Ex Suter Collection

Triton XIX, Lot: 25. Estimate $25000. Sold for $22500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BRUTTIUM, Kaulonia. Circa 525-500 BC. AR Nomos (30.5mm, 7.79 g, 12h). Apollo advancing right, holding branch aloft in right hand, left arm extended, upon which a small daimon, holding branch in each hand, runs right; KAVΛ to left; to right, stag standing right, head reverted / Incuse of obverse, but daimon in outline and no ethnic. Noe, Caulonia Group A, 8 (same dies); Gorini 3; HN Italy 2035; Boston MFA 173 = Warren 139 (same dies); Gillet 278–9; Gulbenkian 120 (same dies); Pozzi 270 (same dies); Weber 982 (same dies). Choice EF, attractive even gray tone with golden hues around the devices, a hint of die wear on obverse.

Ex Peter M. Suter Collection (Münzen und Medaillen AG 89, 14 June 2000), lot 18; Leu 50 (25 April 1991), lot 36.

Kaulonia was one of a number of Achaian colonies established in Magna Graecia in the seventh century BC. It is not certain whether it was founded by new colonists from the Peloponnesos or whether it was founded by the Achaians of Kroton. Kaulonia’s coinage began in the later sixth century, and was one of the many incuse types that marked the beginning of coinage in Italy. Apollo, the patron deity of Kaulonia, and his associated iconography were the primary types featured on the coins. In the early fourth century, Kaulonia joined with Sybaris and Kroton in a league that was defeated by Dionysios I of Syracuse in 389/8 BC. Although the city was left intact, this event marked the cessation of its coinage.