Catalog
See full images - free registration
Continue with Google - no registration!
or register with email
Why register? Just to keep bots out of our catalog. Your email stays private - we will never share it or send you anything uninvited. We guarantee you that!
Obol Massalia Imitation
| Issuer | Massalia |
|---|---|
| Year | 120 BC - 82 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
| Currency | Drachm |
| 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 | Log in to see details |
| Technique | Log in to see details |
| Orientation | Log in to see details |
| Engraver(s) | Log in to see details |
| In circulation to | Log in to see details |
| Reference(s) | Log in to see details |
| Obverse description | Crude, schematically rendered head facing left, derived from the Massalian prototype of Artemis. The hair is depicted as a series of irregular wavy strands radiating from the crown, rendered with barbaric simplification characteristic of imitative Celtic or Gallo-Greek workmanship. Facial features are barely discernible, reduced to shallow relief punches. The overall style reflects progressive debasement of the Massalian artistic tradition through successive copying. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse script | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Edge | Rough |
| Mint | Log in to see details |
| Mintage | Log in to see details |
| Additional information |
Massalia — the Greek colony at modern Marseille — produced obols in enormous quantities to facilitate small-denomination trade across southern Gaul, and local Celtic mints quickly began copying them. These imitations circulated interchangeably with the originals throughout the Rhône corridor, and distinguishing struck fakes from official issues occupied ancient merchants no more than it occupied Roman administrators, who largely ignored the distinction. The date range coincides with Rome's annexation of Gallia Narbonensis in 121 BC, which disrupted but did not end indigenous monetary production in the region.