Olbia

10 Obols

Copper alloy (bronze or brass)

Cast

Square

1.20 cm

1.20 cm

0.45 cm

Mass (g)	Mass (grain)	Date of measurement	Reference	fragmented	cleaned	reference weight
5.64	-	-	Krapivina 2003	No	No	Yes

Symbol	Technique	Direction	Position	Number	Synecdoche

Krapivina 2003: Collection of IA NASU, Kiev. Found in the liman part of the Lower City of Olbia. Cleaned; well preserved. The shape is quadrangular, measuring 1.20 × 1.20 × 0.45 cm; weight 5.641 g. On the obverse there is a carved inscription consisting of two lines: ΔΕΚ | ΟΒΟ – i.e. ten obols; on the basis of the palaeography of the inscription, the weight is dated to the 4th or 3rd century BC. The weight seemingly corresponds to the Euboic-Attic system of standard 129. In my opinion, however, the identification of the weight system presented by V.I. Nazarcuk is erroneous. In contrast to the standard of 126, the weight standard of 129 was not recorded in the Athenian Agora. If we proceed from the weight of a drachm being equal to 3.36 g, as has been deduced from the weight of no. 6, then it should be consistent with the Chian-Rhodian system according to which silver coins were struck in Olbia in the 3rd century BC.

No

Language	Technique	Legend type
Greek	Relief	Denomination

ΔΕΚ

ΟΒΟ 

ΔΕΚ(α) | ΟΒΟ(λοί)

GREEK

FROM -400 TO -100

Name	Date of acquisition	Inventory number
National Academy of Science of Ukraine – Institute of Archaeology	None	None

Reference	Page/Column	Reference (number)	Plate / Figure	Comment
Krapivina 2003	119	6	None	None