Pedigreed to 1994

CNG 109, Lot: 6. Estimate $5000. Sold for $3250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 540-510 BC. AR Nomos (28mm, 8.18 g, 1h). Ear of barley with eight grains; MET down left field / Incuse ear of barley with eight grains. Noe Class I, 14; HN Italy 1459; SNG ANS 166; SNG Ashmolean 648; SNG Fitzwilliam 166; Naville V, lot 428 (all from the same dies). EF, toned, slight die shift. Excellent metal. An attractive issue from early in the mint’s production.

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex New York Sale XXX (9 January 2013), lot 8; Classical Numismatic Group 42 (29 May 1997), lot 54; Münzen und Medaillen AG 79 (1994), lot 41.

From the consignor: There are many subtle differences to the incuse coinage of Metapontum. Beside the obvious legend style and location, there are the number of pellets on the barley ear, the width of the barley ear, the presence or absence of awns at the barley base, and the style of both the obverse and reverse border. It remains uncertain if these differences relate to specific engraving styles and talents or if they are natural transitions that work better for coin production. Here the image is of the spread design and the borders are of large dots (obverse) and large rectangular separations (reverse).