LUCANIA, Herakleia. Circa 330/25-281 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 7.77 g, 7h). Head of Athena right, wearing single-pendant earring, pearl necklace, and crested Corinthian helmet decorated with Skylla throwing a stone; |-HPAKΛHIΩN above, K behind neck / Herakles standing left, right hand set on grounded club to left, holding bow and two arrows in extended left hand, lion skin draped over left arm; oinochoë and AΘA to left, |-H[AKΛ]HIΩN to right. Work 62–3/78 (same obv./rev. dies); Van Keuren 84; HN Italy 1384; NAC 27, lot 29 (same dies). Slightly weak strike, a little die wear on obverse, minor flan flaw on reverse. Good VF.
Ex MACM inventory MMoCA10C; Numismatica Ars Classica 52 (7 October 2009), lot 24.
Herakleia, located on the Gulf of Taranto, was one of the latest Greek colonies to be established in Italy, with a foundation date of 432 BC. Its foundation arose from the destruction of Siris, an Ionic colony located nearby, circa 550 BC. Athens claimed the right to re-found Siris with its own colonists, and is said to have briefly considered relocating Athens itself to the site after its destruction by the Persians in 480 BC. Athens did indeed found Thourioi in 443 BC across the gulf from the site of Siris, but this was resisted by Tarentum and Kroton, which sided with Sparta in the Peoloponnesian War and did not want an ally of Athens so close. After a brief war, an agreement was signed whereby Athens and Tarentines would jointly found a new city on the site of Siris. This became Herakleia, named in honor of Herakles. The city’s coinage reflected its bifurcated foundation by honoring Athena (patron of Athens) on the obverse and its namesake Herakles on the reverse.
