| Savoca Numismatik GmbH & Co. KG > Herakles Auction 3 | Auction date: 7 July 2025 |
| Lot number: 3 Price realized: 750 EUR (Approx. 883 USD) Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees. | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Lucania. Sybaris circa 530-510 BC. Stater AR 30 mm, 7,81 g Bull standing to left, head to right; VM in exergue / Incuse bull standing to right, head to left. Good Very Fine SNG ANS 828-44; HN Italy 1729; HGC 1, 1231. The Sybaris staters are among the earliest and most iconic silver coins minted in ancient Magna Graecia, dating from around 550–510 BC. Sybaris, a wealthy Greek colony in southern Italy (modern Calabria), was famed for its opulence and luxurious lifestyle. The city's coinage reflects its economic strength and cultural identity during the Archaic period. These staters typically feature a bull - often shown standing, walking, or turning its head - on the obverse. The bull likely symbolizes the local river god Krathis or represents strength and fertility. The reverse often has a simple incuse punch mirroring the obverse image, a technique characteristic of early Italic Greek coinage. Struck in high-purity silver, Sybaris staters were widely circulated and influential, setting a precedent for other South Italian mints like Croton and Metapontum. Their artistry and metallurgical quality testify to Sybaris's advanced craftsmanship and wealth before its destruction by Croton around 510 BC. These coins remain valuable artifacts, offering insight into early monetary systems and the power dynamics of Magna Graecia's affluent city-states. Starting price: 500 EUR |  |
