Tetartemorion

Phokaia was the northernmost of the great Ionian Greek cities and among the most aggressive colonizers of the ancient Mediterranean — founding Massalia (modern Marseille) around 600 BC and pushing trade routes into Iberia and the Black Sea simultaneously. These fractional silver pieces were almost certainly produced to facilitate that commerce at its smallest denomination, where a tetartemorion represented one ninety-sixth of a stater. At 0.12 g, the practical challenges of minting and handling such pieces were considerable; many examples were likely carried knotted in cloth rather than loose in a purse.

Phokaia's minting activity was sharply curtailed after the Persians sacked the city following the Ionian Revolt's collapse at Lade in 494 BC.