... was written on the coin envelopes of these two, indeed very small, coins by the seller. Though I already owned a Tetartemorion of Kolophon, this one is a tad older (525-490 BC) and in a bit better condition. Also, a provenance of 33 years is nice, and the toning is superb. As I noted before, these coins are difficult to photograph properly. In hand, they are wonderful little jewels, but blowing them up to a screen-filling image, they lovely details just become rough. So don't zoom in too much on this 6x8mm (!) coin, minted over 2500 years ago. GREECE, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Tetartemorion, minted: Ionia, Kolophon; 525-490 BC Obv: Archaic head of Apollo, facing Rev: Quadratum incusum with indication of value (TE for Tetartemorion Weight: 0.32g; Ø:8mm. Catalogue: SNG Kayhan 356. Provenance: Ex Rheinland Solingen 06-1987; acq.: 10-2020 The next one spoke out to me for various reasons: a oily, dark patina, the details on the wolf (just look at the musculature of the legs!) given the small flan (7x9mm), and it's my first coin with Baal. GREECE, Anonymous. Denomination: AR Obole, minted: Cilicia; c-400-300 BC Obv: Baaltars seated to the left Rev: Forepart of wolf to the right Weight: 0.45g; Ø:9mm. Catalogue: Similar to SNG France 448). Provenance: Ex Rheinland Solingen 06-1987; acq.: 10-2020 Irregular flan, iridescent toning Neither coins are rare or very special, but for €23.50 a piece, including shipping, I can hold two silver coins minted c. 2500 years ago in my hand. Please post your silver fractions.
Nice coins for an awesome deal! Well done, @Roerbakmix ! Here is one from Kolophon Iona Kolophon AR Tetartemorion 530-520 BCE Archaic Apollo Incuse Punch 0.15g 4.5mm- SNG Kayhan 343 And one from Cilicia CILICIA Uncertn Early-mid 4th C BCE AR Tetartemorion 5mm 0.17gPersian king running dagger and bow - Crowned hd Achaemenid king CNG E239 Troxell Kagan 4
I put my Obol or less sized coins into Cointains, then into a Saflip. They rattle, but I know they are there!
Nice, tiny additions, @Roerbakmix! The Baal and wolf fit nicely within the jagged flan, which seems to suit the coin well. @Alegandron, the detail on the crowned king is incredible for a 5 mm coin. Though small, this Athens obol (circa 454-404 BC) is nearly twice the size of your tetartemorion. 9 mm, 0.75 g
Back then the togas didn't have pockets. Most often the smallest coins were placed for safekeeping in one's mouth. Which likely means that more than a small number were swallowed.
Tetartemorions and Obols were minted by Greeks. Greeks did not have Togas. Togas are a uniquely ROMAN formal wear. The smallest Roman coin was probably an AR Sestertius (2-1/2 As) at approx 12mm, 1.0 g ... much larger. RR AR Sestertius After 211 BCE 12mm 1.0g Rome mint Roma r IIS - Dioscuri riding stars in ex ROMA Sear 46 Craw 44-7 RSC 4 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toga
Thank you. I was amazed when I saw it, and snapped it up due to the amazing detail. I do not do it justice with my poor photo. Sometime in the near future, I will have more time... I plan to re-shoot, categorize, and catalog my collection in much more detail.
Nice little cuties. The ancient Greeks supposedly kept these little fellas up in their gums. I'd be to worried that I'd sneeze or make out with a young beauty whoms passion is a little too aggressive and steals them with her tongue As is, I keep mine in the cabinet (more to come). And I've got that Cilician Baaltars w/ Scooby doo reverse: And here's some other little cuties:
I keep my coins under 10mm in 'gem jars' made for rock specimens. These come in various sizes with 24, 36 or 50 fitting in a foam insert case. Yes, you have to take the coin out to see the reverse but I have dropped one of these on a rug and do NOT want to go there again. In some cases I place more than one related coin in one tub keeping my collection down to what fits in three of these. My daughter has no interest in ancient coins but says she wants to keep the little ones. Those who know me know I would have trouble picking coins for this thread. Some of these are favorites I have shown many times. These are not my ten smallest or my ten favorites. Aegina obol 1.06g (3mm thick) Athens tetartemorion (1/4 obol) badly centered but it is what it is Phocaea 1/4 obol? 0.1g - under 5mm diameter but thick Kyzikos tetartemorion? 7mm 0.24g (ex Stevex6) Kolophon tetartemorion 6mm 0.2g with retrograde TE another Kolophon TE tetartemorion at 0.2g but this one has a tiny Cicada I do have a smaller bee from Ephesos but this 6mm 0.20g bee/bird head tetartemorion has a type on both sides AND a legend even if it is only two letters. This was my first "tiny treasure" purchased from Fred Shore in 1990. The 0.1g hemitartemorion was graded G/F then and the lion is a bit rugged. The quail is better. In 1990, a dealer might downgrade a coin a step or two if it was off center or rough so I suspect that explains the G obverse rating. Uncertain, Caria hemitartemorion 7mm 0.1g and thin! Again, this gets extra points in my book for having a design on both sides. The obverse bulls are crossing horns but the cow on the reverse has two long ears as I see it. Paphos, King Stasandros, 1/24th unit - When I bought this from C.J. Martin in 1992 I thought this was a tiny coin. Now at 0.4g, I consider it a fatty but I still like it. Most of these I see are nicer on one side than the other. Mine is balanced.
@seth77, it's like, at 0.8 and 0.9 mm, if they were prescription pills, I'd be scared to swallow them! They'd be likelier to hide behind a tooth. ...Except, in the more relevant context, your point is very well taken.
@dougsmit, so That's what they're for! I've gotten some coins that the dealer sent in those, but more along the lines of the coin's fragility (for instance, bracteates) than the size of the module. Now it's registering what they're really for!
Persia. Achaemenid. Time of Darius I - Xerxes I, circa 505-480 BC. AR 1/24 Siglos (5mm 0.24g), Obv: Bearded head of Persian king right; Rev: Incuse punch. Rare and possibly unpublished fractional. Ex Stacks.
I don't have any small Greek fractionals, unfortunately, but I do have something a bit similar! Here are a couple of extremely small coins from the island kingdoms of Southeast Asia that formed a monopoly on control of the ocean straits connecting the Maritime Silk Road between China and India, and the further Middle East and East African trade. These are very small tin (and gold!) coins that were recovered from the Musi River of Palembang in Sumatra and are believed to date to the Srivijaya Empire. Iconography and symbols on the coins certainly indicates that these are from the Buddhist/Hindu period of Sumatra before the coming of Islam to the region. They're currently unpublished but I am working on a website and related research to publicize the early coins from the region. The first group photo is taken on a grid of 5x5mm squares so you can clearly see how small these are. Group of tin, silver, debased silver, and gold coins from both Java and Sumatra, dating to the Buddhist/Hindu period. See the 5x5mm grid behind the coins for size reference. Group of three tin coins of Sumatra next to millimeter ruler Srivijaya Empire of Sumatra AV 1/16 Massa (Quarter Kupang) 5mm | 0.16 grams | scyphate flan (cup-shaped) Obv: Incused sandalwood flower Rev: Sumatran style ma in Nagari script Recovered from the Musi River
My smallest coin is this 10 mm., 1.22 g. AR Diobol from Mysia, Kyzikos, dating from ca. 450-400 BCE. It seems almost unimaginably tiny to me, so I find it hard to believe that ancient coins exist that are less than half that size. But people have posted such coins here, so I guess I have to believe it! As always, I am amazed that it was possible to engrave such minuscule dies without the aid of artificial magnification.
