Lot 102: Cilicia, Uncertain mint. 4th century B.C. AR tetartemorion. Quarter of an Obol. 
AUCTION: Triskeles - Auction 15 (Auction 318)
- Sold Winning Bid: $225
- 5 Bid(s)
Cilicia, Uncertain mint. 4th century B.C. AR tetartemorion (6 mm, 0.17 g, 6 h). Persian king or hero in kneeling-running stance right, holding dagger and bow / Head of Hermes left, wearing petasos. Troxell & Kagan -; SNG BN -; SNG Levante -; LHS 95, 72. Very rare and unpublished in the standard references. Toned. Good very fine.
The tetartemorion denomination is a quarter of an obol, and comes from tetarton, meaning quarter part, and morion, meaning portion. We are actually uncertain what these small denominations from Cilicia were called, but they were probably considered obols and fractions of obols as in most other areas of the Hellenic world. The thought of carrying such tiny coins is foreign to us today, but the ancients, who did not use pockets, found it convenient to place a few of these in their mouths tucked in between their cheeks and their gums before going to the market.
- Offered By: Barry P. Murphy
- Lot #: 102
- Listing #: 225966
- Closed: Tuesday, December 15, 2015 4:33:40 PM CT
- Estimate: $200