Trihemitetartemorion: Longest Ancient Coin Name

Illustrated Specimen Details: Trihemitetartemorion

Example Specimen: Trihemitetartemorion, 5th century BC (Ephesus, Ionia)

Authority & Heraldry: This fractional silver coin originates from the Ionian city of Ephesus. The obverse features a bee (which in this specimen may resemble a spider), while the reverse displays an eight-pointed star. Identical motifs are found on other Ephesian issues, making weight the critical factor for correct denomination identification.

1. ANCIENT GREECE (5th-3rd centuries BC): 1 trihemitetartemorion (0.27 g) = 3 hemitetartemorion (0.09 g) = 1.5 tetartemorion (0.18 g) = 0.75 hemiobol (0.36 g) = 0.5 tritetartemorion (0.54 g)

The name "trihemitetartemorion" (Ancient Greek "τριημιτεταρτημόριον") refers to one of the longest and most complex names in numismatics. It is an extremely small fractional silver coin of Ancient Greece, typically associated with the 5th-4th centuries BC.

Numismatic Classification and Etymology

Identifying ancient micro-denominations is inherently difficult, as they rarely contained explicit markings. My identification is based on the precise weight of 0.26 g, which aligns with the normative 0.27 g for a trihemitetartemorion, as opposed to the hemiobol (0.36 g) or tetartemorion (0.18 g).

The name itself is a precise mathematical description derived from three particles:

• Tetartemorion (τεταρτημόριον): A coin weighing 0.18 g, valued at 1/4 of an obol (0.72 g). It comes from "tetarton" (fourth) and "morion" (part).
• Hemi (ημι): A prefix indicating "half" of the value (e.g., hemiobol, hemichalkon).
• Tri (τρι): Indicates "three".

Thus, "trihemitetartemorion" describes a coin equal to three halves of a tetartemorion. In the hierarchy of the Greek drachm, this denomination is equivalent to 3/8 of an obol.

For any collector managing a catalog, this is a standout entry — at least in my own collection of over 500 coin names, it remains the coin with the longest name to date. It serves as a reminder of the incredible granularity and sophistication of the ancient Greek monetary system, where such tiny fractions were officially minted and used for daily trade.