Nomos 22

GAUL. Massalia. Circa 400 BC. Obol (Silver, 10.5 mm, 0.72 g, 7 h). ΜΑΣΣΑΛΙΩ[Τ-ΑΝ] Bare head of the river-god Lacydon to right, with a tiny horn above his forehead (this obverse type is commonly described as being a head of Apollo). Rev. M in one quarter of four-spoked wheel. Chevillon & Lillamand 2e (same obverse die) and 3a (same reverse die). Feugère & Py, OBM 6h. Maurel 319. Of exceptionally fine classical style, attractively toned and struck in high relief. Some minor striking flatness on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

The early "Apollo" head obols of Massalia - in fact, the head is that of the river-god Lacydon - began in the late 5th century BC with obols or litrai weighing c. 0.86 g; these soon changed to a lower weight of c. 0.72. This is a fine example of that latter group. The obverse head was strongly influenced by the head of the river-god Anapos on the contemporary gold 50 litrai pieces struck c. 405-400 BC by Dionysios I of Syracuse.