTACH=full]722014[/ATTACH] 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?) [ATTACH=full]722011[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]722013[/ATTACH] 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. [URL='https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lampsacus']Wikipedia[/URL][/QUOTE]
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Rough, pitted but still very cool?
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