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Orbis Collectibles

Assos, hemidrachm — Head of lion (CN type 12242)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 500–480 BC

Issuing entity

Troas

Hemidrachm in silver struck at Assos in Troas, dated c. 500–480 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 12242 (period: Archaic/Classical Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Griffin leaping right, forepart and forpaws raised, with feathered wings up, curling tail and open beak. Reverse: Head of lion, right, in incuse square. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 1.38 g (mean of 4 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 10–10.8 mm (from 4 recorded specimens). The corpus assigns the type to the Chian weight standard. Published references cited by the corpus: Forrer, The Weber collection: Greek coins, New York 1975, p. 141, nr. 5317, pl. 193, pic. 5317; Wroth, A catalogue of the Greek coins in the British Museum. Catalogue of the Greek coins of Troas, Aeolis and Lesbos, Bologna 1964, p. 36, nr. 2; Lazzarini, Assus Troadis: the beginning of coinage and its later silver emissions in the V and IV century BC 2, 2017, p. 35, pic. 3.b.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
5
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
3

Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.

Historical context

Assos was an ancient Greek city located on the southern side of the Biga Peninsula, historically known as the Troad, on the coast of the Adramyttian Gulf. It served as a critical maritime centre, possessing the only good harbour along 80 kilometres of coastline, which made it very important for shipping in the region. This hemidrachm was issued by the city during the Archaic to Classical period, c. 500–480 BC.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
hemidrachm
Recorded diameter
10–10.8 mm (from 4 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
1.38 g (mean of 4 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Assos
Region
Troas
Authority type
City
Weight standard
Chian

Design

Obverse type
Griffin leaping right, forepart and forpaws raised, with feathered wings up, curling tail and open beak.
Reverse type
Head of lion, right, in incuse square

Identification

Period
Archaic/Classical Period
How to identify
Check the mint name or ethnic, the reverse type and the legend together, then compare weight and module; types from the same mint often differ only in legend arrangement, magistrate names or control marks.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/12242
Type corpus identifier
CN type 12242

Documentation checklist

Denomination
Recorded
Issue or mint date
Recorded
Material
Recorded
Weight
Recorded
Mint or printer
Recorded
Mint or printer mark
Research required
Catalogue reference
Recorded
Attached photograph (check rights)
Recorded

Recorded means a field is present, not independently verified. Read its wording, supporting source and the entry’s confidence level.

Catalogue references

Research required

  • Legends not transcribed in the source corpus
  • Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution
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