Campania, Neapolis. AR Didrachm, circa 275–250 BC.

Campania, Neapolis. AR Didrachm, circa 275–250 BC. Obv. Head of the nymph Parthenope left, hair elegantly arranged; behind, forepart of Pegasos. Rev. ΝΕΑΠΟΛΙΤ[ΩΝ], Nike crowning a man-headed bull advancing right. 20 mm, 7.39 g. SNG BN 827; HN Italy 586. Of excellent style with beautiful dark cabinet tone, minor die flaws on the obverse. Very fine to good very fine. Provenance: Ex Münzen & Medaillen AG, List 584 (1995), no. 2.

A particularly elegant didrachm of Neapolis, struck during the later phase of its silver coinage. The obverse presents a refined portrait of Parthenope, the city’s mythical Siren-foundress, here rendered with soft classical modelling and framed by the forepart of Pegasos, an unusual and graceful adjunct that lends the design a distinctly Hellenic character. The reverse continues the long-standing local type of the man-headed bull, generally interpreted as a river god, now being crowned by Nike. The scene evokes both divine favour and the enduring prosperity of the city, founded upon the fertility of its hinterland and the protection of its tutelary powers. The combination of high artistic quality, attractive toning and a good mid-1990s provenance makes this an especially pleasing example of the Neapolitan didrachm series.