So I bought this from a vcoins dealer. I'm not too sure of the attribution he had for this coin, so any help is appreciated. he had it listed as an obol from Mylasa(?) It's 0.60g and 7.8mm. Is it real? Fake? Is it properly attributed? I've never seen this type of coin before and have zero knowledge of it. It is literally way outside my realm of experience. All I know is that it is the tiniest coin I've bought and I thought the lion(?) looked really interesting, and I kind of liked the scorpion, so I bought it as an impulse buy on vcoins.com. I really should stop with the impulse buys.
Looks real to me, although based on various archives it looks like there isn't agreement on the denomination. These lion/scorpion coins were struck in silver and in electrum; the styles vary a bit. A variety of denominations are available. Here's mine CARIA, Mylasa 450-400 BCE AR hemiobol, 7 x 9 mm, 0.5 gm Obv: facing forepart of lion Rev: scorpion within incuse square Ref: SNG von Aulock 7803
MYLASA, CARIA AR Tetartemorion OBVERSE: Lion's head left with reversed foreleg below REVERSE: Lion's scalp facing, flanked by leg on both sides, in incuse circle Struck at Mylasa, 392-376 BC .2g, 6mm SNG Keckman I 837-846 (lion left)
Nice! I didn't know the style of these coins showed so much variety. I love the fat scorpion on yours, and the lion looks more modern/realistic. I think mine trends towards the cartoonish side...which is something that I'll admit attracted me to this coin. I kid you not, from the time I accidentally came across it to the time I hit the buy button, it was probably 30 seconds. It was truly an impulsive reaction. PS: Is 7mm to 8mm as tiny as Greeks get? These coins make a dime look huge.
They can be quite a bit smaller. We've had some threads showcasing our smallest coins. Doug has a nice collection of tiny Greeks. My smallest is 5 mm and 0.26 gm; it is downright beefy compared to some tiny treasures MACEDONIA, uncertain c. 500 BCE AR trihemitetartemorion (trihemiobol), 5 mm, 0.26 gm Obv: monkey squatting left Rev: round shield or pellet within incuse square Ref: "Uncertain Thraco-Macedonian Coins, Part II", Nomismatika Khronika (1998, Tzamalis), 67
@Sallent , that is a GREAT coin! Great job capturing. I REALLY like that one! I have a few small Greeks: Mysia Kyzikos AR Hemiobol 480-450 BCE 0.4g Boar-Lion Sear 3850.JPG Iona Kolophon AR Tetartemorion 530-520 BCE Archaic Apollo Incuse Punch 0.15g 4-5mm O-R.jpg My smallest is Persian Achaemenid: Persian Achaemenid Empire Darius I 510-486 BC AR 0.11g 5mm Persian hero-king in running-kneeling position Oblong incuse Klein 758 Rare O-R.JPG I THINK that @dougsmit has something at 0.09g or lower...
Yes but it is always hard to tell where original size leaves off and weight loss to the ages begins. Also the scales most of us own claim two decimal points but that last one is not accurate or even repeatable according to calibration and whims. My Rhegion fraction weighed just now gave 0.10g and the Syracuse hexas below it 0.09g but both have weighed less on my earlier scales and on this one on other days. I don't see how calibration can be accurate when it is done with a 100g weight as most do. I would like one that allowed a calibration at something like 5g but getting an accurate standard weight that size would be as expensive as my scales so I make do and say the last digit is meaningless. Just because you buy a standard weight that says x.yzg does not mean that that z is a zero or, for that matter that the y is. The US Mint claims the five cent nickel weighs 5.000g but weigh a handful and tell me how many weight the same even to .01g. Use new nickels so you can't claim wear. The two I now have in pocket with recent dates were 4.95 and 5.01.
Slightly bigger than my OP coin are these fractional Greek coins. Massalia Obol Kyzicos Boar hemiobol Both are also tiny compared to any modern coinage out there. I'm starting to really like these tiny Greek fractional coins. They really are proof that size isn't everything. It's not about the size, but what you do with it, and it's incredible how much the ancient Greeks did when it came to engraving and design of these tiny little coins.
I have a few impulse buy coins that are totally outside of my narrow field of interest and knowledge. It usually happens when a perfect storm of forces come together. A computer, a slow period at work (usually a Friday afternoon), a paid off credit card, and that website that seems to keep popping up unexpectedly called VCoins.
That was a great concert 1987 I believe. World wide live tour. Had front row to that one. John Butcher Axis opened, JBA great guitarist but not much of a band, don't think it lasted very long. Scorpions were here for rocklahoma this year was like a farewell tour for them. Put on a great show.
Here's an impulse buy that I have no buyer's remorse over. A Roman Domitian Denarius. It's sort of within my field of interest because it's borderline Biblical.
Total winner! Great big pics of lilliputian coins make them look rough. If you haven't bought a fractional this small before, you will be amazed at the coin in hand. So much detail in such a small space. Good choice!
Nice type... I'll eventually need one of them. I think there are smaller denominations, but the tetartemorions seem to be easiest of the tiny fractions to get. Mine is just under 5mm. IONIA, Teos AR Tetartemorion 0.14g, 4.7mm Circa 540-478 BC Cf. CNG 63, lot 506 O: Head of griffin left. R: Quadripartite incuse square with raised central pellet. And for perspective, here it is next to a grain of rice.
Lawyer => I'm glad that your cool new scorpion arrived, safe & sound (tiny lil' things, eh?) Happy Canadian Thanksgiving weekend!!
