Drachma

In the mid-3rd century BC the drachmas of 'Emporion' adopted a new iconography. Engraved on the obverse was a female head surrounded by three dolphins and on the reverse a Pegasus accompanied by the Greek inscription 'Emporiton'. The female head on the obverse was inspired by the design that, at the end of the 5th century BC, the artist Euainetos created for the Syracuse mint. Well into the 3rd century BC, perhaps during the early years of the Second Punic War, the head of Pegasus underwent a curious modification, and it was transformed into a small human figure with its arms stretching down to its feet and wearing on its head what could be a petasus. Throughout the 2nd century BC, 'Emporion' continued to mint drachmas, which under the Pegasus often have a symbol or a letter that should be interpreted as mintmarks.