It's been a little while since I've posted a thread. For a time people were posting their tiny coins. While this hemidrachm isn't tiny it sure is small. Chersonesos was located in what was known as Thracian Chersonese. At sometime it was or is called The Gallipoli Peninsula, which I believe I read was Greek for "beutiful city". Either way some really nice coins came from there. I myself only have a couple. Included is my recent purchase form JA. I actually found the time this weekend for my own photo . I'm honestly not sure the significance each of the various symbols that come on the reverses of these type. If anyone does I'd like to know. This particular example has a pentagram, I've seen others with a bee or pellets, well several different ones. On mine the reverse is struck off center but the best part of it shows. In my opinion the way the reverse is struck and with the obverse centered it's one of the better I've had the chance at getting and got it. Chersonesos, Thrace 13mm, 2.0g, 386-338 BC Forepart of lion right, head reverted. Quadriparite incuse square alternate raised-sunken quarters. Pentagram in opposite quarter. McClean 4071 And feel free to comment but what I really want to see is all the types like mine and other reverses. Um, the whole coin not just the reverses
Aw man, there's nothin boring about it. I'll add one eventually. I can see myself doing a sub on this type.
That would be cool to do. There really is a lot of neat variants out there. I want to get one with a bee one day and I think someone here (@Sallent maybe?) has an awesome one with a lizard. Anyone got a bee?
Yeah, I have this little old lizard reverse on mine. How cool is that? Who doesn't like lizards? @Smojo you have a total winner there my friend.
Reid Goldberg has a nice analysis of these coins here. Also, Barry Murphy was working on a catalog of the varieties here. I don't know if he's still adding to that site, but it certainly does list a lot of them. I don't find these coins boring at all - they were an important part of the commerce of Thracian Chersonesos for almost 50 years in the 4th-century BC, and aside from an occasional barbarous example, the engraving of the lions shows a consistently high level of artistic merit.
Had several, only one I kept. Thrace, Chersonesos (386 - 338 B.C.) AR Hemidrachm O:Forepart of lion right, head reverted. R: Quadripartite incuse square with alternating raised and sunken quarters; pellet to left of VE monogram and pentagram above pellet in opposite sunken quarters. 13mm 2.4g BMC 43; McClean –; Weber 2422; SNG Copenhagen –; SNG Dreer 115.
Thrace, Chersonesos 400-350 BC AR hemidrachm, 13mm, 2.3gm Obv: forepart of a lion right, head reverted Rev: quadripartite; incuse; dot AΓ (ligate) and pentagram in opposing depressions Ref: (I don't have a reference for this reverse combination)
Some really nice coins. Like @Ajax I wonder if any members have the bee. Yeah, I can definately see myself doing a sub on this type. It would have to be long term (just like all my little subs) but this one was around for 50 years adds up to a lot of variations. And as JA's links would suggest I'd have to really trust who I'm buying them from.
nice lookin' lion and pentagram smojo! i STILL don't have one of these! next year is going to be "greek year" more me...so maybe 2018.
Here is a bee reverse - the bees seem to vary in style, especially the wings. This one doesn't look much like a bee to me (more like a termite) but I like these hemidrachms so couldn't resist. Great coins everyone! Cherronesos, Thrace AR hemidrachm, 2.22g 13mm c.386-338 BC forepart of lion right, head left quadripartite incuse square with alternating raised and sunken quarters; AΓ above pellet, funny looking bee Berlin I, 46 I don't have this reference so I am relying on the closest match I could find to the style in Wildwinds.
man, nice examples and Op. i have a headless lion obverse with a lizard on the reverse. an old pic, as you can tell, i couldn't see no lion on it when i took the pic.(and i ain't lion><)
Jug of WINE! And either a cool little stick figure, a Jolly Roger skull-and-crossbones, or just a DOT X Chersonesos AR Hemi-Drachm - TriObol Lion X-dot amphora Seaby-Sear Vol I 1606
