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Obol - 100th Olympiad
| Issuer | Elis (Sanctuary of Olympia) |
|---|---|
| Year | 380 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Head of an eagle facing right, depicted in high relief within a circular olive wreath, the sacred bird of Zeus rendered with a powerful hooked beak and detailed feathering about the neck. The olive wreath border, symbol of Olympian victory, frames the design with naturalistically rendered leaves. The composition is strongly centered on the flan, consistent with the celebratory iconography associated with the sanctuary coinage of Olympia. |
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| Mint | Olympia |
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| Additional information |
The 100th Olympiad fell in 380 BC, a games held under the shadow of Spartan dominance across the Greek world — Agesilaus II was at the height of his power, and Elis itself had been humiliated by Sparta just two decades earlier, stripped of territory and forced to dismantle its walls. That Elis retained control of the sanctuary and its mint at all was a political concession, not a given. These fractional silver pieces were almost certainly produced for use within the sanctuary precinct itself, likely as votive or exchange currency among festival attendees rather than for broader regional circulation.