Obol Massalia Imitation

Massalia — the Greek colony at modern Marseille — produced obols in enormous quantities to facilitate small-denomination trade across southern Gaul, and local Celtic mints quickly began copying them. These imitations circulated interchangeably with the originals throughout the Rhône corridor, and distinguishing struck fakes from official issues occupied ancient merchants no more than it occupied Roman administrators, who largely ignored the distinction. The date range coincides with Rome's annexation of Gallia Narbonensis in 121 BC, which disrupted but did not end indigenous monetary production in the region.