Item number: A1651

Year: 386-338 BC

Material: Silver

Size: 13.1 x 12.1 x 2.4 mm

Weight: 2.13 g

Provenance: Coincraft 2017

This is a silver hemidrachm minted between 386 and 338 BC in Thracian Chersonese, located in what is now the Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. It features on its obverse a half-length lion running to the right, with its head turned back and mouth open. Numismatists thus refer to it as the “Cherronesos Lion,” combining the aforementioned characteristics with the ancient Greek term “Cherronesos,” meaning peninsula.

The reverse of the coin is a quadripartite incuse square, delineated by diagonal lines into convex and concave surfaces, with inscriptions and symbols engraved on the concave side. The upper incuse features a beaded circle and a five-pointed star, while the lower incuse bears the monogram “VE” in ancient Greek script. The reverse designs of these coins exhibit remarkable diversity, with collectors having catalogued over 99 known variations. These motifs include animals, plants, objects, celestial bodies, and geometric patterns.

Thracian Chersonese was a region of Greek colonies established following the conquest of Thracian tribes by Miltiades the Elder, an Athenian leader, around 561 BC. Following the death of the childless Miltiades the Elder, the colony was taken over by his nephew, Miltiades the Younger, who assumed its governance. However, faced with the advancing Persian forces under the leadership of Darius I, in 493 BC, Miltiades the Younger made the decision to abandon the colony. Subsequently, in 490 BC, Miltiades the Younger led the Greek coalition to victory against the Persians in the Battle of Marathon. Miltiades the Younger’s son, Cimon, later played a significant role in advancing the Athenian-led Delian League.

物件編號: A1651

年代: 公元前 386-338 年

材質: 銀

尺寸: 13.1 x 12.1 x 2.4 mm

重量: 2.13 g

來源: 錢幣工藝 2017

這是一枚公元前386至338年，位於色雷斯切爾索尼塞，即今日的土耳其加里波利半島所鑄造的「半打蘭」面額銀幣。特色是正面為一隻向右奔馳，扭頭張口的半身獅子像。因此錢幣學家以上述特徵，結合半島的古希臘語「切爾索尼塞」，稱之為「切爾索尼塞之獅」。

硬幣背面是四等份的方形，以對角劃分為凸面和凹面，並於凹面處打印文字和符號。上方的凹面有一粒珠圈和一枚五芒星，下方的凹面則是古希臘文「VE」花押。背面的圖像非常多元，目前已有收藏家整理出超過99種的圖案，其題材包含：動物、植物、器物、星體和幾何圖案等等。

色雷斯切爾索尼塞是公元前561年之際，雅典人老米太亞德征服色雷斯部落建立的一系列殖民地。無嗣的老米太亞德去世後，由姪子小米太亞德接手經略。不過面對大流士一世領導的波斯步步進逼，公元前493年，小米太亞德決定放棄這片殖民地。後續在公元前490年，小米太亞德領導希臘聯軍在馬拉松戰役擊退波斯。小米太亞德的兒子客蒙，日後更進一步推動以雅典為首的「提洛同盟」。