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Hemidrachm
| Issuer | Cherronesos |
|---|---|
| Year | 386 BC - 338 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | Log in to see details |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
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| Reverse description | Quadripartite incuse square divided into four equal rectangular compartments by a raised linear cross, alternating between raised and sunken quarters in a pattern typical of Chersonesos hemidrachms. In the upper right quarter appears a pellet (globule) accompanied by a four-pointed star or astral symbol; in the lower left quarter a caduceus or kerykeion is depicted diagonally, rendered in fine detail with intertwined serpents. The remaining two quarters are left plain and recessed. This distinctive reverse type served as a consistent civic emblem throughout the city's coinage. |
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| Mint | Cherronesos Mint |
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| Additional information |
Chersonesos (on the Thracian Chersonese, modern Gallipoli peninsula) issued these hemidrachms continuously for well over a century, making them one of the most prolific fractional silver series in the ancient Greek world. The type circulated far beyond its issuing city, turning up in hoards across Thrace, Macedonia, and the Black Sea region — evidence of a coin that functioned effectively as a regional trade piece rather than purely civic currency.
The reverse always carries a different incuse quarter, each rotation unique to a die pairing, which has allowed scholars to sequence hundreds of die combinations. McClean 4120 falls within a well-documented cluster from the mid-fourth century.