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Orbis Collectibles

Selymbria, Hemiobol — Quadripartite incuse square (CN type 317)

DocumentedSupported by at least one credible specialist source.

Record status

Individual type · research required

Period

c. 492/490–473/470 BC

Issuing entity

Thrace

Hemiobol in silver struck at Selymbria in Thrace, dated c. 492/490–473/470 BC. Corpus Nummorum, the online type corpus of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, records it as CN type 317 (period: Classical Period; issuing authority type: city).

Obverse: Cock standing left. Reverse: Quadripartite incuse square, divided by two crossed lines. Measured specimens give a mean weight of 0.35 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens) and a diameter of 7–9 mm (from 1 recorded specimen). The corpus assigns the type to the persian? weight standard. Published references cited by the corpus: Schönert-Geiß, Die Münzprägung von Bisanthe, Dikaia, Selymbria, Berlin 1975, p. 47, nr. 52, pl. 7; Hoover, Handbook of coins of Macedon and its neighbors. Part II: Thrace, Skythia, and Taurike: sixth to first centuries BC, Lancaster, Pa. London 2017, p. 166, nr. 1637.

Evidence at a glance

Linked sources
4
Photograph views
2
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

The history of ancient Greek coinage spans several broad eras, with the Classical period beginning around the Persian Wars in about 480 BC and lasting until the conquests of Alexander the Great in about 330 BC. This silver hemiobol dates to c. 492/490–473/470 BC during the Classical Period. It was struck at the city of Selymbria in Thrace according to the Persian weight standard.

Physical characteristics

Material
silver
Denomination
Hemiobol
Recorded diameter
7–9 mm (from 1 recorded specimens)
Recorded mean weight
0.35 g (mean of 2 recorded specimens)

Technical characteristics

Mint
Selymbria
Region
Thrace
Authority type
City
Weight standard
persian?

Design

Obverse type
Cock standing left.
Reverse type
Quadripartite incuse square, divided by two crossed lines.

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. 1 closely related CN type with the same mint, denomination and design is consolidated into this entry and listed under varieties.
Type corpus record
https://www.corpus-nummorum.eu/types/317
Type corpus identifier
CN type 317

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

Varieties

  • CN type 318

    Same mint, denomination and design (obverse legend ΣΑ); dated c. 492/490–473/470 BC. Consolidated into this entry

Research required

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