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Tetartemorion
| Issuer | Delphi |
|---|---|
| Year | 500 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Tetartemorion (1⁄24) |
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| 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 |
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| Obverse description | Omphalos or phiale depicted in relief at center, shown in plan view as a circular boss surrounded by a raised border, occupying the full field of this diminutive flan. The design is rendered in a schematic archaic style consistent with Delphic coinage of the early fifth century BC, with no inscription or additional ornament in the field. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Log in to see details |
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
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| Edge | Plain |
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| Additional information |
Delphi's autonomous silver coinage is closely tied to the sanctuary's administrative role rather than any civic minting tradition — the issues served practical needs of the festival economy surrounding the Pythian Games and the constant traffic of pilgrims, theorodokoi, and merchants passing through the sanctuary. At this fractional weight, the tetartemorion functioned at the lowest viable denomination of Greek silver coinage, useful for small transactions that even an obol could not accommodate.
The BCD collection reference places this among material assembled by a single specialist over decades; BCD Lokris 369 reflects the geographic cataloging convention grouping Phokian and Delphic issues together under broader Central Greek regional headings.