The Obol denomination
The Obol was a form of ancient Greek currency and weight. Originally a small metal spit, six obols constituted a Drachm - a 'handful'.

Depending on the standard used, and obol weighed between 0.44 grams (Achaean) and 0,72 grams (Attic).
Obol
(1) Abdera
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An AR Obol struck 473-448 BC in Abdera
Obverse: seated griffin left rising leg

Reverse: quadripartite incuse square

Diameter: 9 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.6 g
No notes for this coin
May 191; SNG Cop. 312 ff.
Greek (City Coinage)
(2) Abydos (Troas)
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An AR Obol struck 480-450 BC in Abydos (Troas)
Obverse: eagle left, star above; ABY

Reverse: facing head of Medusa within incuse square

Diameter: 8 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.55 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Copenhagen 5; BMC 4-5
Greek (City Coinage)
(3) Alexander III
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An AR Obol struck 325-300? BC in an unknown location
Obverse: Head of young Herakles right, wearing lion's skin

Reverse: Zeus seated left, leaning on scepter, holding eagle AΛEΞANΔPOY

Diameter: 9.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.6 g
No notes for this coin
No references provided for this coin
Greek (Kingdom of Macedonia)
(4) Antoninus Pius
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An AE Obol struck 147-148 AD in Alexandria
Obverse: ΑVΤ Κ Τ ΑΙ ΑΔΡ ΑΝΤⲰΝƐΙΝΟϹ; laureate head of Antoninus Pius, r.

Reverse: L ΙΑ; kalathos containing three (or five) poppies; either side, torch

Diameter: -
Die Orientation: 12 H
Weight: 5.71 g
No notes for this coin
RPC Online IV.4 14899(temp); Koln 1581
Roman Provincial (Adoptive Emperors)
(5) Ardakhshir II
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An AR Obol struck 50-1 BC in Persepolis
Obverse: bust left, wearing diadem and Persepolitan crown with stepped battlements

Reverse: king standing left, holding sceptre; lit altar to left

Diameter: 10.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.7 g
Persis under Parthians
Alram 577
Eastern (Kingdom of Persis)
(6) Aspendos
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An AR Obol struck c. 465-430 BC in Aspendos
Obverse: Amphora

Reverse: triskeles, pellet; E_Σ

Diameter: 9 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.9 g
No notes for this coin
SNG France 14; SNG von Aulock 4485; Traité II 1545
Greek (City Coinage)
(7) Assos
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An AR Obol struck c. 479-450 BC in Assos
Obverse: gryffin right

Reverse: lion head right

Diameter: 7.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.3 g
No notes for this coin
BMC Troas p. 36, 3; Weber 5318; SGCV II 4044; Klein - ; Rosen -; SNGvA -; SNG Cop -,
Greek (City Coinage)
(8) Cilician Satrapy
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Tarsos_Obol3.jpg
An AR Obol struck c. 379-372 BC in Tarsos
Obverse: Female head facing left, wearing wreath of reeds, earring and necklace

Reverse: Female head (Aphrodite?) facing forwards, wearing stephane (headdress) and necklace

Diameter: 11 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.77 g
Obverse head is in the style of the dekadrachms of Syracuse of circa 405-370 BC. Unfortunate damage to the facing head on the reverse of the coin.
Imhoof-Blumer 1
Eastern (Cilician Satrapy)
(9) Eukratides I
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An AR Obol struck 171-145 BCE in Baktria
Obverse: Diademed bust of king right

Reverse: Diademed bust of king right Rev.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΕΥΚΡΑΤΙΔΟΥ (Two pilei surmounted by stars and two palm branches), monogram in field

Diameter: 11.48 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.64 g
No notes for this coin
HGCS 12/138
Eastern (Bactrian Kingdom)
(10) Evagoras I
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An AR Obol struck 411-373 BC in Salamis (Cyprus)
Obverse: Bare head of young male facing right (Evagoras?)

Reverse: Smooth, no design

Diameter: 10 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 0.79 g

Kingdom of Salamis

BMC 45; Tziambazis 116
Greek (Other Greek)
(11) Hadrian
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Hadrian_Alexandria_obol.jpg
An AE Obol struck 126-127 AD in Alexandria
Obverse: laureate bust right, draped shoulder; AVT KAI_TPAI AΔPIA CEB

Reverse: two cornucopiaes; L IA

Diameter: 18 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.26 g
29 Aug 126 - 28 Aug 127 AD
Köln 961; Dattari (Savio) 1915; K&G 32.436; Emmett 1149
Roman Provincial (Adoptive Emperors)
(12) Kebren
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An AR Obol struck c. 500-400 BC in Kebren
Obverse: head of Apollo left

Reverse: ram head left within incuse square

Diameter: 6.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.65 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Ashmolean 1086 (diobol); SNGvA 1546 (same), Rosen 534 (same), SNG Cop -, SNG Munchen -, BMC Troas -
Greek (City Coinage)
(13) Kherei
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An AR Obol struck 440-410 BC in Xanthos?
Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena left

Reverse: Head of Kherei right, wearing bashlyk, in pelleted round border within incuse circle.

Diameter: 9 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.59 g
No notes for this coin
Falghera -; SNG Copenhagen Suppl. -; Traité II 352 var.
Eastern (Lycian Dynasts)
(14) Laranda
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An AR Obol struck Circa 324-323 BC in Laranda
Obverse: Baaltars seated left holding long scepter, bunch of grapes and ear of grain

Reverse: Forepart of wolf right; inverted crescent above; all within circle of pellets.

Diameter: 9 mm
Die Orientation: 0 H
Weight: 0.6 g

Formerly attributed to an unknown Cilician mint

Göktürk 82; SNG France 443
Greek (City Coinage)
(15) Laranda
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An AR Obol struck c. 400-300 BC in Laranda
Obverse: Baal seated left, stalk of grain and bunch of grapes in right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand

Reverse: wolf forepart right, crescent above

Diameter: 10 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.6 g
No notes for this coin
SNG BnF 450 (uncertain Cilicia), SNG Levante 225 (uncertain Cilicia)
Greek (City Coinage)
(16) M. Aemilius Lepidus
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An AR Obol struck 44-42 BC in Cabellio
Obverse: Head of Apollo right; CABE upwards in right field.

Reverse: LE-PI flanking cornucopia; all within laurel wreath

Diameter: 9 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.36 g
"George Rogers in his study of the triumviral coinage in Gaul ("Notes sur des rapports métrologiques: un système monétaire en Gaule de 43 à 23 av. J.-C.," RN XXVIII [1987], pp. 83-93) supposes that this issue was struck under the governorship of Lepidus in 44-42 BC, and that Lepidus was the founder of the colony of Cabellio. He further argues that the absence of the legend COL (indicating the status of the city as a colony) in combination with CABE is not an argument against his proposition, but rather he draws parallels with the foundation coinage of Lyon to support his position."

Provenance: Leu Numismatik Web auction 8 (29 June, 2019), lot 611.
RPC I 528
Roman Provincial (Republican Provincial)
(17) M. Aemilius Lepidus
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/1520_Lepidus_Cabellio.jpg
An AR Obol struck 44-42 BC in Cabellio
Obverse: head of Apollo right; CABE

Reverse: cornucopia within wreath; LE_PI

Diameter: 10 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.4 g
No notes for this coin
RPC 528
Roman Provincial (Republican Provincial)
(18) Mazaios
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An AR Obol struck 361/0-334 BC in Tarsos
Obverse: Baal seated left, holding grapes, grain ear, and sceptre

Reverse: lion attacking stag left

Diameter: 10 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.7 g
No notes for this coin
Casabonne Series 1; SNG France 329; SNG Levante 112; Sunrise 64
Eastern (Cilician Satrapy)
(19) Miletos
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Milet_-_obol_1(0).jpg
An AR Obol struck 520-500 BC in Miletos
Obverse: head of lion left

Reverse: star ornament within incuse square

Diameter: 8 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.07 g
No notes for this coin
Pfeiler, 6; SNG von Aulock 2080; BMC 12; SNG Delepierre 2644; SNG Cop. 948
Greek (City Coinage)
(20) Miletos
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/584_Miletos.JPG
An AR Obol struck 520-500 BC in Miletos
Obverse: head of lion left

Reverse: star ornament within incuse square

Diameter: 7.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 1.1 g
No notes for this coin
Grose 8210, SNGvA 2081, SNG Cop 944v, BMC 186, Sear #3533
Greek (City Coinage)
(21) Neandreia
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Neandreia_obol.jpg
An AR Obol struck c. 410-370 BC in Neandreia
Obverse: laureate head of Apollo right

Reverse: ram right; NEA / N

Diameter: 8 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.5 g
No notes for this coin
SNG Cop 446; SNGvA 7628; SNG Munchen 293; SNG Kayhan 77; SNG Ashmolean 1170; Klein 318
Greek (City Coinage)
(22) Pantikapaion
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/417_Pantikapaion.jpg
An AE Obol struck 300-200 BC in Pantikapaion
Obverse: Head of beardless Pan left, wreathed with ivy and grapes strung

Reverse: Bow and arrow; ΠAN (eight-rayed star countermark from undertype)

Diameter: 19.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 5.73 g
overstruck
SNG Pushkin 956 (same undertype w/cm), SNG BM 868 (same), SNG Stancomb 560; undertype: SNG Pushkin 909 ff. (also w/star countermark)
Greek (City Coinage)
(23) Pharkadon
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An AR Obol struck 480 - 400 BC in Pharkadon
Obverse: Horse prancing right

Reverse: ΦΑΡ-ΚΑΔO, Athena standing right, holding spear and shield; all within incuse square.

Diameter: 12 mm
Die Orientation: 6 H
Weight: 0.87 g
From the BCD Collection Minor porosity
BCD Thessaly I 1271 var. (ethnic), BCD Thessaly II 606 var. (arrangement of ethnic); HGC 4, 297
Greek (City Coinage)
(24) Ptolemy II
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An AE Obol struck 264-256 BC in Alexandria
Obverse: head of Alexander III right wearing elephant scalp headdress and aegis

Reverse: eagle standing on lightning left, spread wings; ΠTOΛEMAIOY_ΒAΣIΛEΩΣ / E

Diameter: 22.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 10.8 g
No notes for this coin
Svornos 450
Greek (Ptolemaic Kingdom)
(25) Ptolemy II
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/1412_Ptolemy_II_obol.jpg
An AE Obol struck 264-256 BC in Alexandria
Obverse: head of Alexander III right wearing elephant scalp headdress and aegis

Reverse: eagle standing on lightning left, spread wings; ΠTOΛEMAIOY_ΒAΣIΛEΩΣ / A

Diameter: 24 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 10.1 g
No notes for this coin
Svornos 424
Greek (Ptolemaic Kingdom)
(26) Selge
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Pisidia_Selge_2.jpg
An AR Obol struck 350-300 BC in Selge
Obverse: Facing gorgoneion

Reverse: Helmeted head of Athena right; astralagos behind

Diameter: -
Die Orientation: -
Weight: -
No notes for this coin
SNG France 1934
Greek (City Coinage)
(27) Selge
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An AR Obol struck 250-190 BC in Selge
Obverse: Facing gorgoneion

Reverse: Helmeted head of Athena right within incuse square

Diameter: 11 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.93 g
No notes for this coin
SNG von Aulock 5242
Greek (City Coinage)
(28) Selge
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/Selge_obol.jpg
An AR Obol struck c. 350-300 BC in Selge
Obverse: facing head of Medusa (Gorgoneion), tongue protruding

Reverse: head of Athena leftwearing crested helmet; astragalos behind

Diameter: 9 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.9 g
No notes for this coin
SNG BnF 1928; SNGvA 5281; BMC Lycia p. 257, 4; Klein 631; SNG Cop -
Greek (City Coinage)
(29) Side
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An AR Obol struck c. 400-300 BC in Side
Obverse: lion head right

Reverse: helmeted head of Athena right

Diameter: 9 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.7 g
No notes for this coin
Atlan, Side 77 (dies Exemplar); SNG BN 738; SNG von Aulock 4774
Greek (City Coinage)
(30) Sogdiana
/Files/Images/Coinsite/CoinDB/1388_Dahae2.jpg
An AR Obol struck c. 300-500 AD in Samarkand
Obverse: head left

Reverse: archer right holding bow and arrow

Diameter: 8.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.5 g
No notes for this coin
Mitch., Central Asia, 16; Mitch., Indo-Greek, 662; Mitch., ATC, 1562
Eastern (Other Eastern)
(31) Tanagra
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An AR Obol struck 387-374 BC in Tanagra
Obverse: boeotian shield

Reverse: forepart of horse right; TA

Diameter: 8.5 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.9 g
No notes for this coin
BCD Boiotia 280; SNG Copenhagen 231
Greek (City Coinage)
(32) Tarsos
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An AR Obol struck 379-362 BC in Tarsos
Obverse: Head of Nymph? facing slightly left wearing earrings and necklace

Reverse: Bearded head of Ares? left wearing crested Attic style helmet

Diameter: 9 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.8 g
Satraps Datames or Pharnabazos
SNG France 303ff var.; SNG Levante 93
Eastern (Cilician Satrapy)
(33) Uvug
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An AR Obol struck 470-440 BC in Xanthos?
Obverse: Forepart of winged human-headed bull right

Reverse: Male? head right; OFOV (Uvug) within incuse square

Diameter: 7 mm
Die Orientation: -
Weight: 0.7 g
No notes for this coin
Babelon, Traité, 315 ff var.; SNG von Aulock 4119 var. (tetrobol)
Eastern (Lycian Dynasts)