Four Difficult Kroton Fractions

CNG 102, Lot: 77. Estimate $500. Sold for $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 500-480 BC. AR Third Nomos (14.5mm, 2.40 g, 6h). Medium incuse issue. Tripod; crab(?) to left / Incuse tripod; to right, outline of dolphin upward. Cf. HN Italy 2091 and McClean 1560 for similar, otherwise unpublished in the standard references. VF, toned, struck with worn dies. Good metal. Extremely rare.

The linear dolphin is known on reverses of nomoi and third nomoi, and is typically paired with a crab on the obverse. Perhaps the engraver of this obverse die lacked the skill to adequately engrave a crab?