Sale: Nomos 8, Lot: 21. Estimate CHF1500.  Closing Date: Monday, 21 October 2013.  Sold For CHF4600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LUCANIA, Metapontum. Circa 400-340 BC. Didrachm or Nomos (Silver, 20mm, 7.73 g 11). Bearded head of Leukippos to right, wearing Corinthian helmet; behind, bunch of grapes. Rev. ΜΕ Barley ear with leaf to right. HN III 1553. Johnston A4.2. Of particularly fine style, and nicely toned. A few minor scratches, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the B. in B. Collection, ex Sternberg XXXII, 28 October 1996, 4, from the collections of G. Picard, Sambon 14 March 1923, 142 and the Marquis Carlo Strozzi, Sangiorgi 15 April 1907, 1034.

Supposedly, Leukippos was the hero picked to lead settlers sent from Kroton and Sybaris to colonize the site of Metapontum, where he was greatly revered. He is otherwise unknown and was probably a legendary figure.