Thrace, Black Sea Area. Kallatis. Circa 3rd-2nd Century BC. 

AR Hemidrachm. 

Head of Herakles, wearing lion skin / KALLA, grain ear, club and bow case.

This coin has an M monogram, is 14mm and 2.5 grams.

Kallatis was founded approximately 500 BC by colonists coming from Heraclea
Pontica, a colony of Megara. From respect for its founders, Kallatis used
on its coins the image and weapons of Herakles. The grain ear is a symbol
of Demeter, a very important goddess in Kallatis. The city is located in
Romania, at the Black Sea. Because the modern city of Mangalia entirely
covers the ancient perimeter, there is little known about its
architecture. Most of the history was recovered from inscriptions reused
in the roman walls.  The finds come from the burial grounds outside city
limits or from isolated discoveries on construction sites. Other artefacts
and coins were discovered in all geto-dacian centers, proof of the
intense trade with the locals.

Contributed by Alexandru Marian.