The Colin E. Pitchfork Collection of the Coinage of Neapolis

CNG 84, Lot: 23. Estimate $200. Sold for $155. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

CAMPANIA, Neapolis. 395-385 BC. AR Nomos (20mm, 7.11 g, 12h). Diademed head of nymph right / Man-headed bull walking left on double exergue-line; above, Nike flying left, placing wreath on bull's head. Rutter 158 (O101/R143); HN Italy 563. Fine, toned. Well centered reverse.

From the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection.

Classical Numismatic Group is pleased to offer another selection of coinage from Magna Graecia from the Colin E. Pitchfork Collection. As with his Tarentine collection featured in CNG 81 and his Metapontion collection featured in CNG 82, this selection of the coinages of Neapolis and Velia contains a comprehensive variety from all periods, and contains many issues rarely seen at auction, as well as a number of coins pedigreed to important collections and sales.

Neapolis, modern-day Naples, located in Southwestern Italy in the region of Campania on the Bay of Naples, an arm of the Tyrrhenian Sea, was founded from Cumae (Cuma) by the Greeks in 650 BC, along the port area, including the little island of Megaris (the Castel dell’Ovo). Further colonists came from Chalcis in Euboea, from Pithecusae (Ischia) beside the Gulf of Cumae, and from Athens. An extension of the city was laid out in a rectangular grid pattern toward the northeast, which was given the name Neapolis. After the city of Neapolis was created, the oldest part of the city became known as Palaiopolis or Palaipolis (Old City). That city was conquered by the Roman general Quintus Publilius Philo about 327/6 BC, after which Neapolis became an ally of the Romans, issuing bronze coins, with legends in Greek, extending help in their hostilities against Pyrrhos of Epeiros (280-275 BC) and against Hannibal in the Second Punic War (218-201 BC).

Throughout its history, the water was a source of pride to its local community. It follows naturally, then, that the predominant reverse type of the Nomoi represents a water god as a man-headed bull walking right or left, being crowned with a wreath by Nike flying above. The Neapolitan bull is meant to represent Achelöos, the greatest water god of ancient Greece. Achelöos, referred to by Homer (Iliad XXI.194), was the longest river in mainland Greece. The cult of this powerful water god spread throughout ancient Greece. Achelöos’ battle with Herakles for the hand of Deianeira is a legend that made him particularly popular.