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Orbis Collectibles

Massalia, Hemiobol — Rude irregular quadripartite incuse square (CN type 20777)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 490–470 BC

Issuing entity

Massalia

Hemiobol in silver struck at Massalia, dated c. 490–470 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 20777 (period: Archaic/Classical Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Head of ram, right. Reverse: Rude irregular quadripartite incuse square. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 0.57 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 8.2–8.7 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). The corpus assigns the type to the Milesian weight standard. Published references cited by the corpus: Furtwängler, Monnaies grecques en Gaule. Le trésor d'Auriol et le monnayage de Massalia 525/520-460 av. J.-C. 3, Fribourg 1978, p. 191-193, nr. 1-18, pl. 19, pic. P 2-18; Maurel, Corpus des monnaies de Marseille: Provence, Languedoc oriental, vallée du Rhône, [Poses] 2019, p. 21, nr. 44.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
1
Catalogue references
2

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

Historical context

Founded around 600 BC by Greek settlers, Massalia was an ancient settlement and trading port on the Mediterranean coast of southern France. Known to the Romans as Massilia and later as Marseille, it developed into one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited urban centres. This silver hemiobol reflects the city's civic coin production during the Archaic and Classical periods, dating to c. 490–470 BC.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
Hemiobol
Recorded diameter
8.2–8.7 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
0.57 g (mean of 1 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Massalia
Authority type
City
Weight standard
Milesian

Design

Obverse type
Head of ram, right.
Reverse type
Rude irregular quadripartite 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/20777
Type corpus identifier
CN type 20777

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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