Catalog
| Issuer | Cherronesos (Thrace) |
|---|---|
| Year | 357 BC - 320 BC |
| Type | Standard circulation coin |
| Value | Hemidrachm (1/2) |
| Currency | Drachm |
| Composition | Silver |
| Weight | 2.47 g |
| Diameter | 13 mm |
| Thickness | |
| Shape | Round (irregular) |
| Technique | Hammered |
| Orientation | Variable alignment ↺ |
| Engraver(s) | |
| In circulation to | |
| Reference(s) | CN type#12547 |
| Obverse description | Forepart of lion right, head turned back. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | |
| Obverse lettering | |
| Reverse description | Quadripartite incuse square with alternating raised and sunken quarters; pellet in one sunken quarter, HP monogram and embossed pellet in the opposite. |
| Reverse script | |
| Reverse lettering | |
| Edge | |
| Mint | |
| Mintage |
ND (357 BC - 320 BC) - - |
| Numisquare ID | 2841961160 |
| Additional information |
Historical Context: This silver hemidrachm, minted by the strategic city of Cherronesos in Thrace between 357 BC and 320 BC, represents a crucial period of regional autonomy amidst the burgeoning power of Macedon under Philip II and Alexander the Great. Cherronesos, located on the Thracian Chersonesus, was vital for controlling maritime trade routes to the Black Sea, and its continuous coinage underscores its economic significance and independent civic identity, even as the Hellenistic world began to take shape.
Artistry: The obverse of this issue typically features a finely rendered forepart of a lion, or protome, often facing right. This powerful symbol likely alludes to the region's wildlife or mythological associations, executed in a late Classical style that bridges into the early Hellenistic period. The reverse displays the characteristic quadripartite incuse square, a traditional element, within two of whose quarters are the identifying symbols: a Dot over an HP monogram and a second Dot, serving as civic or magistrate's marks.
Technical/Grading: Weighing 2.47 grams and measuring 13 millimeters, this hemidrachm is a fractional silver denomination. For grading, key high-points on the obverse lion include the eye, snout, and details of the mane, which are prone to wear. On the reverse, the clarity and completeness of the Dot over HP monogram and the accompanying Dot within the incuse square are crucial. The strike quality can vary, with centering and the strength of the incuse square often being diagnostic for technical assessment.