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Tetrobol "light drachm"
| Issuer | Massalia (Gaul) |
|---|---|
| Year | 125 BC - 90 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Edge | Plain |
| Mint | Massalia, Gaul, modern-day Marseille, France |
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| Additional information |
Massalia — modern Marseille — was a Phocaean Greek colony founded around 600 BC that maintained striking independence long after Rome absorbed its Gallic neighbors. These small silver fractions circulated heavily in the lower Rhône valley, facilitating trade between the Greek emporium and indigenous Gaulish populations. Rome's destruction of the Saluvii confederation in 125–123 BC, which led to the founding of Aquae Sextiae, paradoxically expanded Massalian commercial reach rather than diminishing it.
The "light drachm" designation reflects a deliberate weight reduction from earlier Massalian drachm standards, likely a response to silver supply pressure in the late 2nd century.