CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 510-500 BC. AR Nomos (25mm, 7.88 g, 12h). Good VF.

Triton XXVI
Lot: 13. Estimated: $ 20 000

Greek, 12h, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 16 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Go to Live

CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 510-500 BC. AR Nomos (25mm, 7.88 g, 12h). Taras, nude, riding dolphin right, extending left hand, right hand resting on dolphin’s back; TARAS (retrograde) to left, scallop shell below, dot-and-cable border around / Incuse of obverse type; [T]ARA[S] in relief to right, radiate border around. Fischer-Bossert Group 1, 5 (V6/R5); Vlasto 66 = Kunstfreund 50 = Rosen 9 (same diess); HN Italy 826; SNG Ashmolean 197 = Hermitage Sale II 42 (same dies); Gulbenkian 16 = Jameson 80 (same dies); Kraay & Hirmer 294. Lightly tone, a few scratches, slight doubling on obverse. Good VF. The rarest city producing incuse types in Magna Graecia.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 120 (6 October 2020), lot 206.

The city of Tarentum was founded in the late 8th century BC by Spartan colonists on the north coast of the gulf of the same name, on a rocky islet at the entrance to the only secure harbor. It was Sparta's only colony and maintained close relations with the mother city. The official founder of the city was believed to be the Spartan leader Phalanthos. Ancient tradition, however, tells how Taras, the son of Poseidon and a local nymph, Satyra, was miraculously saved from a shipwreck by his father, who sent a dolphin on whose back he was carried to shore, at which spot he founded a city.

Blessed with fertile land, Tarentum became famous for olives and sheep. It possessed a fine harbor, great fisheries and profitable exports of wool, purple, and pottery. It adopted a democratic form of government circa 475 BC, and thereafter became the leading Greek city in southern Italy. Its success led to continual difficulties with its neighbor cities, though, and on four occasions Tarentum required expeditions from Greece to help overcome its aggressors. The last of these expeditions was led by the famed Epeirote, Pyrrhos. Following his withdrawal from the city, Tarentum was occupied by the Romans.

It was not until late in the 6th century that Tarentum felt the need to produce coinage. It did so by copying the broad, thin fabric with incuse reverse type already in use by Metapontum, Sybaris, Poseidonia, Kaulonia, and Kroton. Tarentum quickly grew in power and wealth. As with many cities that began coinage at the time, the types depicted relate to the city's foundation, both in its historical and mythological forms. Taras’ prosperity is exemplified by its vast coinage, which was continuous from circa 510 BC until the end of the Second Punic War.

The final winners of all Triton XXVI lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 10-11 January 2023.

Triton XXVI – Session One – Lots 1-334 will be held Tuesday morning, 10 January 2023 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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