Early Nomos of Poseidonia
Ex Gillet Collection

Triton XIX, Lot: 18. Estimate $20000. Sold for $27500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LUCANIA, Poseidonia. Circa 530-500 BC. AR Nomos (29mm, 7.16 g, 12h). Poseidon, nude but for chlamys draped over his arms, standing right, preparing to cast trident held aloft in right hand, left arm extended; ΠOM to left / Incuse of obverse type, but trident and ethnic in relief. Gorini 2 var. (ethnic on rev. facing inward); HN Italy 1107; SNG ANS 604–5; SNG Lloyd 427; Dewing 396; Gillet 206 (this coin). Good VF, deeply toned. Excellent metal.

Ex Leu 76 [Exceptional Private Collection] (27 October 1999), lot 10; Charles Gillet Collection (1972), 206.

Among the earliest of the coins of Poseidonia. A Sybarite colony founded circa 600 BC, Poseidonia grew rapidly in the 6th century through the exploitation of its considerable agricultural resources. This was a time of extensive temple construction and, in common with the other Achaian cities of southern Italy, Poseidonia began producing silver coinage of the distinctive ‘incuse’ fabric in the final decades of the century. The fine archaic striding figure brandishing a trident is Poseidon, god of the sea and the patron deity of the city. This particular depiction of him is probably inspired by a colossal statue that stood in one of the city’s temples.