"Good things come in small packages" - this is certainly the thought I have today with this 0.56 gram coin. Although unusual for Greek coins, sometimes we do have a clue on the coin about the denomination. On this coin, we can read the ΛI on the reverse, below the crab. This mark of value - LI for litra gives clear confirmation that this is NOT an Attic standard obol. On some of these coin there is an additional letter: ΛIT. Sicily, Akragas (Agrigentum), circa 450-440 BC, AR litra, (10 mm, 0.56g, 3h). Obv: ΑΚ - RΑ, eagle, with closed wings, standing left on Ionic column capital with large volutes, dots at center of volutes Rev: ΛΙ Crab Ref: HGC 2, 121. Westermark 455-504 (dies appear to be O21/R20) Notes: for more on this coin and a bit of historical context see A Litra from Akragas I was pleasantly surprised to find the full book online from Ulla Westermark, "The Coinage of Akragas c. 510–406 BC." online (Vol 1. Text & Plates, Vol 2. Catalog). After staring intently at the small images from the plates, my best guess is that the dies O21/R20 match my coin. My coin has volutes on the capital (O20-O25) so it falls in this range of 478.1-486.1 and the description for O21 seems right "thick capital, volutes with dots". Post your litrai, coins with crabs or eagles, coins that tell you what denomination they are, or anything else that you find interesting, entertaining and NOT an obol (on second thought, obols are OK too).
Interesting, I did not see that before on a litra. Nice coin too! I have a couple of coins that somehow show the denomination. First, an obvious one, an abbreviation of tetartemorion. Kolophon also did the same for their hemiobols. Ionia, Kolophon. AR Tetartemorion, circa 500-450 B.C. Persic standard. Obverse: Facing head of Apollo. Reverse: Monogram of TE (mark of value) within incuse square. Reference: Milne, Colophon, 7. SNG Kayhan 356. 0.25g; 7mm Ex Münzen & Medaillen GmbH 36, 30 May 2012, 412. Ex Münzen & Medaillen GmbH 30, 28 May 2009, 476. Ionia, Kolophon. AR Tetartemorion, circa 450-410 B.C. Persic standard. Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo to right. Reverse: Monogram of TE (mark of value) within square incuse Reference: Milne, Colophon, 31. SNG Kayhan 358. 0.32g; 7mm Then a bronze coin that shows it denomination by a ΔX monogram. Δ being the 4th letter of the Greek alphabet, followed by X for χαλκοῦς (Attic Greek) or χάλκεος (Ionic Greek), meaning Chalkous. In other words a tetrachalkon. See a write up about this special coin here: https://www.cointalk.com/threads/special-seleukid-elephant-coin-from-ekbatana.343802/ Alexander I Balas (152/1-145 BC). AE Tetrachalkon. Ekbatana mint, 150-147 B.C. Obverse: Diademed and draped bust of Alexander Balas right. Reverse: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY ΘEOΠATOPOΣ EYEPΓETOY (“of King Alexander, Son of a Divine Father and Benefactor”). Elephant standing right; ΔX monogram above. Reference: SC 1876; HGC 9, 894. 6.28g; 21mm Then this is a quite unusual way to show the denomination of small silver fractions. I can imagine it must be hard for an ancient person to see the difference between an obol and a hemiobol (or other tiny fractions). Perhaps the locals were familiar about the design for each denomination and could separate it this way. But let's say there is a traveler, who has no clue about this and is new to the poleis, what then? Boeotia had a plan. An Obol shows a full shield on the obverse: Boeotia, Tanagra. AR Obol. Early-mid 4th century B.C. Obverse: Boeotian shield. Reverse: Τ-Α Forepart of a horse to right; below, grape bunch. Reference: BCD Boeotia 297. SNG Copenhagen 227. 0.71g; 10mm But a hemiobol, being half of an obol, could be differentiated by a half shield! I think it is the first time I show this coin on the forum: Boeotia, Thebes. AR Hemiobol. Circa 405-395 BC. Obverse: Half Boeotian shield. Reverse: Grape bunch on vine. Reference: BCD Boiotia 464b. 0.33g; 8.5mm Ex. CNG, E-Auction 344, lot 60 Boeotia went really far and even did 3x a half shield for a trihemiobol (not mine): https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=84391 Should we go even further? One shield and a half for a Trihemitetartemorion https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=75370 I guess they were extremely unpopular hence the extreme rarity.
Nice examples! Here's my lone Akragas hemilitron, circa 409-406 BCE. Sicily, circa 409-406 BC Akragas Æ Hemilitron Eagle standing right with wings spread, clutching dead hare in talons; barleycorn to right, AKPA upwards below wings / Crab; hippocamp to right below, six pellets around. CNS 17; HGC 2, 133 (same obverse die as illustration?). 22.73g, 32mm, 9h. Lot 274, Roma E-Sale 71
Of course. There is an unfortunate tendency for coin people to force Athenian terms on everyone. This is a litra. I wish I had the set in Akragas but moving to the more common Syracuse: This is 6/12 of a litra. This is 2/12 litra. And the controversial one: This is a 20 litra (not a tetradrachm). They made 50 litra biggies but you will always find them Attified into 'dekadrachm'. This is a little like me quoting prices in US dollars using numbers of Euro or Pounds.
Great dinky coin, @Sulla80 ! LITRAE (BRONZE) Half-Litra Roman Republic Anon 234-231 BCE AE 1/2 litra 15mm 2.2g Rome mint Laur Apollo - ROMA in ex horse rearing Craw 26-3 Syd29 Litra Roman Republic Anon AE Litra 241-235 BCE Mars Beardless Horse Head Craw 25-3 Sear 594 Double-Litra Roman Republic Anon AE Double-Litra 275-270 BCE Apollo Lion Sear 590 Craw 16-1a
LITRAE (SILVER) Sicily Selinus Sicily Selinus AR Litra 400 BCE 10mm 0.67g Nymph on rock touching serpent Selinon leaf - Man-faced bull Mildenberg 27 Sicily Kamarina Sicily Kamarina AR litra 11mm 0.56g 461-440 BCE Nike flying swan below within wreath Athena spear shield SNG ANS 1212-6 Sicily Gela Sicily Gela AR Litra 0.63g 13mm 465-450 BCE Horse- Achelous HGC 2 p 373 Carthage - occupied Sicily Carthage - Sicily AR Litra 4th C BCE 9.5mm 0.65g Palm Tree Horse Head SNG Cop 74 Ex: EE Clain-Safanelli RARE
CRAB / EAGLE Akragas - Onkia (1/12 Litra) Sicily Akragas AE Onkia 16mm 3.8g 425-406 BCE Eagle r fish fly - Crab conch SNG ANS 1062 var
The speed with which a diverse set of coins can appear here is always impressive! @Andres2 & @robinjojo both very nice bronzes of Akragas! Great parade of examples,@Pavlos, and the coins for easy tourist translation are brilliant. Who wouldn't recognize a Trihemitetartemorion, so nicely encoded? A good looking litra and the dot encoded coins and "NOT a tetradrachm" are great illustrations. The full litrai collection! if I can stop laughing about your technical description: "dinky coin" or "μικροσκοπικό νόμισμα", I will absorb more fully. The Gela Horse-Achelous with wreath-antlers, catches my eye.
The last Litra of Akragas just before it's destruction by the Carthaginians Sicily, Akragas, Litra, ca. 406 BC. AR (g 0,68; mm 12; h 9). AKPA, Eagle standing l. on rock outcrop, tearing at snake held in talons; Rv. Crab; A below. Westermark, Coinage, 608; HGC 2, 114. @Alegandron : i remember that i had planned to bid on your Litra Palm tree/ Horse Head but i have missed the auction nice coin.
AE Triens with mark of value Lucania, Paestum (Poseidonia), ca. 218 - 200 BC 15 mm, 4.240 g HN (Italy) 1232; Crawford, Paestum 22/2 Ob.: Laureate female head right; •••• (mark of value) at left Reverse: ΠAIΣ Cornucopia,CN• EV
