Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 124 23 Jun 2021
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Campania, Neapolis.
Didrachm circa 395-385, AR 7.65 g. Head of nymph Parthenope r., wearing meander pattern diadem, earring and necklace. Rev. Man-headed bull advancing r., crowned by Nike flying r.; in exergue, [NE]OΠΟΛΙΤΗ[Σ]. Sambon 363 (this coin illustrated). SNG ANS 293 (these dies). Rutter 164. Historia Numorum Italy 565.
A coin of enchanting beauty, undoubtedly the finest coin of Neapolis in existence.
A portrait of masterly style, work of a talented master engraver struck
in high relief. Wonderful old cabinet tone and good extremely fine
Ex Sambon-Canessa 11-12 December 1901, von Wotoch, 66; Vinchon 14 April 1984, Comtesse de Béhague, 3 and New York XXVII, Prospero, 6 sales. From the von Wotoch and de Béhague collections.
In c. 470 BC, Cumae established a new colony on the coast of Campania to bolster the port settlement at Parthenope, which had existed since the seventh century BC. The new foundation was called (somewhat unoriginally) Neapolis ("New City") while Parthenope, in contrast, came to be known as Palaipolis ("Old City"). As a means of ensuring the survival of the Greek colony, the Neapolitans entered into alliances and friendly trade relationships with the neighboring and warlike Italic peoples, most of whom were Samnites or related Oscan-speakers. Unfortunately, as the rising power of Rome came into conflict with the Samnites, Neapolis found itself drawn into the fighting. The accusation that the Neapolitans were harboring Samnites responsible for attacking Romans in Campania touched off the Second Samnite War (327-301 BC). When Neapolis refused to surrender the guilty men and instead accepted a Samnite garrison the city was besieged by the forces of the Roman consul P. Publilius Philo. The city was valiantly defended, but at last starvation compelled the Neapolitans to trick the garrison into taking up a position in Palaiopolis and admit the Romans. Although Publilius celebrated a triumph in Rome for this somewhat less than glorious conquest, Neapolis was subsequently treated as an equal ally. The present didrachm was struck in the early fourth century BC, before the beginning of the Roman Samnite Wars, when Neapolis was expanding its influence among its Italic neighbours. The head of the nymph Parthenope appears on the obverse in recognition of the original settlement that was absorbed to serve as the Paliopolis to the new settlement of Neapolis. The reverse features a man-faced bull-a type closely associated with Neapolis and Campania in general.
Didrachm circa 395-385, AR 7.65 g. Head of nymph Parthenope r., wearing meander pattern diadem, earring and necklace. Rev. Man-headed bull advancing r., crowned by Nike flying r.; in exergue, [NE]OΠΟΛΙΤΗ[Σ]. Sambon 363 (this coin illustrated). SNG ANS 293 (these dies). Rutter 164. Historia Numorum Italy 565.
A coin of enchanting beauty, undoubtedly the finest coin of Neapolis in existence.
A portrait of masterly style, work of a talented master engraver struck
in high relief. Wonderful old cabinet tone and good extremely fine
Ex Sambon-Canessa 11-12 December 1901, von Wotoch, 66; Vinchon 14 April 1984, Comtesse de Béhague, 3 and New York XXVII, Prospero, 6 sales. From the von Wotoch and de Béhague collections.
In c. 470 BC, Cumae established a new colony on the coast of Campania to bolster the port settlement at Parthenope, which had existed since the seventh century BC. The new foundation was called (somewhat unoriginally) Neapolis ("New City") while Parthenope, in contrast, came to be known as Palaipolis ("Old City"). As a means of ensuring the survival of the Greek colony, the Neapolitans entered into alliances and friendly trade relationships with the neighboring and warlike Italic peoples, most of whom were Samnites or related Oscan-speakers. Unfortunately, as the rising power of Rome came into conflict with the Samnites, Neapolis found itself drawn into the fighting. The accusation that the Neapolitans were harboring Samnites responsible for attacking Romans in Campania touched off the Second Samnite War (327-301 BC). When Neapolis refused to surrender the guilty men and instead accepted a Samnite garrison the city was besieged by the forces of the Roman consul P. Publilius Philo. The city was valiantly defended, but at last starvation compelled the Neapolitans to trick the garrison into taking up a position in Palaiopolis and admit the Romans. Although Publilius celebrated a triumph in Rome for this somewhat less than glorious conquest, Neapolis was subsequently treated as an equal ally. The present didrachm was struck in the early fourth century BC, before the beginning of the Roman Samnite Wars, when Neapolis was expanding its influence among its Italic neighbours. The head of the nymph Parthenope appears on the obverse in recognition of the original settlement that was absorbed to serve as the Paliopolis to the new settlement of Neapolis. The reverse features a man-faced bull-a type closely associated with Neapolis and Campania in general.