Tasty little Greek treat (Pisidia silver Obol)

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If you say it in a deep, ominous voice with a Scottish accent it sounds like the name of the Balrog.

 

I am ok with @Ed Snible posting his pristine example. As a regular here, I'm used to seeing the deep pockets here with examples of coins so pristine and stunning that I'd have to sell my kidney to even have a chance of owning. Doesn't hurt my feelings at all...I enjoy seeing others' cool collection. Post away.

I know I'd hate it if someone else told me I couldn't show off one of my better coins because it hurt someone else's feelings. I think it's ok to show and tell, and even brag a little, amongst fellow enthusiasts.

 

Unfortunately I lack a scan of the coin I wanted to show and the coin might be in the safety deposit box.

These little gorgon/Athena fractions are quite common and rarely earn a second thought. Often they have mysterious symbols on the reverse. Usually it is a knucklebone or spear. Sometimes there are multiple symbols. There are three rare symbols that I know of. One symbol is a snake. That's the one I can't find. Another is the letter E and the last looks like a lower-case t.

Here is the E type (dealer photo):

Pisidia, Etenna?, 300-250 BC, obol. 0.52g 8mm
O: Facing head (humanized gorgon?).
R: Ε and astragalos behind helmeted head (of Athena?).
Three known?

When I bought this I was sure the E stood for "Etenna". However it turns out at least three cities struck the type: Selge, Aspendos, and Etenna. All three begin their name with the letter E. (Crazy! They spoke a Pisidian language or dialect of Greek). Selge spelled their name ΣΤΛΕΓΕΙΥΣ or ΕΣΤΛΕLΙΙΥΣ.

This next one has the t-symbol and I think a knucklebone. Imhoof-Blumer was convinced these come from Etenna because of a wrestler stater with the same symbol.


Pisidia, Etenna?, 3/2 obol?, 0.99g 9mm
O: Facing head (humanized gorgon?).
R: t and astragalos behind helmeted head (of Athena?).
Historia Numorum, page 708; Imhoof-Blumer, Kl. M. XIII 2

There is no price premium for the rare symbols. Most dealers don't even know they exist.