NEWP: Campania. Neapolis Didrachm

Zohar

Picked this one up. Like the design in particular the reverse. Still working on the Sicilian pickup images which I will share separately.

CAMPANIA, Neapolis. Circa 320-300 BC. AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.41gr). Obv: Head of the nymph Parthenope to right, her hair elaborately curled and bound in a wide taenia, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace. Rev: Man-faced bull walking to right, head facing; above, Nike flying right, holding a wreath to crown him. SNG ANS 317. HN Italy 565. NGC AU* 5/5, 5/5, Fine Style.

NiceCurrency

beautiful, very nice

JCMhouston

That reverse is very cool.

TIF2

Another beautiful coin, Zohar! Nice details on Parthenope's taenia.

SmEagle1795

Very nice acquisition! I love the style. I've been considering a couple of these man-faced-bulls recently as well. The obverse looks a bit hairlined in the image but not too distracting. It might be a candidate for cracking out and letting it sit in an album for a while if the obverse is bright/cleaned in-hand.

Zohar

<< <i>The obverse looks a bit hairlined in the image but not too distracting. It might be a candidate for cracking out and letting it sit in an album for a while if the obverse is bright/cleaned in-hand. >>



SmEagle1795 - My thoughts as well. Agree. Coin is in transit and seller claims in hand these are very faint. Will make that determination when I receive it. What was compelling here is the centering and sharpness of detail uncommon in specimens I had seen.

Zohar

Trying to find reference to man faced bull theme - can't find the symbolism. Does anyone know?