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Obol - 111th-114th Olympiad
| Issuer | Olympia |
|---|---|
| Year | 336 BC - 324 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Log in to see details |
| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Technique | Hammered |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Greek |
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| Reverse description | An eagle standing in right-facing profile, rendered with compact, sturdy proportions characteristic of Elean coinage. The bird is depicted with wings folded tightly against the body, its head turned slightly upward with a hooked beak visible in profile. The eagle stands upon a rocky or ground-line exergue, occupying the right portion of the field. To the left of the eagle, the retrograde digamma (Ϝ) and the letter Alpha (Α) appear as the abbreviated ethnic of the Eleans (ϜΑ, for Ϝαλεῖοι), incuse in the left field. The composition is simple and bold, consistent with the small module of the obol denomination. |
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| Additional information |
The sanctuary at Olympia issued its own coinage sporadically, tied to the quadrennial festival cycle rather than to any civic monetary need. These obols circulated primarily within the sanctuary precincts during the Games themselves, likely facilitating transactions at the festival — sacrificial animals, dedications, food vendors — rather than entering broader regional commerce. The absence of a BCD reference number suggests this piece either surfaced after the landmark BCD Olympia collection was cataloged or remains unassigned due to die ambiguity.
The period 336–324 BC spans from Philip II's assassination through Alexander's eastern campaigns, years when Panhellenic prestige was being aggressively appropriated by Macedon.