Bronze Hemiobol

This bronze hemiobol was minted in Magnesia ad Maeandrum, Ionia in the 5th century BC, between 465BC and 459BC. On its Obverse, it depicts the head of the Olympian deity Hephaestus, bearded and adorned atop his head is a laureate pilos. From his mouth blows flames of fire, the central symbol of the god who served as the patron of craftsmen, artisans, blacksmiths, metallurgy and volcanoes. A dotted border lines the perimeter. The coin’s Reverse depicts a dotted square border within an incuse square, with the monogram ‘ΘE’ or ‘TH-E,’ symbolic of the name of the individual who issued the coin; ‘Themistocles’.

Themistocles was a general and politician of Athens in the late sixth and early fifth centuries BC and was elected archon of the city in 493BC. He played a pivotal part in ensuring Greek victory in the first and second Persian invasions (490BC, 480-479BC), and most notably persuaded the Athenians to improve their naval forces, through the commission of two-hundred triremes in 483BC. However, in 471-470BC, Themistocles was ostracised from Athens, and went into exile, eventually settling in Asia Minor where he served under the Persian King Artaxerxes I. In recognition of his service, he was gifted the sovereignty of the city of Magnesia (also known as Magnesia on the Maeander), where he settled and governed until his death in 459BC.