Kroton – Temesa Alliance Issue
One of Three Known

Triton XXII, Lot: 84. Estimate $30000. Sold for $25000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Alliance issue with Temesa. Circa 500-480 BC. AR Nomos (26mm, 7.97 g, 12h). Medium incuse type. Tripod, legs surmounted by wreaths and terminating in lion's feet, set on basis of two lines, the upper dotted; (koppa)PO to left / Incuse Corinthian helmet left; broad rayed border. Stazio pl. 21, 4; Gorini 10; Attianese 29; Giesecke pl. 3, 1; HN Italy 2096; ACGC 618; Basel 204; Traité I 2170. VF, toned, minor double strike. Extremely rare, only two examples are published (Attianese and Gorini illustrate the Basel [Moretti] piece, while ACGC, Giesecke, Stazio, and Traité illustrate the example in Berlin).

From the Gasvoda Collection, purchased from Antiqua (Steve Rubinger). Ex Goldberg 69 (29 May 2012), lot 3014; “New York Collection” (Nomos 5, 24 October 2011), lot 108; Gorny & Mosch 190 (11 October 2010), lot 41.

From the consignor: Temesa was located on the western side of the Italian peninsula and was known to have producing copper mines. The city had historically been affiliated with, and likely protected by, Sybaris. When Kroton defeated Sybaris in 510 BC, the alliance with Temesa was transferred to Kroton. As was the case with many affiliated cities, Kroton issued coins identifying the relationship. These coins likely were issued by Temesa as well. The city was lost to the Locri around 480 BC, and joint coinage ceases after this date, but resumes sometime after 475 BC (see lot 106, below). This is an extremely rare example of the incuse type for this alliance and probably the finest in private hands.