Pedigreed to 1933
BRUTTIUM, Kroton. Circa 530-500 BC. AR Nomos (29mm, 7.95 g, 12h). Tripod, legs surmounted by wreaths and terminating in lion's feet, two serpents rising from the bowl, set on basis of three lines, the center dotted; (koppa)PO to left / Incuse tripod as obverse, but wreaths and serpents in relief. Gorini 3 and p. 152–3 = Basel 194; Attianese 5; HN Italy 2075; SNG ANS 229; SNG Lewis 246; de Luynes 701. Lovely old collection tone, a few minor marks. Near EF.
Ex A. Page (19 June 1933), lot 86.
The Delphic tripod depicted on both the obverse (in relief) and reverse (incuse) derive from the city’s foundational legend. According to this, one Myskellos, obeying a directive of the oracle of Delphi, led a group of Achaean settlers to the site and founded the city around 710 BC. This divine sanction is represented by the tripod of the oracle, which became the civic badge of Kroton and is featured on its coinage. Kroton was among the first cities to produce coinage in Italy, its earliest being of the incuse type struck on the Achaian standard.
