Hemiobol

Maroneia, the Thracian coastal city positioned between the Nestos and Hebros rivers, maintained one of the most active mints on the northern Aegean during the fifth century BC, its silver coinage underpinned by access to the ore-rich hinterland of Thrace. The hemiobol — a fractional denomination at the extreme low end of practical utility — would have circulated in local markets where larger denominations were simply not viable for everyday transactions.

At 0.32 g, striking consistency at this size pushed ancient die-cutters to their limits. Centering failures and partial strikes are endemic to the type.