Thebes in the late fifth century was navigating a complicated position among the Greek poleis — nominally allied with Sparta during the Peloponnesian War yet deeply resented for its medizing during the Persian invasion generations earlier. These fractional pieces circulated in a local economy that never fully adopted Athenian weight standards, the Boeotian federation maintaining its own denominational system even as Athenian owls dominated wider Aegean trade.
At 0.17g, the tetartemorion is a quarter of a quarter-obol — among the smallest silver denominations struck anywhere in the ancient world.
Thebes in the late fifth century was navigating a complicated position among the Greek poleis — nominally allied with Sparta during the Peloponnesian War yet deeply resented for its medizing during the Persian invasion generations earlier. These fractional pieces circulated in a local economy that never fully adopted Athenian weight standards, the Boeotian federation maintaining its own denominational system even as Athenian owls dominated wider Aegean trade.
At 0.17g, the tetartemorion is a quarter of a quarter-obol — among the smallest silver denominations struck anywhere in the ancient world.