OK, you may ask why this is so valuable? Well, in short, it's at the top of the charts with only three higher. The piece has significance being the first standard denomination of the United States of Ionian Islands, see below, not to mention, it's in better shape than most contemporary coins in its category. Truly a must have in a Greece collection, or for any collection for that matter. PS I won't have this one up long - it's a keeper.
BACKGROUND
The lepton / ½ obol coin is a circulation piece of the United States of the Ionian Islands, a former state and amicable protectorate of the United Kingdom covering the Ionian Islands. On October 28, 1818, the Senate of the Ionian Islands authorized the creation of the coin. It was subsequently struck from 1819 to 1820 at the Royal Mint in Tower Hill, London.
The piece initially held legal tender status in its country of origin, carrying a value of 0.50 Ionian oboli, the equivalent of one British farthing. However, with the introduction of a new monetary system in 1834, the lepton coin was demonetized that year. Due to a shortage of coins on the Ionian Islands, though, it began to circulate again in 1836 with a legal tender value of .50 oboli. The piece continued to be valid even after the Ionian Islands were ceded to Greece in 1864, and was finally withdrawn and demonetized in 1870.
Because of the coin's initial value, it was commonly known in everyday speech as an ημιοβολός (Romanized: imiobolós), meaning "hemiobol" or "half obol". In literature it is also sometimes referred to as a farthing (Greek: φαρδίνι; fardíni) due to its value and size.
The coin has similar composition and slightly smaller measurements to the contemporary British farthing, as it is composed of copper and measures about 1.78 grams in mass, 16.5 millimeters in diameter, and 1.6 millimeters in thickness. The Ionian piece has coin alignment; a raised, dentillated border; and a plain edge, and is round in shape.
The obverse was designed by British engraver William Wyon (1795–1851), who in 1828 would become the next Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint. Featured in the center is a left-facing illustration of a seated Britannia, the national personification of the United Kingdom. As on most modern British farthings, she is shown holding an olive branch in her right hand and a trident in her left, leaning on a shield decorated with the Union Jack. Such an image is accompanied by the caption "BRITANNIA.", which is printed in a clockwise direction along the coin's upper boundary.
SPECIFICATIONS
1 Lepton, Issued by Ionian Islands, Greece, 1834
Minted by Royal Mint, London
Obverse Description
Winged lion of St. Mark facing to left holding Bible and seven arrows; below, 1834.; around above in Greek, IONIKON KPATOS
Reverse Description
Britannia seated facing left; above, BRITANNIA.
Edge Description
Plain
Significance
The United States of the Ionian Islands (Greek: Ἡνωμένον Κράτος τῶν Ἰονίων Νήσων, Inoménon-Krátos ton Ioníon Níson, literally "United State of the Ionian Islands"; was a state and amical protectorate of the United Kingdom between 1815 and 1864. It was the successor state of the Septinsular Republic. It covered the territory of the Ionian Islands, in modern Greece, and it was ceded to Greece as a gift of the United Kingdom to the newly enthroned King George I at the end of the protectorate. was formed on 14 November 1815 and was made up of seven principal islands: Corfu, Cephalinia, Zante, Santa Maura, Ithica, Cerigo and Paxo, these islands are represented by the seven arrows held by the winged lion of St. Mark (a Venetian symbol reflecting the Venetian control of the islands from 1401 until 1797)
More Information
Date Issued: 1834 -1862 AD
Issued By: Ionian Islands, Greece, 1834
Mint: Royal Mint, London, Great Britain, 1834
Artist: William Wyon RA - Royal Mint, London, Great Britain, 1834
Denomination: 1 Lepton = 1/5 Obol (.25)
Series: Ionian Islands
Material: Copper
Axis: 06
Classification: Coins, Greece - ionian islands, Working strikes
Category: History & Technology
Discipline: Numismatics
Type of item: Object
Dimensions: 16.5 mm (Outside Diameter), 1.78 g (Weight)
Shape: Round
References: Pridmore 23 KM#34
- [Book] Pridmore, Fred. 1960. The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations Part 1, European Territories.
- [Book] Bruce, Colin R. 2006. Standard Catalogue of World Coins 1801 - 1900.
Keywords: British Empire Coins, British Commonwealth and Empire Coins
We accept payment by any of the following methods:
PayPal
Please pay as soon as possible after winning an auction, as that will allow us to post your item to you sooner!
We offer FREE shipping on orders over $100!
Your order will be dispatched within 1 working day of receiving payment (Monday-Friday) and you should expect to receive it one or two days after dispatch (for orders sent RM 1st Class).
In the very unlikely event that your item is lost or damaged during post, then WE are responsible and will issue either a full refund or replacement.
If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return the product and get a full refund or exchange the product for another one, be it similar or not.
You can return a product for up to 14 days from the date you purchased it.
Any product you return must be in the same condition you received it and in the original packaging. Please keep the receipt.
OK, you may ask why this is so valuable? Well, in short, it's at the top of the charts with only three higher. The piece has significance being the first standard denomination of the United States of Ionian Islands, see below, not to mention, it's in better shape than most contemporary coins in its category. Truly a must have in a Greece collection, or for any collection for that matter. PS I won't have this one up long - it's a keeper.
BACKGROUND
The lepton / ½ obol coin is a circulation piece of the United States of the Ionian Islands, a former state and amicable protectorate of the United Kingdom covering the Ionian Islands. On October 28, 1818, the Senate of the Ionian Islands authorized the creation of the coin. It was subsequently struck from 1819 to 1820 at the Royal Mint in Tower Hill, London.
The piece initially held legal tender status in its country of origin, carrying a value of 0.50 Ionian oboli, the equivalent of one British farthing. However, with the introduction of a new monetary system in 1834, the lepton coin was demonetized that year. Due to a shortage of coins on the Ionian Islands, though, it began to circulate again in 1836 with a legal tender value of .50 oboli. The piece continued to be valid even after the Ionian Islands were ceded to Greece in 1864, and was finally withdrawn and demonetized in 1870.
Because of the coin's initial value, it was commonly known in everyday speech as an ημιοβολός (Romanized: imiobolós), meaning "hemiobol" or "half obol". In literature it is also sometimes referred to as a farthing (Greek: φαρδίνι; fardíni) due to its value and size.
The coin has similar composition and slightly smaller measurements to the contemporary British farthing, as it is composed of copper and measures about 1.78 grams in mass, 16.5 millimeters in diameter, and 1.6 millimeters in thickness. The Ionian piece has coin alignment; a raised, dentillated border; and a plain edge, and is round in shape.
The obverse was designed by British engraver William Wyon (1795–1851), who in 1828 would become the next Chief Engraver of the Royal Mint. Featured in the center is a left-facing illustration of a seated Britannia, the national personification of the United Kingdom. As on most modern British farthings, she is shown holding an olive branch in her right hand and a trident in her left, leaning on a shield decorated with the Union Jack. Such an image is accompanied by the caption "BRITANNIA.", which is printed in a clockwise direction along the coin's upper boundary.
SPECIFICATIONS
1 Lepton, Issued by Ionian Islands, Greece, 1834
Minted by Royal Mint, London
Obverse Description
Winged lion of St. Mark facing to left holding Bible and seven arrows; below, 1834.; around above in Greek, IONIKON KPATOS
Reverse Description
Britannia seated facing left; above, BRITANNIA.
Edge Description
Plain
Significance
The United States of the Ionian Islands (Greek: Ἡνωμένον Κράτος τῶν Ἰονίων Νήσων, Inoménon-Krátos ton Ioníon Níson, literally "United State of the Ionian Islands"; was a state and amical protectorate of the United Kingdom between 1815 and 1864. It was the successor state of the Septinsular Republic. It covered the territory of the Ionian Islands, in modern Greece, and it was ceded to Greece as a gift of the United Kingdom to the newly enthroned King George I at the end of the protectorate. was formed on 14 November 1815 and was made up of seven principal islands: Corfu, Cephalinia, Zante, Santa Maura, Ithica, Cerigo and Paxo, these islands are represented by the seven arrows held by the winged lion of St. Mark (a Venetian symbol reflecting the Venetian control of the islands from 1401 until 1797)
More Information
Date Issued: 1834 -1862 AD
Issued By: Ionian Islands, Greece, 1834
Mint: Royal Mint, London, Great Britain, 1834
Artist: William Wyon RA - Royal Mint, London, Great Britain, 1834
Denomination: 1 Lepton = 1/5 Obol (.25)
Series: Ionian Islands
Material: Copper
Axis: 06
Classification: Coins, Greece - ionian islands, Working strikes
Category: History & Technology
Discipline: Numismatics
Type of item: Object
Dimensions: 16.5 mm (Outside Diameter), 1.78 g (Weight)
Shape: Round
References: Pridmore 23 KM#34
- [Book] Pridmore, Fred. 1960. The Coins of the British Commonwealth of Nations Part 1, European Territories.
- [Book] Bruce, Colin R. 2006. Standard Catalogue of World Coins 1801 - 1900.
Keywords: British Empire Coins, British Commonwealth and Empire Coins
We accept payment by any of the following methods:
PayPal
Please pay as soon as possible after winning an auction, as that will allow us to post your item to you sooner!
We offer FREE shipping on orders over $100!
Your order will be dispatched within 1 working day of receiving payment (Monday-Friday) and you should expect to receive it one or two days after dispatch (for orders sent RM 1st Class).
In the very unlikely event that your item is lost or damaged during post, then WE are responsible and will issue either a full refund or replacement.
If you are not 100% satisfied with your purchase, you can return the product and get a full refund or exchange the product for another one, be it similar or not.
You can return a product for up to 14 days from the date you purchased it.
Any product you return must be in the same condition you received it and in the original packaging. Please keep the receipt.