The Obol: a Persian numismatic guide
Tiny silver fractions used for small transactions in the Achaemenid provinces. 1 catalogued example spanning Achaemenid Empire.
In short
An obol is the smallest regularly struck silver denomination of the Greek and Achaemenid provincial world, typically 0.4–0.7 g — coinage cut small enough for a single day's bread or a ferryman's fee. The Obol is a Persian and Iranian denomination represented by 1 catalogued example dated 333 BCE – 450 CE. Tiny silver fractions used for small transactions in the Achaemenid provinces. Examples here are struck in Silver at mints including Samaria, Gaza, Ashkelon.
- Catalogued
- 1
- Eras
- 1
- Metals
- 1
- Denominations
- 1
Key facts
| Catalogued pieces | 1 |
|---|---|
| Date range | 333 BCE – 450 CE |
| Eras represented | Achaemenid Empire |
| Metals | Silver |
| Denominations | Obol |
| Mints | Samaria, Gaza, Ashkelon |
| Issuers | Local Achaemenid governors |
| Typical weight | 0.4–0.7 g silver |
| Fractions | Hemiobol, tetartemorion and smaller |
| Regions | Asia Minor, Phoenicia, Samaria, Cilicia |
| Attribution tool | 10× loupe or better; weight brackets |
Small silver in the satrapies
Achaemenid satrapal mints in Asia Minor, Phoenicia and Samaria struck obols, hemiobols and smaller fractions in enormous variety. Because they served purely local markets, their types are experimental and regional: satrapal portraits, local deities, Aramaic legends and imperial motifs appear side by side.
Their tiny size means they were rarely hoarded deliberately and often survive only as site finds, which makes them unusually informative about where money actually changed hands rather than where it was stored.
Handling and attribution
Attribution rests on legend fragments and style at high magnification; a 10× loupe is the minimum working tool. Weight brackets separate the denominations, but wear on such small flans can move a coin a full step down.
Store fractions in individual capsules or tightly fitted flips. Loose in a tray they are easily lost, and cleaning attempts on a half-gram coin almost always remove more detail than they reveal.
Achaemenid Empire · 550 – 330 BCE
Era overview →Frequently asked about Obol
- How much was an obol worth?
- One-sixth of a drachm. In classical Greek terms a few obols was a day's unskilled wage, which is why the denomination existed at all.
- Why are Achaemenid obols so varied?
- Because they were struck by satraps and cities for local circulation rather than by a single imperial authority, so types, languages and standards differ from mint to mint.
- What is a Obol?
- The Obol is a Persian and Iranian denomination represented by 1 catalogued example dated 333 BCE – 450 CE. Tiny silver fractions used for small transactions in the Achaemenid provinces. Examples here are struck in Silver at mints including Samaria, Gaza, Ashkelon.
- How many Obol pieces are catalogued on Persian Treasury?
- 1 item, dated 333 BCE – 450 CE, spread across 1 era: Achaemenid Empire.
- Which metals were used for Obol coinage?
- Silver. Each entry records the metal, the approximate weight where known, and a cited reference.
- Where were Obol coins minted?
- Recorded mints include Samaria, Gaza, Ashkelon.