Nomos AG
Auction 25 20 Nov 2022
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
CIMMERIAN BOSPOROS. Pantikapaion. Circa 470-460 BC. Tetartemorion (Silver, 5.5 mm, 0.09 g). Ant seen from above. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square, pellet in two opposing quarters angles. Frolova Type XX. HGC 7, 54. MacDonald 6. Very rare. A dramatically attractive coin with a vigorous depiction of an ant. Reverse struck off-center, otherwise, about extremely fine.
It may seem odd that an ant was chosen as a coin type, but since Pantikapaion was the great entrepôt for the gold from the steppes, and the gold dust from the steppes was thought to be discovered in the form of dust in ant hills, an ant - as a kind of gold miner - would be s most suitable type for a coin from Pantikapaion! As for the denomination, a tetartemorion was equal to a quarter obol; in ancient Pantikapaion jury members were paid 2 3/4 obols a day, which equalled 11 quarter obols or an enakaidekatetartemorion. Because the ant was used as a type for the quarter, local people termed this an "Ant and Dek".
It may seem odd that an ant was chosen as a coin type, but since Pantikapaion was the great entrepôt for the gold from the steppes, and the gold dust from the steppes was thought to be discovered in the form of dust in ant hills, an ant - as a kind of gold miner - would be s most suitable type for a coin from Pantikapaion! As for the denomination, a tetartemorion was equal to a quarter obol; in ancient Pantikapaion jury members were paid 2 3/4 obols a day, which equalled 11 quarter obols or an enakaidekatetartemorion. Because the ant was used as a type for the quarter, local people termed this an "Ant and Dek".