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Diobol
| Issuer | Samos |
|---|---|
| Year | 480 BC - 439 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Facing right profile of a panther's head rendered in archaic Greek style, with prominent globular eye, open jaws revealing teeth, and a mane suggested by stippled relief. The head is set within a beaded border that follows the irregular flan, with the surface exhibiting the characteristic granular texture of early Samian coinage. The bold, somewhat schematic modelling is consistent with the Archaic period tradition of the eastern Aegean. |
|---|---|
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| Mintage | ND (480 BC - 439 BC) |
| Additional information |
Samos in this period was navigating the aftermath of its failed revolt against Persian rule in 499 BC and, later, its complicated position within the Delian League. The island mint was prolific but not uniform — die studies on Samian fractions have revealed a surprisingly large number of obverse dies relative to surviving specimens, suggesting short, intense production runs rather than sustained output.
The diobol as a denomination served real transactional needs in an active Aegean trading port. GCV 3521 is among the more frequently cited small silver types from the eastern Aegean, though condition survivors at this weight are routinely underestimated in the literature.