Ancient Greek silver fractional coins. Each purchase is for 3 genuine silver coins which date to 500-300BC and were used throughout the Greek colonies in the Mediterranean.
These coins are typically around 0.5g - classified as obols or smaller.
Prior to the widespread usage of bronze coins for smaller denominations. Greek colonies in the 5th and 4th centuries BC minted very small silver coins as their fractional denominations. The term 'obol' derives from the greek word for split. The Drachm or Drachma weighed around 4.3g. The tetradrachm, equivalent to 4 drachmae, around 17.2 g.
Often overlooked, are the fractions, smaller than the drachma.
| Denomination |
Value |
Weight |
| Decadrachm |
10 drachmae |
43 grams |
| Tetradrachm |
4 drachmae |
17.2 grams |
| Didrachm |
2 drachmae |
8.6 grams |
| Drachma |
6 obols |
4.3 grams |
| Tetrobol |
4 obols |
2.85 grams |
| Triobol (hemidrachm) |
3 obols |
2.15 grams |
| Diobol |
2 obols |
1.43 grams |
| Obol |
4 tetartemorions |
0.72 grams |
| Tritartemorion |
3 tetartemorions |
0.54 grams |
| Hemiobol |
2 tetartemorions |
0.36 grams |
| Trihemitetartemorion |
1+1⁄2 tetartemorions
|
0.27 grams |
| Tetartemorion |
1⁄4 obol |
0.18 grams |
| Hemitetartemorion |
1⁄2 tetartemorion |
0.09 grams |
