Nomos AG
Auction 26 21 May 2023
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EUBOIA. Histiaia. Circa 350-300 BC. Obol (Silver, 11 mm, 0.82 g, 5 h). Head of the nymph Histiaia to right, her hair rolled and bound up with a vine wreath, wearing a drop earring and a pearl necklace. Rev. ΙΣΤΙ - ΑΙΕΩΝ The nymph Histiaia seated right on the stern of a galley, holding stylis with her left hand and resting her right on deck behind her. BCD Euboia 368 (this coin). E.T. Newell, The Octobols of Histiaea, ANSNNM 2 (1921), pp. 22-23 and pl. I. 5. Extremely rare, the third example known. Of fine late Classical style . Surface roughness, otherwise, very fine.
From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions and from the BCD Collection, Lanz 111, 25 November 2002, 368.
While the late tetrobols of Histiaia - struck from the late 3rd or early 2nd century BC down into the mid 2nd century - are extremely common, the earlier 4th century silver ranges from very scarce to very rare for the drachms and tetrobols; but the octobols and obols are uniformly extremely rare. In fact, only three specimens are known of each, including the two BCD pieces (an octobol and and this obol). The explanation for this must be that, as a denomination, the octobol was not of much use, and the production of silver obols was almost immediately halted when they were replaced by more convenient bronze issues.
From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions and from the BCD Collection, Lanz 111, 25 November 2002, 368.
While the late tetrobols of Histiaia - struck from the late 3rd or early 2nd century BC down into the mid 2nd century - are extremely common, the earlier 4th century silver ranges from very scarce to very rare for the drachms and tetrobols; but the octobols and obols are uniformly extremely rare. In fact, only three specimens are known of each, including the two BCD pieces (an octobol and and this obol). The explanation for this must be that, as a denomination, the octobol was not of much use, and the production of silver obols was almost immediately halted when they were replaced by more convenient bronze issues.