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Tetrobol "light drachm"
| Issuer | Massalia (Gaul) |
|---|---|
| Year | 125 BC - 90 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
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| Obverse description | Diademed and draped bust of Artemis facing right, her hair elaborately arranged beneath a stephane adorned with a central decorative element. A bow and quiver are visible over her left shoulder, rendered in high relief. The effigy is enclosed within a beaded border, characteristic of Massalian coinage of this period. The modeling of the face reflects a refined Hellenistic style, with carefully articulated features and flowing drapery at the truncation. |
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| Reverse script | Greek |
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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.