| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 13 Price realized: 15,000 USD (Approx. 13,739 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 540-510 BC. AR Nomos (27mm, 8.20 g, 12h). Ear of barley with eight grains and bracts at base; MET down left field, pellet border / Incuse ear of barley with eight grains; rayed border. Noe Class I, 1; Gorini –; HN Italy 1459; SNG ANS 166; Kraay & Hirmer 228; Prospero 51 (this coin). Attractively toned, a few minor edge marks. Superb EF. Ex Classical Numismatic Review XLIII.2 (Summer, 2018), no. 489937; Prospero Collection (New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012), lot 51, purchased from Spink, 22 April 1986. Metapontion was founded by residents of Kroton and Sybaris around 700 BC. Located on the sea coast on the arch of the Italian "boot," adjoining vast fertile plains, Metapontion grew in importance as a major grain exporter. By the time the Greek world started coining silver, Metapontion was already a significant city in Magna Graecia. Like its Italian neighbors, the city took to coinage early with the first issues commencing circa 540 BC. Like several nearby cities, Metapontion's first coins used an unusual fabric – an obverse design in relief combined with a reverse depicting the same design incuse. Metapontion chose an ear of barley as its emblem, reflecting the importance of its agricultural bounty. This incuse coinage remains mysterious. We do not know which city commenced it, or who conceived it (the Greek polymath Pythagoras or one of his disciples have been suggested, but with no evidence aside from his reputed presence in Italy in the later sixth century BC). Despite much speculation and experimentation, we do not know for sure how coins were struck, so the raised and incuse designs remained aligned (theories include notched, socketed or hinged dies). We do know celators throughout southern Italy quickly adopted this minting technology as many incuse coins survived to the present day. The present coin is an incredibly rare example Noe 1, the very first emission from Metapontion. Perhaps even more remarkable than its rarity is the state of preservation: we have graded this coin Superb EF, and it is probably the finest known from this initial die pair. One must wonder if, at the time of striking, this coin could have been set aside like a modern "First Strike" issue. Whichever way it arrived in the present day, this is a rare opportunity to own a superb example of the inception coinage from this important Greek city. Estimate: 15000 USD |  |
Match 1:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 126 | Auction date: 28 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 24 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | |
| Lot description: LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 540-510 BC. AR Nomos (28mm, 8.20 g, 12h). Ear of barley with eight grains and bracts at base; MET down left field, concentric dotted and pellet borders / Incuse ear of barley with eight grains; rayed border. Noe Class I, 21; Gorini –; HN Italy 1459. Deeply toned, area of weak strike. VF. Well centered. From the Wild Rose Collection. Ex CNG inventory 968524 (December 2013); Roma VI (29 September 2013), lot 312. Estimate: 1000 USD |  |
Match 2:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 126 | Auction date: 28 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 25 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot | |
| Lot description: LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 540-510 BC. AR Nomos (28mm, 6.76 g, 12h). Ear of barley with eight grains; METAΠ down left field / Incuse ear of barley with eight grains. Noe Class VII, 136 (same dies); HN Italy 1481. Deep, vibrant iridescent tone, cleaning marks, a few minor scratches under tone. Good VF. Ex Heritage 232226 (29 June 2022), lot 65005. Estimate: 750 USD |  |
Match 3:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Electronic Auction 561 | Auction date: 1 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 19 Price realized: 250 USD (Approx. 234 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 540-510 BC. AR Nomos (25mm, 7.06 g, 12h). Contemporary imitation. Ear of barley with eight grains; pseudo-legend along lower edge / Incuse ear of barley with eight grains. For prototype: cf. Noe Classes I–II; cf. HN Italy 1459. Toned, some porosity, edge chipped. Near VF. Ex Heritage 232314 (6 April 2023), lot 61004. Estimate: 150 USD |  |
Match 4:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 126 | Auction date: 28 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 27 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot | |
| Lot description: LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 400-340 BC. AR Nomos (20mm, 7.99 g, 8h). Head of Demeter left, hair bound by net, wearing hoop earring and pearl necklace / Barley ear with leaf to right at base; META up left field, Φ above leaf. Noe 520 (same dies); HN Italy 1546; BMC 130 (same dies); McClean 968 (same dies); Prospero 68 (this coin). Attractive even light gray tone with golden hues around the devices. EF. Fine style. From the Wild Rose Collection. Ex Gasvoda Collection (Triton XXII, 9 January 2019) lot 37; Triton XIX (5 January 2016), lot 13; Triton XVII (7 January 2014), lot 16; Prospero Collection (New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012), lot 68. Estimate: 4000 USD |  |
Match 5:
| Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVII | Auction date: 9 January 2024 |
| Lot number: 17 Price realized: 3,000 USD (Approx. 2,748 EUR) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | |
| Lot description: LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 330-290 BC. AR Nomos (22mm, 7.68 g, 11h). Head of Demeter left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; ΔΩPI below chin / Barley ear with leaf to left; pitchfork above leaf, ΔA below, META upward to right. Johnston Class C, 5.1 (same dies); HN Italy 1582; SNG ANS 452 (same dies); SNG Manchester 215 (same dies); Gillet 197 (this coin). Old cabinet tone, with some iridescence, minor lamination and small chip at edge on obverse. Good VF. Attractive style. From the JTB Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 133 (21 November 2022), lot 2; Numismatica Genevensis SA 6 (30 November 2010), lot 12; The Numismatic Auction 1 (13 December 1982), lot 9; Charles Gillet Collection. Estimate: 2000 USD |  |
