From the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Ward Collections

Sale: Triton XII, Lot: 42. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 5 January 2009.  Sold For $5750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LUCANIA, Poseidonia. Circa 530-500 BC. AR ½ Nomos – Drachm (3.50 g, 12h). Poseidon walking right, wielding trident, chlamys draped over both arms; ΠOM to left / Incuse Poseidon walking left, chlamys draped over both arms; retrograde ESSM to right. Gorini 11 var. (legend); HN Italy 1108 note; SNG ANS 628 (same obv. die); SNG Lloyd 434; Traité I 2133 bis = Ward 63 (this coin). Near EF, toned, a little granular, edge scrape. Very rare.

Ex Leu 91 (10 May 2004), lot 93; Metropolitan Museum of Art (Sotheby's - Zurich, 4 April 1973), lot 46; John Ward Collection, 63.

The meaning of the legend on the reverse of this drachm, ESSM, is uncertain. Many hypotheses exist, of which two seem most plausible. One identifies the legend as the Oscan cognate of the Latin festus, suggesting this coin is part of a festival issue. The other, perhaps the oldest theory, is that the legend refers to the founder of Sybaris, Is of Helice in Achaia.