THRACO-MACEDONIAN REGION. Uncertain mint. Circa 480-450 BC. Tetartemorion (Silver, 6.5 mm, 0.21 g), struck as small change for military use under the Achaemenids. Monkey squatting to left. Rev. Round shield with a large central boss; all in a shallow, circular incuse. Tzamalis, NomKhron 17, 1998, p. 19, 67. Very rare. Well-struck and well-centered. About very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions.

Monkeys are depicted in Greek art, very possibly taken from living models (like the Blue Monkeys - Cercopithecus Mitis - that appear on frescoes from Akrotiri on Thera). While the temperature range found in the Thraco-Macedonian region in ancient times probably precludes the existence of a population of native monkeys, they may well have arrived as either pets or ritual animals. This would have happened at some time during the period of Persian rule, which began in 512, but was strongest c. 492-479. Thus, their appearance on coins struck during that period ought to be connected to the presence of Persian troops, who would have used such coins for daily needs.