Hemiobol

Methymna was one of the five major poleis of Lesbos and maintained a degree of political independence even as its neighbor Mytilene dominated island affairs. This tiny fractional silver piece circulated during a period when Methymna made the consequential decision to side with Athens against the Mytilenean revolt of 428–427 BC — a choice that earned the city exemption from the punitive measures Cleon nearly inflicted on the entire island.

At 0.40g, attrition loss in circulation was inevitable, and surviving examples are frequently found well below full weight.