CAMPANIA. Neapolis. c. 325-320 BC
CAMPANIA. Neapolis. c. 325-320 BC
AE Third Unit, 5.35g (18.5mm, 12h). Laureate head of Apollo right / Forepart of man-headed bull right, star of four rays on shoulder.
Pedigree: Ex Arthur Sambon, Paris, 26 May 1925, lot 49. Ex Hess-Leu 28, 1965, lot 9. Ex Athos Moretti Collection, Basel, No. 46. Ex NAC 13, 1998, lot 46
References: HN Italy 568. SNG ANS 427
Grade: Unusually good condition for this type. Beautiful green patina with some minor marks. Lovely strike. Mint State.
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This fascinating bronze coin from the greek city state of Neapolis features the god Apollo and a man-headed bull. The city of Neapolis is modern day Naples, and said to be the spot where the siren Parthenope washed ashore after being rejected by the mythological hero Odysseus. There is speculation as to who was the first to occupy Neapolis however it is certain that eventually the Greeks from Cumae came to inhabit the city and made Neapolis a flourishing economic center in the region. Even when the Roman overtook the city, a vibrant Greek culture and language continued within.
This coin comes from an early sale of the auction house Sambon in Paris in May 1925. It was last sold in an NAC auction in 1998.