Lampsakos (Mysia) – Silver Tetrobol (Janiform Heads / Athena), 4th–3rd Century BC

This replica is based on a silver tetrobol minted in Lampsakos, a wealthy and influential Greek city in Mysia, located on the eastern shores of the Hellespont in modern-day Turkey. Lampsakos prospered through maritime trade and was well known for its fine coinage and artistic craftsmanship.

Obverse
The obverse features Janiform female heads, two women joined back-to-back, each wearing a stephanos (a decorative crown) and sharing a central earring. The dual portrait symbolizes harmony, unity, and balance — themes common in Greek civic iconography. The faces may represent local nymphs or divine protectresses associated with the city.

Reverse
The reverse shows Athena, goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, wearing a crested helmet and facing right. Athena was widely honored throughout the Greek world, and her appearance on Lampsakos coinage underscores the city’s cultural identity and its connections to Athenian and Ionian artistic traditions.

Historical Background
During the 4th–3rd centuries BC, Lampsakos issued a series of small silver denominations, including this tetrobol valued at two-thirds of a drachm. These coins circulated broadly across Asia Minor and into the Aegean, reflecting the city’s active role in regional trade. The combination of Janiform portraits and Athena is characteristic of the local style and stands out for its refinement and simplicity.