| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 146 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 2016 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Calabria, Tarentum. Nomos circa 510-450, AR 23 mm, 7.89 g. TARA retrograde Oecist seated on dolphin r., l. arm extended; below, pecten. Rev. The same type l. incuse. Vlasto –. Fischer-Bossert 12. Historia Numorum Italy 826. Very rare and in unusually fine condition for this difficult issue. Perfectly centred on a full flan and with a lovely light old cabinet tone. About extremely fine Ex Leu sale 86, 2003, 199. Dating from the late sixth century, this nomos shows Phalanthus naked, riding a dolphin, expressing a motif destined for popular success in the coins of Taras: the dolphin brings Phalanthus safe and sound across the sea (also evidenced by the presence of a pecten in the lower field of the coin), and conveys him to Italy, according to the dictate of the Delphic oracle. We learn from the Periegesis of Greece of Pausania (II cent. A.D.) that statues of Taras, Phalanthus, and Phalanthus' dolphin (cf. Paus. X 13) were among the votive offerings (anathemata) presented to Delphi by the Tarantines with a fifth of the spoils taken from the Peucetii and the Iapygians. The reverse has the same representation as the obverse, in incuse, using a well-known technique of early coinage that was deployed at many other Southern Italian cities besides Taras. Estimate: 25000 CHF |  |
