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Tetrobol
| Issuer | Histaia |
|---|---|
| Year | 300 BC - 100 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 |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
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| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | The nymph Histiaia seated right atop the stern of a galley, her figure draped and upper body turned slightly, holding the ship's ornament. A wing appears on the side of the hull, and a trident is depicted below the vessel. The ethnic inscription IΣTIAIEΩN appears in the field to the right of the figure, rendered in Greek characters. The composition is characteristic of the prolonged Histiaian series and conveys a vivid maritime iconography closely associated with the city's naval heritage. |
| Reverse script | Greek |
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| Edge | Log in to see details |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
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| Additional information |
Histaia, a small polis on the northern tip of Euboea, minted these tetrobols in remarkable quantities over a span of roughly two centuries — an unusually long production run that has resulted in a bewildering number of die varieties. The BCD collection alone catalogued hundreds of distinct specimens. Scholars attribute the sustained output to the city's control of fertile agricultural land and a local economy that demanded small-denomination silver for everyday transactions rather than the larger staters typical of wealthier Aegean mints.
The extended production timeline makes precise dating of individual dies notoriously difficult. Style analysis remains the primary tool, with later issues generally showing coarser engraving.