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Hemiobol
| Issuer | Kos |
|---|---|
| Year | 500 BC - 480 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Crab viewed from above, rendered in archaic style with the carapace prominently depicted in the central field. The legs and claws of the crab radiate outward symmetrically, characteristic of the early coinage of Kos. The design is boldly modeled in high relief against an unadorned field, with no legend or inscription present. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | ND (500 BC - 480 BC) |
| Additional information |
Kos operated within the Dodecanesian island network during this period but had not yet achieved the political prominence it would later hold under the Dorian federation. These tiny fractional pieces served real commercial needs in an economy where a hemiobol represented roughly a quarter-day's wage for a laborer — small enough that losses were routine, which partly explains why survivors in any condition are genuinely scarce.