CAMPANIA. Cumae. Circa 475-470 BC. Didrachm (Silver, 20.5 mm, 7.16 g, 6 h), Phocaic standard. Lion's head and neck with mane facing; to left and right, boar's head downwards. Rev. KVM - AION ( retrograde ) Mussel with pointed end to left. HN III 515. Jameson 36 = Rutter 3b ( this coin ). Sambon 247. Extremely rare. Clear and toned. Minor marks as well as chisel marks where part of the edge was removed in ancient times, otherwise, good fine.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica K, 30 March 2000, 1008, and from the collections of R. Jameson and G. Nervegna, Sambon-Canessa 18 November 1907, 184.

This coin made its first public appearance in 1907, as part of the Sambon and Canessa sale of the Martinetti and Nervegna collections of Greek and Roman coins. The fact that it had a small chunk of metal cut from its edge suggests that it came from an ancient jeweller's hoard of silver to be used as raw material for the making of fibulae, rings, bracelets, etc. The amount of wear on this coin, considerable but even, suggests that its life in circulation as a piece of money had more-or-less ended, and was valued solely for its metal.