Assos, Trihemiobol (1 1/2 obol) — Head of lion (CN type 20779)
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
c. 479–440 BC
Issuing entity
TroasTrihemiobol (1 1/2 obol) in silver struck at Assos in Troas, dated c. 479–440 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 20779 (period: Classical Period; issuing authority type: city).
Obverse: Griffin leaping right, forepart and forpaws raised, with feathered wings, curling tail and open beak. Reverse: Head of lion, right, in incuse square. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 0.76 g (from 1 recorded specimen) and a diameter of 9 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). The corpus assigns the type to the Chian weight standard.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 2
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
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 situated on the Aegean coast on the southern side of the Troad. Providing the only good harbour along 80 kilometres of coastline, it was an important location for shipping in the region. The obol was a unit of ancient Greek currency and weight, of which this Classical coin represents a trihemiobol or 1 1/2 obol piece.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- silver
- Denomination
- Trihemiobol (1 1/2 obol)
- Recorded diameter
- 9 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
- Recorded mean weight
- 0.76 g (mean of 1 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, curling tail and open beak.
- Reverse type
- Head of lion, right, in incuse square
Identification
- Period
- 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/20779
- Type corpus identifier
- CN type 20779
- Source note
- The corpus record cites no printed literature for this type; it rests on recorded specimens.
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
- Research required
- 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
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Legends not transcribed in the source corpus
- Photograph reuse terms to be confirmed with the holding institution