Nomos 32

ARGOLIS. Argos. Circa 90-50 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 16 mm, 2.37 g, 7 h). Forepart of a wolf at bay to left. Rev. ΦI-ΛO/K-Λ/H-Σ Large A; below, krater inscribed NE; all within incuse square. BCD Peloponnesos 1175-6. BMC 124. Nanteuil 953. SNG Copenhagen 45. SSS 53. Attractively toned. Struck from a slightly worn obverse die, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the collection of Major Anthony F. Milavic, USMC (Ret.), ex Münzen und Medaillen DE 1, 16 September 1997, 162.

The ΝΕ that appears on the side of the krater on the reverse stands for ΝΕΜΕΙΑ - the Nemean Games, which had originally been held at the sanctuary of Nemea, but due to that town's decline in importance the games were moved to Argos. The krater itself would have used at the games to hold the lots used to determine starting places, as well as for the palm branches presented to the winners .