Leu Numismatik AG
Web Auction 15 27-28 Feb 2021
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CARIA. Neapolis ad Harpasum. 2nd century BC. AE (Bronze, 15 mm, 2.52 g, 12 h). Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙ - KOΛΒΑ / ΙCIN Lyre. Cf. BMC Caria p. 140, 1 (ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙ - KOΛΒΑ / MYN, as 'Neapolis Myndiorum') and Winterthur 3496 (ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙ - KOΛΒΑ / MYN) Delrieux 1 corr. (reverse legend). HN online 1754 corr. (reverse legend). Extremely rare and of great interest, the finest known example. Minor deposits, otherwise, good very fine.
Delrieux, the most recent commentator on the coinage of Neapolis ad Harpasum, read the reverse legend on this unusual issue as ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙ - KOΛΒΑ / ΙOY, interpreting this and a related issue reading ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙ - KOΛΒΑ / MYN as recording the magistrate names Kolba..., Iou... and Myn... along with the ethnic of the city. However, our example reveals that the legend actually reads ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙ - ΙCIN / KOΛΒΑ (with a small die break on the 2nd I of ICIN). While Kolba(s) and Myn... are rarely attested personal names, there is no personal name Isin.. in our records and it is therefore much more likely that Kolba..., Isin... and Myn... are the place names Kolbasa, Isinda and Myndos. Thus, the issue was likely a joint emission of Neapolis with Kolbasa and Myndos on the one hand and with Kolbasa and Isinda on the other. Unfortunately, we do not know what prompted such a joint emission of coins, in particular of cities not in great distance from Neapolis but not neighboring it either. In any case, it is a very unusual phenomenon and of great historical interest.
Delrieux, the most recent commentator on the coinage of Neapolis ad Harpasum, read the reverse legend on this unusual issue as ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙ - KOΛΒΑ / ΙOY, interpreting this and a related issue reading ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙ - KOΛΒΑ / MYN as recording the magistrate names Kolba..., Iou... and Myn... along with the ethnic of the city. However, our example reveals that the legend actually reads ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙ - ΙCIN / KOΛΒΑ (with a small die break on the 2nd I of ICIN). While Kolba(s) and Myn... are rarely attested personal names, there is no personal name Isin.. in our records and it is therefore much more likely that Kolba..., Isin... and Myn... are the place names Kolbasa, Isinda and Myndos. Thus, the issue was likely a joint emission of Neapolis with Kolbasa and Myndos on the one hand and with Kolbasa and Isinda on the other. Unfortunately, we do not know what prompted such a joint emission of coins, in particular of cities not in great distance from Neapolis but not neighboring it either. In any case, it is a very unusual phenomenon and of great historical interest.