Classical Obol of Athens

ca. 600 BCE

5/16 in. (diameter) x 1/16 in. (0.8 cm x 0.1 cm)

This object has the following keywords:

• Classical - Refers to an ancient Greek style and period that begins around 480 BCE, when the Greek city-states defeated the Persian invaders, and ends around 323 BCE, with the death of Alexander the Great. It is characterized by the rebuilding of cities after the Persian wars, the flourishing of philosophy, drama, architecture, sculpture, painting, and the other arts. In the visual arts, it is known for the mastery of the human form and sophistication of architectural design.
• incuse - Use to describe a design or part of one, as on coins, that is rendered in intaglio rather than in relief.
• obols - Small silver coins struck in several areas of the ancient Greek world from the 6th century BCE and generally worth one sixth of a drachma.
• silver - Pure metallic element having symbol Ag and atomic number 47; a malleable, ductile, white metal with characteristic sheen, considered a precious metal. Silver is widely distributed throughout the world, occurring rarely as metallic silver (in Peru, Norway) but more often as silver-gold alloys and silver ore. Today silver is obtained as a byproduct in the refinement of gold, lead, copper, or zinc ores. Silver was smelted from the ore galena as early as 3800 BCE. As a pure metal, silver is second to gold in malleability and ductility, can be polished to a highly reflective surface, and used -- typically in an alloy -- in jewelry, coinage, photography, mirrors, electrical contacts, and tableware.
• wheels - Circular frameworks of wood, metal, or other hard material often with cogs or teeth on the rim used to transmit or modify force and motion in machinery or a mechanical contrivance.