Summary
Coin issued by Neapolis, Campania, Italy, Ancient Greek States, circa 250 BC
Minted by Neapolis
Obverse Description
Head of Apollo facing left laureate. Behind his neck are the letters IPP in Greek.
Reverse Description
Omphalos (perhaps the famous omphalos, a sacred navel shaped stone, then in the temple of Apollo at Delphi) and Lyre. In the exergue in Greek, NEOPOLITON and the letters A and P seperated by a ships prow.
Edge Description
Plain
Significance
Dated to or just before the First Punic War (264-241 BC). Crawford reports that six different types of copper coins were in simulatneous production at Neapolis, this was the highest denomination. The type of Apollo on the obverse is closely linked to the lyre and omphalos on the reverse. The centre of the world was considered to be marked by the omphalos at the temple of Apollo at Delphi.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Transfer from National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Mr Lincoln, 15 Mar 1976
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Date Issued
circa 250 BC
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Issued By
Neapolis, Campania, Italy, Ancient Greek States, circa 250 BC
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Previous Collection
Eugene von Guerard, Melbourne, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, pre 1880
Listed in Eugene von Guerard's catalogue, vol.1, p.6. Purchased from the London coin dealer Mr Lincoln for 1 shilling 3 pence. -
Material
Copper
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Axis
12
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Dimensions
21 mm (Outside Diameter), 5.034 g (Weight)
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Shape
Round
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References
BMC. Italy p. 117 No. 248 ( but obv. IPP) SNG Corpus Christi, Part 1 No. 84
[Book] Poole, Reginald S. 1873. A Catalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Italy., 116-117 Pages
[Book] Crawford, Michael H. 1985. Coinage & Money under the Roman Republic., 34-35 Pages
[Catalogue] Pullin, Ruth. 2011. Nature Revealed: Eugene von Guerard.
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Keywords
Lyres, Musical Instruments, Omphalos Stones, Stringed Instruments
