Nomos 6

MACEDON, Neapolis. Circa 424-350 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 1.92 g 7). Gorgoneion facing with protruding tongue. Rev. Ν Ε Ο Π Head of the nymph of Neapolis to right, her hair coiled around her head and with a bun at the back, wearing a plain necklace with a pendant. SNG ANS 444 ff. SNG Copenhagen 227/8. A particularly lovely, toned example with splendid detail. Extremely fine.

Ex Künker 182, 14 March 2011, 161.

Neapolis, modern Kavala, was founded by Thasos to take advantage of nearby gold and silver mines. It later became independent and exploited its silver riches by producing an important coinage of staters and fractions, which began in the last quarter of the 6th century BC. The type was a gorgoneion paired with an incuse square. In the late 5th century the reverse changed to a head of the local goddess, Parthenos, the name the people of Neapolis gave to the indigenous Thracian goddess Bendis (commonly identified with Artemis).