MYSIA. Cyzicos.(Circa 450-400 BC).Obol.

Obv : Forepart of boar left; to right, tunny upward.

Rev : Head of lion left within incuse square.
SNG France 361-372.

Condition : The coin is in good condition with clear and distinct imagery. The patina has a light silver tone, showing minimal wear and a smooth surface. There is a slight hint of toning around the edges, adding depth to the overall appearance.Good very fine.

Material : Silver.
Axis : 11h

Weight : 1.05 gr
Diameter : 9 mm

The obol was a small silver coin used in ancient Greece as a form of currency, dating back to the early Archaic period. Its name is derived from the Greek word "obelos," meaning "spit" or "skewer," which refers to its early function before becoming a formalized coinage. Originally, metal spits were used as a primitive form of currency, and over time, these were standardized into coins.

The obol was typically worth one-sixth of a drachma, another common Greek currency unit. Since the drachma was one of the most widely used coins in the Greek world, the obol served as a smaller denomination, facilitating everyday transactions for lower-value goods and services. It was often used to pay for basic items like food, clothing, or minor public services.

Obols were minted by various city-states, with each polis producing its own version of the coin, often featuring local symbols or deities. For example, in Athens, the obol usually bore the image of the owl, the sacred bird of Athena, the city’s patron goddess. In other city-states, different images were used, depending on local traditions and religious beliefs.

In addition to its use as currency, the obol had a symbolic role in Greek religion and culture. According to ancient Greek funerary practices, an obol was sometimes placed in the mouth of the deceased to pay Charon, the mythological ferryman who transported souls across the river Styx to the underworld. This practice reflected the belief that the dead needed a small fee to secure their passage to the afterlife.

Due to its widespread use, the obol became a standard reference point in Greek economic life, and it continued to be used throughout the Classical and Hellenistic periods. Its value was relatively small, making it suitable for daily commerce, while larger transactions were conducted with drachmas or other higher denominations.

The obol also played a role in political life. In some city-states, obols were used to pay citizens for participating in civic duties, such as attending the assembly or serving on juries. This helped to encourage broader civic participation by ensuring that even poorer citizens could afford to take part in public life without losing income.

Over time, as the Greek world came under Roman control, the obol continued to circulate alongside Roman coinage, although it gradually fell out of use as Roman currency became dominant. Nonetheless, the obol remains an important symbol of ancient Greek economic, religious, and political life, reflecting the practical and symbolic roles that currency played in Greek society.