Hemidrachm - 111st-114th Olympiad

Olympia's sanctuary issues occupy an unusual position in Greek numismatics — struck not by a polis but by a religious institution, their production was tied directly to the quadrennial festival cycle rather than to civic economic need. The coins circulating at and around Olympia during these years did so against the backdrop of Philip II's assassination in 336 BC and the rapid consolidation of power by his son, whose campaigns would within a decade fundamentally disrupt the flow of Greek silver across the eastern Mediterranean.

HGC 5, 456 is a scarce type, and specimens that do appear tend to show considerable die wear — consistent with a small issuing authority working with limited engraving resources across multiple festival cycles.