Ancients - Cherronesos Hemidrachm Challenge

A couple of weeks ago, a new member was asking if the price of a poorly preserved Cherronesos Hemidrachm was a good price. I responded that I thought he/she could do better for the money if they would be patient and shop around a bit. So I took my own advice as a challenge. I found this little gem for a decent price of $31 after some shopping around, well within the targeted price range ($25-$45).

There is a problem however. I cannot find a reference for this particular reverse. That is not completely true as Barry Murphy shows a similar reverse on his page, but without a reference as well (see the last coin on http://bpmurphy.ancients.info/chersonese/page9.htm ). I emailed Mr. Murphy, but as of yet, I have not received a reply.

I would appreciate any assistance in referencing this coin:

THRACE AR Hemidrachm
OBVERSE: Forepart of lion right, head turned back
REVERSE: Quadripartite incuse square, E above pellet // grain kernel beside pellet in each of the two sunken quarters
Struck at Cherronesos, 400-350 BC
2.30g, 14mm
Reverence: ?????

This is my fourth Cherronesos Hemidrachm, all with different reverses. If you like, show off your Cherronesos Hemidrachms. I know there are some real beauties out there.

 

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*sweet*

I like the new pick-up, my good ol' dawg!! (nice to see you hunting) ...

FYI => Batman sold me this humble lil' beauty ($40 delivered) ...

 

Good buy in my estimation. Great detail on the lion.

 

Edited: I referenced the same site you posted.

Nice coin, good price!

 

Thanks TIF

 

$31? What a steal!

 

x2

 

Nice addition, can't help on the reference.

 

The first is fourree. The third has as good a face as I have seen but the flan is too small. Nice ones of these are hard to find. However there are way too many of them to pay big money for so-so coins.

 

sweet coin for 31 bucks...

I don't have one to show.

 

I guess no one has a reference for me as of yet. Well, here are my other three:


My most expensive was $42 (first coin above) and the other three were all within a couple bucks of each other.

 

Wow jw awesome, another great pickup.love the grapes...

 

Here is mine. It is one of favorites! I will admit that mine was also more than $45, but still wanted to share Reverse is dot/bunch of grapes.

 

Now that these are Russian territorial issued coins I am a bit antsy about posting mine or I will hear from Pooty Poot.

 

The map for me is a veritable want list of locations to collect from. I have visited Tyra, Borysthenes and Olbiya, but the others in Crimea and the Kerch peninsula I was hoping to visit this month. Really really really wanted to see Kherson and am disappointed we had to postpone our trip because of all the unrest in the E of the country.





And now with all the threats betwixt Ukraine and Russia about imposing visa regimes on travel on each other...

Some of the cities on the map are pretty easy to get, Chersonesos, Olbiya, Pantikapayon are readily available to collectors. Others like Tyra and Fanagoriya are little stinkers to find examples from.

 

What is that in the incuse square on the last coin you posted

 

Wheat and a dot. Wheat is appropriate as even then it was a major trading commodity. There is a reason why UA is called the breadbasket of Europe. Wheat is the gold colouring of the flag also.

 

Nice coins everyone. But still no reference for my initial coin?

 

Sure, do you read Russian? Anokhin is the preferred reference. These coins are much better studied in Russian than they are in English. Given the source and all.