CoinImages

Coins of Magna Graecia

Bruttium, Kaulonia. AR Triobol, c. 500-480 BC. Obv. Stag standing right. Rev: ΛVA. 1.00 g. 9.80 mm.

We know from Strabo that Kaulonia was originally called Aulonia (aulon is ravine in Greek) “After the Sagra comes a city founded by the Achaeans, Kaulonia, formerly called Aulonia, because of the glen which lies in front of it.” The name was changed for some unspecified reason and from Polybius [Histories 2.39] we know that they joined with the other Achaean cities of Kroton and Sybaris in erecting a common temple to Zeus Homorios ("he who unites"). This coin would seem to verify the original attribution of the name of the city by Strabo as it has the retrograde ΛVA on the reverse. Kaulonia minted on the Achaian standard (7.8g tridrachm) and so at only 1.00g this coin is underweight for that denomination (1.30g). It is more in line with the similar diobol which should weigh 0.86g however the ethnic on that type is VAK. The city was destroyed by Dionysius I of Syracuse in 389 BC and so we have a useful terminus ante quem for the coinage.

Bruttium, Caulonia. Ca. 475-410 BC. AR stater (20mm, 8.05 gm, 2h). Obv: KAVA, nude Apollo striding right, laurel branch in upraised right hand and small daemon running to right on outstretched left arm, stag standing right in field before, head reverted. Rev: KΑVA (retrograde), stag standing right.

This coin is an early double-relief stater and is actually slightly heavy for the Achaian standard (7.80g tridrachm). The figure on the obverse is commonly identified as Apollo and according to Lacroix it may represent Apollo cleansing his newly won sanctuary at Delphi with laurel branches culled from the vale of Tempe, with the smaller figure (off flan here) being a herald sent to announce his arrival. However there have been many other attempts to explain the symbology here. The stag on the reverse is a symbol of Apollo's sister, Artemis. Noe divides the double relief staters of the city into 6 groups, with this coin being group F. The later dating of this group by Colin Kraay would place this coin at 450 BC. Ex the Amsterdam Collection (Heritage Auctions, Auction 232042, 14 October 2020), lot 63015. Die match to https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=399605 (Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger 2007)

Bruttium, Kroton. Circa 500-480 BC. Stater (Silver, 24 mm, 7.85g, 11 h). Obv: ϘΡΟ Tripod with legs ending in lion's feet, and with three handles, to right, crab. Rev: ϘΡΟ Same type as the obverse, but incuse except for the legend and crab; rayed border.

No gold coinage was attributed to Kroton, but the city minted an extensive silver coinage on the Achaian standard (7.80g to the tri-drachm nomos). Over time the broad flan of the early incuse coins becomes more compact, and eventually is replaced by a relief obverse. Rutter divides the incuse and early double relief coinages into the following phases - Spread incuse, Medium incuse, Dumpy incuse and Double relief. This coin would fall into the medium incuse phase, which runs from about 500 BC. The obverse has a tripod which is the badge of the city and this type may be a either a crab or heron symbol as an ancillary symbol. In this case it is the crab. The reverse mirrors the obverse with the tripod, crab and ethnic, which retains the archaic koppa. From the Mercury Group Collection, Classical Numismatic Group 118, 35; ex Classical Numismatic Group Mail Bid Sale 60, 103 and Triton III, 30 November 1999, 101.

Bruttium, Kroton, Silver Third Stater, 530-500BC. Obv: Delphic tripod with three handles, with legs terminating in lion's paws, with ornaments on and serpents rising from the bowl, QPO to left. Rev: Unusual incuse, legs terminating in indents symbolising lion's paws. 1.71g, 20mm.

Rutter divides the incuse and early double relief coinages of Croton into the following phases - Spread incuse, Medium incuse, Dumpy incuse and Double relief. This coin would fall into the Spread incuse phase, which runs from about 500 BC. The Achaean standard which was used by Croton in the late 6th Century BC is based on a stater of 7.8g which was divided into three third-staters (drachms) of 2.63g. This is an example of the third-stater. Examples of fractional incuse staters from Croton are fairly rare but Seaby, Greek Coins and their Values, lists a 24th stater at 0.35g (SG 259) in addition to the third stater at 2.70g (SG 258). I was therefore surprised to see this coin listed at HistoryCoins.co.uk primarily because of its weight, which was 1.71g. This seemed too far off standard to be through wear or other normal variations. A quick check in the British Museum collection identified that as well as examples of the expected weight there was a similar incuse third-stater of 1.84g (BMC 1913,0114.3). So, is this just an example of extreme variation from standard? C. A. Kraay in his Hoards, Small Change, and the Origin of Coinage notes that "Caulonia and Croton have comparatively few fractions. Croton, the more important mint, but as yet not studied in detail, has a very considerable output of staters, which appear to be accompanied by practically no fractions down to about 480; thereafter (the dumpy incuse phase) there appear a few drachmae, a number of triobols, a very few diobols, and very rarely an obol." This coin is definitely from the earlier incuse phase. So we have established that this coin is not unique but appears to be very rare on based on the academic research and collection data available. But is it a very light third-stater or something else? William E. Daehn in his article Contradictory Theories: Making Sense Of Greek Coin Weight Standards notes that an examination of the minor coinage often shows these coins to be of slightly lighter weight than that called for by the standard. However, just how much lighter would have been accepted? Using the British Museum collection to provide context, examination of Sybaris third-stater of the first period, which can be isolated in date to pre-510, show a variation in weight between 2.33g and 2.76g and a mean of 2.59g (very close to the standard expected of 2.63g). Revisiting the Crotonite incuse third-staters of this type there is a cluster between 2.41g and 2.72g and a mean of 2.53g. This is in line with what we see at Sybaris, however there are two outliers from this cluster – the coin here at 1.71g and an even lighter one at 1.39g. It is not possible to make any safe assumption from these very small samples (10 and 9 respectively) , but an observation is that the norm appears to be to conform to standard but there are exceptions. This coin appears to be one. The consequence of this, as noted in the text by William E. Daehn referenced above, is that either smaller denominations were accepted locally at value (sort of pseudo-fait coinage), or that every transaction was weighed. One final thought. I mentioned that there is a lighter incuse third stater in the British Museum collection. Given, according to Sear, there is evidence that fractions were minted down to 24th staters for Croton would this not be a sixth-stater? A sixth-stater (hemi-drachm) makes sense as a denomination. Unfortunately that leaves the coin illustrated above as the only outlier. ex Roma Numismatics, previously an private European collection

Lucania. Laus. Ca. 480-460 BC. AR stater (17mm, 7.69 gm, 9h). Obv: ΛAS, man-faced bull standing left, head reverted. Rev: ΛAS (retrograde), man-faced bull standing right.

As a colony of Sybaris, Laus struck coins on the Achaian standard (7.8g tridrachm) and did produce incuse coinage (though I can find only one example) but this coin is a little bit later and dates to after the destruction of Sybaris in 510 BC. Herodotus states that the inhabitants of Sybaris who had survived the destruction of their city took refuge in Laüs and Scidrus. Rutter also notes that this double relief coinage was perhaps initiated by the exiles from the destruction of Sybaris II (476/5 BC) when Croton again besieged the city. The coin has the distinct type of the man-faced bull on both obverse and reverse, which is certainly indicative of the influence of Sybaris.

Bruttium. Lokroi Epizephyrioi. AR Stater, (8.31 gms), ca. 350-275 BC. Obv: Pegasos flying left; Rev: Helmeted head of Athena right.

Although it was founded around 700 BC it did not seem to have minted coins prior to the fourth century BC. When Locrian coinage did appear, it seems to have been on dual standard. Fourth century staters and fractions were minted on the the Achaian standard (c 7.8g to the tridrachm stater) with the type of the head of Zeus and an eagle or an eagle with a thunderbolt. In parallel with this are staters and drachms minted on the Corinthian standard (c. 8.6g to the tridrachm stater), which also mirrored the Corinthian types of Pegasus and the head of Athena. This coin is an example of the Corinthian type. One explanation for this is that the Corinthian standard coinage was used to pay mercenaries from the Peloponnese during the incursions of Syracuse in Southern Italy, which were supported by Lokris Epizephyrioi. An alternative is that Locroi was part of the trading network established during the reign of Timoleon of Syracuse which facilitated agricultural trade with Corinth. In exchange Locroi received payment in Corinthian Staters. This type was then adopted by Locroi (and indeed there are many examples of Locrian overstrikes of Corinthian staters).

Greek Italy. Bruttium, Rhegion. Second coinage of Anaxilas. AR Litra, c. 480-462 BC. Obv: Here right. Rev: REC retrograde. 0.63 g. 10.40 mm.

After Cumae, Rhegion was one of the first Greek colonies in southern Italy. The colony was settled by the inhabitants of Chalcis in 730 or 743 BC on the site of the older settlement, Erythra. Rhegion minted silver coinage from the late sixth century and there are early examples of the incuse coinage found in the region, but minted on the Euboïc rather than Achaian standard. This standard was retained during the period of Anaxilas, giving way to the Attic standard under the tyranny of his son (c480-462 BC). However smaller fractions, such as this one, are on the Sicilian litra and hexas denominations. The weight of this silver litra (0.86g) gradually reduced to that of an Attic obol (0.7g).

Bruttium, Terina. AR Drachm, c. 350-300 BC. Obv. Head of nymph right, wearing necklace and earring with three pendants. Rev. Nike seated left on cippus, holding bird with right hand and leaning left hand on cippus; Δ to left. 2.20 g. 15.00 mm.

Coinage began in Terina c 460 BC and consisted of staters on the Achaian standard (7.8g to the tridrachm nomos) and smaller fractions. Over its entire production, the coinage features a female head on the obverse and Nike in various poses on the reverse. In this example Nike is sitting on what is possibly a cippus - a low, round or rectangular pedestal. At 2.20g this coin is quite underweight for a drachm on the Achaian standard (drachm 2.63g) however the examples on acsearch.info of this type do cluster around 2.20g. This is perhaps due to a reduction in standard such as the one you seen in Taras at the start of the third century BC.

Calabria, Tarentum. Ca. 302-281 BC. AR didrachm (21mm, 4h). Obv: Nude warrior on horse rearing right, shield and two lances in left hand, thrusting third spear downward in right. Rev: TAPAΣ, Taras astride dolphin left.

Taras minted silver coinage on the Achaian standard (7.9g tridrachm stater) from the last decade of the sixth century BC and in the late fifth century BC adopted the 'horseman' type, which was retained until they ceased to mint coinage. This type paired a youth on a horse in a variety of poses with reverse of a dolphin rider and were referred to at the time as 'horsemen'. The use of the Achaian standard continued until the Phyrric wars (280-275 BC) when a new lighter Tarentine standard (6.6g didrachm stater) was introduced. This coin is an example of a 'horseman' produced on the Achaian standard (it weighs 7.9g). The obverse of the coin has some radiant stress lines from the force of the punch. It is listed as HN-967 but is a rather worn and plain example, with no objects in the reverse field or visible magistrates name.

Calabria, Taras. Tetartemorion, 325-280 BC, 6.4mm 0.17g. Obv: Two crescents, two pellets. Rev: Two crescents, two pellets.

The Tarentines invited King Pyhrros of Epirus (nephew of Alexander the Molossian) to assist them and in the Phyrric wars that followed (280-275 BC) the Romans and the Tarentines fought each other to a virtual standstill, ending with the surrender of Taras in 275 from which point it became a Roman allied city (though it briefly allied with Hannibal in the second Punic war and was subsequently sacked by the Romans). This coin was sold as a hemiobol and the matching type in Rutter's reference work is HN Italy 982 (325-280, 0.32g hemiobol on Achaian standard). However this coin is nearly exactly half the weight, which would make it an unlisted tetartemorion. Rutter does list two sixth-litra of the same weight and of an earlier period (500-480 BC) but the types don't match HN Italy 836-837.

Calabria, Tarentum. AR Nomos, c. 272-240 BC. Philiskos, magistrate. Obv: Youth on horseback right, raising hand; ΦIΛIΣKOΣ below. Rev: Phalantos on dolphin left, holding kantharos and trident; ΤΑΡΑΣ behind, tripod below. AR. 6.37 g. 19.00 mm.

There were continuing battles between the local peoples and the Tarentines through the fourth century and the mounting danger lead to them appealing to Sparta for assistance in 340 BC, receiving help first from Archidamos III and then, in 332, from Alexander of Molossus (uncle and brother in law of Alexander the Great). They had an uneasy relationship with the strongest of the local cities, Rome, and in 302 BC Rome declared war on Taras. The Tarentines invited King Pyhrros of Epirus (nephew of Alexander the Molossian) to assist them and in the Phyrric wars that followed (280-275 BC) the Romans and the Tarentines fought each other to a virtual standstill, ending with the surrender of Taras in 275 from which point it became a Roman allied city (though it briefly allied with Hannibal in the second Punic war and was subsequently sacked by the Romans). This coin does not appear to be underweight for a coin on the Tarentine standard of its period, the so-called reduced standard. When introduced in about 510 or 500 B.C., the Tarentine Nomos weighed about 7.8 grams on the Achaean standard, and its weight remained steady until about 280 BC, when it was reduced to about 6.6 grams (Tarentine) during the Phyrric war, perhaps to match the Roman weight standard of 6 scruples. This coin was minted on that reduced standard, which was used until the occupation of Taras by Hannibal in the second Punic war, when it changed to the Punic standard (7.2g shekel).

Lucania, Heraclea. Ca. 330-280 BC. AR stater (19mm, 8h). Obv: ΗΕPΑΚΛΗΙΩΝ, head of Athena right, hair flowing loose, upswept at temple, wearing pendant earring, beaded necklace, and triple-crested Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, bowl decorated with Scylla hurling stone. Rev: ΗΡΑΚΛΗΙΩΝ, Heracles standing facing, head facing turned slightly right, nude, right hand on grounded club, bow and arrows in left hand, lion skin draped over left arm oenochoe above AΘΑ in left field.

Heraklea began minting its silver coins to the Achaian standard (but with a division into two drachms) soon after its foundation. The obverse was usually Athena and the reverse showed Herakles wrestling the Nemean lion or standing holding a club and bow. As a jointly founded city the Athena represents Athens and Herakles the Dorian background of Taras. The silver staters and fraction had similar types. At the time of the Pyrrhic war (280-275 BC) the weight declined from the Achaian standard to that of the Tarentine of 6.6g didrachm. This coin is minted on the Achaian standard and so pre-dates the Phyrric wars. The obverse should have the ethnic of the city and you can see lettering in this instance but it is too worn to make out. There is a K behind the neck of Athena, which is in line with HN-1384. The reverse has Herakles with the skin of the Nemean lion draped over his arm. There is an oenochoe (wine jug) in the left field.

Lucania, Metapontum. Circa 330-290 BC. Nomos (Silver, 20 mm, 7.83 g, 9 h). Head of Demeter to right, wearing wreath of barley ears and triple-pendant earring; below chin, ΔΑΙ. Rev. ΜΕΤΑ Ear of barley, with leaf to right; to right, on leaf, plough to right; below leaf, ΜΑ[Χ].

Lucania, Metapontion. AR Stater. Circa 540-510 BC. Obv: Ear of barley with eight grains and bracts at base; MET downwards to left. Rev: Incuse ear of barley with eight grains; MET (raised) downwards to right. Cf. Noe Class I, 12; 8.24g, 26mm, 12h. Edge chip bottom right.

In the second half of the sixth century BC the city was producing Achaian weight nomoi (staters) and fractions on the Achaian standard (7.8g tridrachm) featuring the city’s grain ear emblem on the reverse. This incuse coin is dated around 540-510 BC. The reason for the use of an ear of barley as the civic type is unclear, but Noe refers to Strabo's record of the city that "they so prospered from farming, it is said, that they dedicated a golden harvest at Delphi". The most interesting aspect of this is the incuse reverse which is seen nearly uniquely in Southern Italy between 540 and 440 BC. This was achieved by creating a deep intaglio-carved obverse-die and a cameo-carved reverse die in high relief. There is no conclusive evidence why this particular technique was chosen, but it may be found on the early coinage of Croton, Caulonia, Metapontum, Sybaris, Taras, Laus and Poseidonia (and one example from Zankle in Sicily). Anne Johnson in here notes on Noe's analysis of the coins of Metapontum extends Noe's two incuse coin phases to three - spread (28-30mm), Medium (24-25mm) and Dumpy (16-22mm), indicating that the transition between them was abrupt. Noe further arranges the corpus of Metapontum coins into 12 classes for the staters. This coin is a Noe class 1, which can be identified by the bracts at the base of the barley ear on the obverse, which are unique to class 1.

Lucania, Metapontion, c. 540-510 BC. AR Obol (10mm, 0.95g, 12h). Obv: Barley-ear with six grains. Rev: Incuse barley ear with six grains.

Lucania, Metapontion. Circa 340-330 BC. Nomos (Silver, 19 mm, 7.95 g, 4 h). Obv: [ΛEYKIΠΠOΣ] Bearded head of Leukippos to right, wearing Corinthian helmet; behind, dog seated to left; below neck, Σ. Rev: META barley ear with leaf to right; above leaf, dove alighting right; below leaf, AMI.

About the middle of the fifth century BC the distinctive incuse fabric gave way to more compact flans with raised designs on both the obverse and reverse. The early coins of this era feature a standing figure of Apollo, Heracles or Achelous. Later these were abandoned for portrait heads and the grain ear was relegated to the reverse. These portrait head coins typically feature Demeter but this coin belongs to a rarer group which has the head of the founder of the city - Leucippus. Noe stops his catalogue before the introduction of the Leucippus head and so the nearest reference is Johnston B3.20. Class B comprises the distaters (B1) and the three issues of staters (B2–4), all with Leucippus types and all signed AMI, which it is argued elsewhere belong to the time of Alexander the Molossian's campaign and more specifically to the period when Metapontum was one of his main allies. The distaters are connected with the large stater issue B2 by common symbols (lion protome/head, club) and signatures (obverse AΓH/AΓ as well as AMI on the reverse). The other large stater issue, B3, has different symbols (dog, bird) and obverse signature (Σ) but the same reverse signature (AMI), and it so closely resembles B1–2 in style that they must be approximately contemporary. From a European collection, formed before 2005.

Lucania, Metapontion. Circa 333-330 BC. Stater (Silver, 20.54 mm, 7.78 g). Obv: ΕΛΕΥ[ΘΕΡΙΟΣ] Laureate head of Zeus right; Δ behind. Rev: MET[A] Barley ear of seven grains with leaf to left, upon which Silenos crouches; ΔA below leaf. .

About the middle of the fifth century BC the distinctive incuse fabric at Metapontion gave way to more compact flans with raised designs on both the obverse and reverse. The early coins of this era feature a standing figure of Apollo, Heracles or Achelous. Later these were abandoned for portrait heads and the barley ear was relegated to the reverse. These portrait head coins typically feature Demeter but this coin belongs to a rarer group which has the head of Zeus Eleutherios ('the liberator'). The coin is minted on the Achaian standard (7.8g tridrachm). The ethnic is heavily worn on this coin and you can just about make out the ΕΛΕΥ which forms the start of the epithet of Zeus.

Lucania, Metapontum, AR Stater. 510-490 BC (7.87g 22.3mm) . Obv: Ear of barley META in left field, beaded border. Rev: Incuse ear of barley, striated border.

The most interesting aspect of this coin is the incuse reverse which is seen nearly uniquely in Southern Italy between 540 and 440 BC. This was achieved by creating a deep intaglio-carved obverse-die and a cameo-carved reverse die in high relief. The diameter of the flans became increasingly smaller, ending at around 22mm. This therefore marks this coin as being at the later stage of the type at 22.3mm. It is a Noe class IX. It was minted on the Archaian standard (7.80g tridrachm) and so this coin is just about right.

Lucania, Sybaris AR Stater. Circa 530-510 BC. Obv: Bull standing to left, head to right; VM above. Rev: Incuse bull standing to right, head to left. 7.95g, 27mm, 12h.

Sybaris was founded in 720 BC by Achaean and Troezenian settlers and quickly became very wealthy on agriculture and trade, possibly through taxes gained by allowing ships to dock in Sybaris and transport goods overland to its’ daughter city, Laus, so avoiding the need to navigate the treacherous straights of Messina. Before its destruction in 510 BC Sybaris is said to have ruled 4 peoples and 25 cities (Strabo VI.1.13). The various periods of the original city and its attempted reformations are commonly known as Sybaris I through V. This coin is therefore referred to as of Sybaris I. The incuse technique is exclusive to Sybaris I and therefore 510 forms a useful terminus post quem for the coinage. This coin is minted on the Achaian standard of 7.8g to the tridrachm and is therefore is slightly heavier than expected. The V in VM is an early version of Upsilon and the M is an epichoric version of sigma. The text is retrograde. This example differs from the other in my collection as the ethnic is in the field rather than in the exergue. Note that rarely the ethic can be found not retrograde. Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., E-Sale 30, 29 October 2016, lot 14.

Lucania, Sybaris. Ca. 550-510 BC. AR stater (29mm, 7.03 gm, 11h). Obv: Bull standing left, head reverted, on dotted ground line; VM in exergue, dotted border on raised rim. Rev: Incuse bull standing right, head reverted; incuse dotted border on incuse rim.

Sybaris was founded in 720 BC by Achaean and Troezenian settlers and quickly became very wealthy on agriculture and trade, possibly through taxes gained by allowing ships to dock in Sybaris and transport goods overland to its’ daughter city, Laus, so avoiding the need to navigate the treacherous straights of Messina. The first Sybaris was destroyed in 510 by Croton and there were several subsequent attempts to revive it. These various periods are commonly known as Sybaris I through V. This coin is therefore referred to as of Sybaris I. The incuse technique is exclusive to Sybaris I and therefore 510 forms a useful terminus post quem for the coinage. This coin is minted on the Achaian standard of 7.8g to the tridrachm and is therefore considerably lighter than standard, though there is considerable wear and loss around the rim. A quick analysis of Sybaris I nomoi in the British Museum collection shows that this coin, while on the lower end of the examples, does fall within the expected boundaries. The V in VM is an early version of Upsilon and the M is an epichoric version of sigma. The text is retrograde

Lucania, Thurium. AR Triobol, 350-300 BC. Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing helmet decorated with wreath. Re:. ΘOYPIΩN. Bull butting right; above, EY; in exergue, thyrsos right. AR. 0.69 g. 11.30 mm. Traces of overstrike on reverse, 'PIX' (?) in relief on the head of the bull.

The coin matches in type the triobol listed as 1266 in Hoover (rather than 1267), where the symbol in the exergue is a fish. However in both the helmet contains a scylla, whereas this is more wreathed. According to Kraay there is a case for the letters appearing on the coins of Thurium (outside of the ethnic) to be in sequence, starting from A. This coin would fall into the E group and Rutter notes that EY occasionally appears on this issue, as found here. HN Italy 1835 is a closer match to this coin as the helmet is wreathed, EY in the field of the reverse and a thyrsos in exergue (a staff of fennel covered in ivy vines used in religious festivals). The symbol is too degraded here to match but it certainly does not look like a fish and so the Rutter reference is most likely correct. However there is a real problem with the weight. At 0.69g this is well below that of 1.3g that indicates a triobol on the Achaian standard (7.8g tridrachm) and closer to the 0.86g expected of a diobol. Rutter lists no diobols for Thurium (and no reduced (Tarentine) standard triobol after 280 BC that matches the type). Hoover does list diobols and tri-hemiobols but with no matching type. There does seem to be lettering on the head of the bull, but that could be an artefact of the damage in that area. I don't think it is an overstrike as the head is typically in high relief and so should have obliterated anything underneath.

Lucania, Velia. Nomos (Circa 280 BC). Obv: Head of Athena left wearing Attic helmet decorated with Pegasus; on neck guard, palmette; A above visor; IE on incuse square behind neck guard. Rev: ΥEΛHTΩN. Lion left attacking stag left. Weight: 7.26 g. Diameter: 22 mm.

Velia was founded in by refugees who fled the city of Phocaea in Ionia when it was besieged by the Persians. According to Herodotus [1.164] the Phocaeans launched their fifty-oared ships, embarked their children and women and all their movable goods, besides the statues from the temples and everything dedicated in them except bronze or stonework or painting, and then embarked themselves and set sail for Chios; and the Persians took Phocaea, left thus uninhabited. These settlers eventually reached Lucania in 540 BC via Corsica and Rhegion and founded Hyele, later to be renamed Ele, and then, finally, Velia. Unsurprisingly this coin is therefore based on an 8.0g nomos derived from the Phocaean standard, which was originally a 16.2g electrum stater. This coin is 7.28g and so is a bit underweight for the type however it is in line with other examples from ascsearch.info, so perhaps the weight had declined by this period, which is very late in the coinage of the city (it joined an alliance with Rome in 273 BC). It is R. T. Williams Period IX and is the single type for that period and last type issued.

Lucania, Velia AR Drachm. Circa 535-465 BC. Obv: Forepart of lion to right, devouring prey. Rev: Quadripartite incuse square. 3.57g, 14mm.

Velia was founded in by refugees who fled the city of Phocaea in Ionia when it was besieged by the Persians. According to Herodotus [1.164] the Phocaeans launched their fifty-oared ships, embarked their children and women and all their movable goods, besides the statues from the temples and everything dedicated in them except bronze or stonework or painting, and then embarked themselves and set sail for Chios; and the Persians took Phocaea, left thus uninhabited. These settlers eventually reached Lucania in 540 BC via Corsica and Rhegion and founded Hyele, later to be renamed Ele, and then, finally, Velia. This coin is therefore one of the first issues of the new city and unsurprisingly it is based on an 8.0g nomos derived from the Phocaean standard, which was originally a 16.2g electrum stater (this coin is a drachm of 3.60g rather than 4.0g and so severely underweight). Velia successfully resisted both the native Lucanians and the invasion of Dionysius of Syracuse in 386 B.C and continued to mint coins using the lion emblem through to its alliance with Rome in 275 BC. This coin is anepigraphic (having no legend or text), but the attribution to Velia is supported by Rutter thus "These coins are attributed to Velia not only on account of their type, but also because they have been found in that area. The fact that Velia's parent city Phocaea struck electrum coins with an identical type supports the attribution." Ex Roma Numismatics, Auction XXVII, lot 43.

Sicily, Syracuse. Philistis, wife of Hieron II, 275-215 BC. 5 Litrai (Silver, 18 mm, 4.33 g, 9 h), circa 218/7-215. Diademed and veiled bust of Philistis to left; to right, palm frond. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΑΣ - ΦΙΛΙΣΤΙΔΟΣ Nike driving fast biga to left, holding reins in both hands; to left, E.

Hoover describes the coinage of Heiron II (275-215 BC) as complex and controversial, with silver coinage appearing to be struck in two series - the earliest on a reduced Corinthian standard (5.4g to the tridrachm stater) featuring the standard Athena/Pegasus types, and a more extensive series struck after 240 BC based on the indigenous litra standard. This coin is an example of the latter. The confusion denomination listed of16 Litra-Tetradrachm is explained by him as follows: "These coins were most commonly described as multiples of the Sicilian litra (c 0.86g) but the possibility that they were actually produced to circulate in conjunction with coins of the Ptolemaic standard (c 14.2g to the tetradrachm) or the Roman quadrigatus standard (6.8g to the didrachm) have appeared in recent years." A 5-litra on the Litra standard would be 4.45g and so this is pretty close (and too heavy to be a Ptolemaic drachm). It is noted by Hoover that the portrait on the coin bears a resemblance of that of the Ptolemaic queen Berenike II. Proportionally, the coins of Philistis outnumber the silver issues minted in the name of Hieron II. The portrait on the obverse has been identified as Philistis, known only from her coins, which were called Philistideia, and from an inscription in the theatre of Syracuse (IG XIV 3), where her name appears alongside that of Queen Nereis, who was a daughter of Pyrrhos of Epeiros and the wife of Gelon, the son of the King, Hieron II (275-215 BC). Given this connection and the large output of coins in Philistis' name, it is very likely that she was Hieron's wife. If so, she would have been the daughter of Leptines. Polybius comments that "of all the citizens Leptines enjoyed the highest position and credit, and that among the common people especially he was by far the most influential man existing." [Histories Book 1.9]

Sicily, Syracuse, c. 485-466 BC. AR Litra (12mm, 0.73g, 3h). Struck under Hieron I, c. 470-466. Obv: Diademed head of Arethusa right. Rev: Octopus.

Silver coinage begins in Syracuse in the last decade of the sixth century BC with the production of tetradrachms on the Attic standard of 17.2g to the tetradrachm featuring the head of the nymph Arethusa on the reverse. Silver didrachms and drachms also featuring the head of the Arethusa were produced from the end of the 6th century to the late 5th century BC. According to Oliver D. Hoover, Syracuse had produced Attic weight obols pairing the head of Arethusa with a four-spoked wheel (reminiscent of Athenian wappenmünzen?) in the early 5th century BC, but by the middle of the century the obol had been abandoned in favour of the slightly heavier litra (0.86g against the obol weight of 0.72g) and its fractions. From the 5th to the 4th century BC, the full litra features the head of Arethusa paired with an octopus. This coin is certainly of the type noted by Hoover; however its weight would indicate that it is an obol rather than a litra. The date also doesn't look right as the Litra was introduced into the Greek currency model after the Deinomenid Tyranny (should be 466-460).

Sicily, Messana as Zankle Litra circa 500-493, AR 10.00 mm., 0.62 g. Obv: Dolphin swimming within sickle-shaped harbour. Rev: Shell at centre of patterned incuse.

Zankle was established by Greek colonists from Chalkis in the 8th century BC, its name deriving from the Greek meaning "scythe" because of the shape of its natural harbour (though a legend attributes the name to King Zanclus). The city participated in the foundation of Rhegion in the 7th Century BC. In 488 Zankle wished to establish a new colony and so sought settlers from Ionia. The call was answered by aristocrats from Samos, who were under threat from the Persians following the Ionian revolt. On the way they stopped in Lokris Epizephiroi, where they were advised by the ruler of Rhegion that the Zankle army was on campaign against the native Sikels, and so they could capture Zankle themselves. They duly did so and when the Zankle army in the field sought assistance from Hippocrates of Gela, he simply negotiated with the Samians and divided the territory. They were eventually driven out eight years later by Anaxilos of Rhegion, who settled the city with new people and renamed it Messene. The early coinage of Zankle was minted on the Euboean standard (17.2g to the tridrachm stater). The types feature a dolphin on the obverse and punch on the reverse, though a rare drachm series features an incuse dolphin on the reverse, mirroring the obverse. During the Samian occupation (488-480) the Attic standard was used and features the lion scalp badge of Samos. Following their subjugation by Anaxilos the use of the Attic standard continued with types derived from Rhegion. On this coin the text below the dolphin should read Dankle. Unfortunately, it is quite corroded and so you can only make is out with a little imagination.

Bruttium. Caulonia. Late 6th century BC. AR stater or nomos (29mm, 6.83 g, 12h).Obv: KAVΛ (retrograde), full-length figure of Apollo, nude, advancing right, torso turned facing, olive branch in raised right hand, pursuing Daphne running right, transforming into laurel tree with branches as arms; O above stag standing right in right field, head reverted, dotted border on raised rim. Rev: KAΛO (retrograde), incuse of obverse, reversed, save for an ethnic, Daphne, and branch, which is in relief.

The early coins of Kaulonia feature Apollo holding a laurel branch in a pose which, according to Oliver Hoover, is clearly derived from the contemporary Poseidon type of Poseidonia. Above the outstretched arm is often found a small daemon, but the intent of this is unclear. Apollo paired with stag, which is often associated with Apollo’s sister Artemis. This coin is of the early incuse type. Noe divides the incuse staters of Kaulonia into four groups, with this one being group B, which is distinguished by having a slightly smaller flan than the earlier group A and also an annulet above the stag on the obverse. Note that the diminution in flan size over time is common to incuse staters produced by other Greek cities in Southern Italy, with those in group D of Kaulonia shrinking to around 21mm before transitioning to double relief issues. This coin is a bit lighter than would be expected @ 6.86g against the Achaian standard (7.80g tridrachm). The lightest Noe Group B in the BMC is 7.56g, though if you include Group A (also incuse) there is one at 6.65g. The city was destroyed by Dionysios I of Syracuse in 389 BC and this is the terminus ante quem for its coinage (it was refounded in the 3rd century BC but did not mint coins). This is one of my favourite coins to hand. It has a fabulous lustre and the history just seeps through it.

Bruttium, Kroton. Circa 350-300 BC. Didrachm or Nomos (Silver, 22 mm, 7.31 g, 4 h). Obv: Eagle with spread wings standing left on olive branch. Rev: ϘΡΟ, Tripod with three handles, volutes below the bowl and legs ending in lion's paws; to right, Δ.

This double relief stater was minted on the Achaian standard (7.80g tridrachm) and therefore this coin is considerably underweight at 7.31g. However, Rutter places this in group IV of the double relief staters and notes against group V (which overlaps in date) that there were widely varying weights (5.7g to 7.6g) struck before and after the reduction to the Tarentine standard in c. 280 BC at the start of the Phyrric wars (280-275 BC). This would seem to indicate a period of hardship and reduced availability of silver - Rutter also notes a rise in the number of plated coins. There is the faint trace of the ethnic ϙΡΟ in the left field of the reverse and also a Δ in the right field. This particular issue is missing the embellishment on the top of the tripod that is found on other issues of this type. The lack of ornamentation may also indicate a rushed issue in response to pressures from the Brettians, who were pressing them hard to the extent of besieging Kroton in 324 BC.

Bruttium, Croton. Ca. 500-480 BC. AR stater or nomos (22mm, 7.45 g, 3h). Obv: ϘΡΟ ornamented sacrificial tripod, legs terminating in leonine feet; dotted border on raised band. Rev: Incuse eagle flying right; striated border on incuse band.

In common with other Achaian cities in Southern Italy this stater makes use of the incuse technique, achieved by creating a deep intaglio-carved obverse-die and a cameo-carved reverse die in high relief. It is unusual to have an incuse coin where the reverse is not a mirror of the reverse. Barclay Head seeks to tie the use of the eagle on the reverse to the influence of Pythagoras "the Eagle, the symbol of Zeus, the supreme god, occupies a place second only in importance to the tripod of Apollo. In connexion with this type we are reminded that an eagle was the familiar bird of Pythagoras, believed by his followers to have been sent down to him by Zeus himself in evidence of his divine mission". It is known that the school of Pythagoras at Croton was founded in 530 BC, but such is his influence to this day that some numismatists have sought to associate him with a variety of innovations, including the design of the incuse technique itself, without such evidence as we would expect today. In this instance the reverse is not a mirror of the obverse but a completely different image. The city minted an extensive silver coinage on the Achaian standard (7.80g to the tri-drachm nomos). The letters ϙΡΟ (where the ϙ is similar to the koppa that you find on early Corinthian coins) is on the left on the tripod. This coin is a bit light for the type at 7.45g.

Bruttium, Laos, c. 480-460 BC. AR Triobol (10mm, 1.05g). Obv: Man-headed bull standing left, head right. Rev: Acorn.

Laüs or Laus was an ancient city of Magna Graecia on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea. It was a colony of Sybaris at the mouth of the Lao River, which formed the boundary between Lucania and Bruttium in ancient times. The river and the city have the same name in ancient Greek. Little is known about its foundation or history. Herodotus states that the inhabitants of Sybaris who had survived the destruction of their city in 510 BCE took refuge in Laüs and Scidrus. Diodorus Siculus seems to imply that that city had been captured by the Lucanians before or during 390 BC. He writes that the army of Thurii had repelled a force of the Lucanians which had attacked their territory in 390 BC. The Lucanians then withdrew to their own territory and Thurians pursued them to lay siege to the "prosperous" town of Laüs. On the way to Laüs the Thurians were ambushed and crushed by the Lucanians. The coinage of Laus is closely bound to that of Sybaris and the Sybarites who sought refuge there, and early coins of the city are so-called 'Alliance' coins which mix elements of Laus (man-faced bull and acorn, the civic badge) and those of Sybaris. As a colony of Sybaris, Laus struck coins on the Achaian standard and did produce incuse coinage (though I can find only one example). This coin has the distinct type of the man-faced bull on the obverse and an acorn on the reverse.

Bruttium, Lokroi Epizephyrioi. AR Stater (8.64g), ca. 350-275 BC. Obv: Pegasos flying left; thunderbolt below; Rev: Helmeted head of Athena left.

This stater was minted on the Corinthian standard (8.6g stater) and is just about exact on weight. The ancillary symbol of the thunderbolt on the reverse is the one difference from the other stater in my collection and completes the examples of staters from this period. The silver coinage in the city started late for the cities of Southern Italy in the 4th century BC. Hoover states this was to support the wars of the Syracusan tyrants and Epierote kings (the Lokrians allied with Syracuse against Rhegion).

Bruttium, Medma. AR Stater, ca. 330-320 BC. Obv: Pegasos flying left; Rev: Helmeted head of Athena left.

Medma was a colony founded (together with Hipponium) by the Epizephyrian Locrians in the 7th or 6th century BC, and is said to have derived its name from an adjoining fountain. It had a port but seems never to have developed into an important city, possibly due to its having fallen foul of Dionysius of Syracuse. "Dionysius settled in Messene a thousand Lokrians, four thousand Medmaeans, and six hundred Messenians from the Peloponnesus" [Diodorus Siculus, Library 8-40, 14.78.5]. However, Medma seems to have survived the fall of many other more important cities of Magna Graecia, and it is noticed as a still existing town both by Strabo and Pliny the Elder, disappearing from the records after the Punic wars. According to Hoover, the only silver coinage attributed to the city consists of staters struck on the Corinthian standard (8.6g tridrachm stater) in the late fourth century BC, which used the normal Corinthian types of Athena and Pegasus. The city is only identified my a monogram or initial on the staters (ME or MK). There is no evidence of a monogram on this coin, however it is consistent with other examples on acsearch.info, where the coins either have a 'spider-like' monogram or no ethnic. Robinson (SNG Lloyd 695) identified an issue on stylistic grounds which lacks the monogram, so my assumption is that this coin may be attributed to that issue.

Bruttium, Rhegion. Obv: Laureate head of Apollo left, Kithara right. Rev: Tripod PHΓI-NΩN. AE, 260-215 BC, 21.6mm 4.95g

Hoover notes of the bronze coinage of Rhegion that the same system of denominations and the standard lion and Apollo head types remained in place during the late fourth and early third centuries BC. However, the typology began to change, and denomination A/B was reintroduced in the period between the opening of the Pyrrhic war and the second Punic war. The traditional lion head obverse was abandoned in favour of the head of Apollo or that of his sister Artemis, while reverse types tended to feature and advancing lion or Apollo’s attributes (tripod or Kithara)”. This is an example of one such coin. While the dimensions of this coin match HN Italy 2543 the lower weight for that type is listed as 7.0g; this coin is considerably lighter, though more flexibility in bronze weights is common.

Calabria, Tarentum Obol circa 280-228, AR 11.00 mm., 0.73 g. Obv: Cantharus three pellets around. Rev: Cantharus; in right field, tripod.

There were continuing battles between the local peoples and the Tarentines through the fourth century and the mounting danger lead to them appealing to Sparta for assistance in 340 BC, receiving help first from Archidamos III and then, in 332, from Alexander of Molossus (uncle and brother in law of Alexander the Great). They had an uneasy relationship with the strongest of the local cities, Rome, and in 302 BC Rome declared war on Taras. The Tarentines invited King Pyhrros of Epirus (nephew of Alexander the Molossian) to assist them and in the Phyrric wars that followed (280-275 BC) the Romans and the Tarentines fought each other to a virtual standstill, ending with the surrender of Taras in 275 from which point it became a Roman allied city (though it briefly allied with Hannibal in the second Punic war and was subsequently sacked by the Romans). This fraction was minted between 280 and 228 BC. Interesting to see the tripod appear in the right field, given it is a type attributed to Croton. Also that according to Hoover this obol should weigh in around 0.55g (Tarentine standard introduced around the start of the Phyrric wars in 280) instead of its hefty 0.72g. Silver coinage ended around the middle of the third century and was briefly resumed during the Second Punic War (218-201) on the Punic standard (7.2g to the Shekel). So with the clipping, this coin is closer to a 10th stater or Litrai (around 0.78g).

Calabria, Tarentum Nomos circa 500-490, AR 16.50 mm., 7.48 g. Obv: Dolphin rider right, holding octopus. Rev: Hippocamp right; below, shell.

The first coinage of Taras was incuse in the same manner as the Achaian cities of southern Italy, but in the early 5th century BC Taras adopted a double-relief coinage, pairing a hippocamp with the dolphin rider. This is an example of such a coin, which lasted to the end of the 5th century BC when the hippocamp was replaced with a horseman. This coin is on the Achaian standard (7.8g to the tri-drachm nomos) and it the ethnic has been worn away. This coin is a bit light but is in line with other examples in acsearch.info.

Calabria, Tarentum. Ca. 480-450 BC. AR didrachm (19mm, 7.64 gm). Obv: TAPAΣ (retrograde), Taras astride dolphin right, left hand outstretched; scallop shell below, dotted border on raised band. Rev: Wheel with four spokes within linear circle, all within incuse circle.

This coin was minted on the Achaian standard which was in use until the Tarentine standard (6.6g Didrachm) was introduced during the Phyrric wars. It was one of the earliest issues following the brief flirtation of Taras with the incuse technique found in the Achaian cities of the region in the late sixth century BC, but before the move to the 'horseman' type in the late fifth century BC. This coin retains the beaded border typical of incuse coinage, though the striations have been removed from the reverse. The strike on the reverse is greatly off-centre and the design in my view is cruder than the preceding types.

Massalia. AR Obol, ca. 336-310 BC (0.58g 0.41mm). Obv: Head of Apollo left; Rev: M-A within four-spoke wheel.

Massalia was a colony founded by the Phokians in around 600 BC with the first small denomination coinage being produced in the mid-fifth century BC. It is unsurprising therefore that these coins were minted on the Phocaean/Campanian standard (7.5g Stater; 3.75g Drachm). This obol is slightly less than the expected 0.62g.

Lucania, Metapontion. AR Drachm or 1/3 Nomos (2.57 g), ca. 540-510 BC. Obv: Barley ear of seven grains; Rev: Incuse barley ear of seven grains

This drachm was minted on the Achaian standard (7.8g stater) and it is just about spot on expectations at 2.57g. There are bracts on the bottom of the barley ear on the obverse which aligns with the Noe class I, indicating that this is in the same time frame as the early spread incuse staters, which are the first coins of Metapontum. It is a very central strike, with both the beaded obverse and striated reverse evident. The mu on the obverse is epichoric and in line with the dating. The diameter of 16.7 mm is less than the other drachm in my collection which is slightly unexpected given the early stylistic dating and given the staters reduce in diameter over time through to their cessation in around 440 BC.

Lucania. Metapontum. Ca. 510-470 BC. AR stater (23mm, 7.43 gm, 12h). Obv: META, six-grained barley ear; guilloche border on raised rim. Rev: Incuse five-grained barley ear; striated border on incuse rim.

The coins of Metapontum in Lucania are some of the most instantly recognisable from the ancient world. This particular city owed most of its vast wealth to the abundance of barley it was able to produce in its fertile land. The inhabitants chose to adorn their coins with a large grain-ear, either as a reference to their wealth, or an etymological link (as Monterio suggests) to the Greek word for the autumn harvest, metoporinos, which would have seen the gathering of the city’s grain crop. This coin is manufactured using the incuse technique. In the second half of the sixth century BC the city was producing Achaian weight nomoi (staters) and fractions featuring the city’s grain ear emblem on the reverse. This incuse coin is dated around 510-470 BC. The reason for the use of an ear of barley as the civic type is unclear, but Noe refers to Strabo's record of the city that "they so prospered from farming, it is said, that they dedicated a golden harvest at Delphi". The most interesting aspect of this is the incuse reverse which is seen nearly uniquely in Southern Italy between 540 and 440 BC. This was achieved by creating a deep intaglio-carved obverse-die and a cameo-carved reverse die in high relief. There is no conclusive evidence why this particular technique was chosen, but it may be found on the early coinage of Croton, Caulonia, Metapontum, Sybaris, Taras, Laus and Poseidonia (and one example from Zankle in Sicily). Anne Johnson in here notes on Noe's analysis of the coins of Metapontum extends Noe's two incuse coin phases to three - spread (28-30mm), Medium (24-25mm) and Dumpy (16-22mm), indicating that the transition between them was abrupt. Noe further arranges the corpus of Metapontum coins into 12 classes for the staters. This coin at 23mm would be classified as a medium incuse coin of class IX.2b, characterised as "thick flan staters without symbols. Module approximately 24mm). Inscription left with four letters."

Lucania, Metapontum. AR Diobol, c. 470-440 BC. Obv: Ear of barley. Rev. Corn of barley, flanked by two rings. 0.85 g. 8.80 mm.

In the second half of the sixth century BC the city was producing Achaian weight nomoi (staters) and fractions featuring the city’s grain ear emblem on the reverse. This incuse coin is dated around 540-510 BC. The reason for the use of an ear of barley as the civic type is unclear, but Noe refers to Strabo's record of the city that "they so prospered from farming, it is said, that they dedicated a golden harvest at Delphi". This has frequently been interpreted as a counterpart of the badge of the city, in gold. According to Hoover, for the most part Metapontine fractions mirror the types of the staters but there are example, such as this, of other types. Triobols of the early fifth century BC pair a grain ear with the incuse head of an ox. In the same period an unusual 2.5 obol denomination features five crescents on the reverse, while that of the diobol features a barleycorn or the head of Achelous. Diobols and obols of the fifth century occasionally carry the respective value marks o and oo. This coin is therefore a diobol of the ear of barley/barleycorn type with marks of value.

Lucania, Metapontion. Circa 340-330 BC. AR Nomos (20.5mm, 7.62 g, 9h). Obv: Bearded head of Leukippos right, wearing Corinthian helmet; cross-torch to left, Rev: Barley ear with leaf to right; META upward to left, |-H above leaf.

About the middle of the fifth century BC the distinctive incuse fabric gave way to more compact flans with raised designs on both the obverse and reverse. The early coins of this era feature a standing figure of Apollo, Heracles or Achelous. Later these were abandoned for portrait heads and the grain ear was relegated to the reverse. These portrait head coins typically feature Demeter but this coin belongs to a rarer group which on some examples have the head of the founder of the city - Leucippus. This coin is variously referenced as HN 1555, HN 1562 or HN 1573 but there is no direct match. The closer match is Hoover 1055 which has an obverse match and a reverse var for the initials. There appears to be a die crack which transverses the helmet. There is an unusual monogram? ͰΜ on the right field of the reverse. There are others examples of this on a coin e.g. Nomos (Auction 9, Lot 37), Heritage (Auction 3045, Lot 32028). In each instance the initials are paired with the cross-torch on the obverse.

Lucania, Metapontum. Ca. 540-510 BC. AR stater (28mm, 6.97 gm, 12h). Obv: META, barley grain ears; guilloche border on raised rim. Rev: Incuse barley grain ears; striated border on incuse rim.

The most interesting aspect of this coin is the incuse reverse which is seen nearly uniquely in Southern Italy between 540 and 440 BC. This was achieved by creating a deep intaglio-carved obverse-die and a cameo-carved reverse die in high relief. The diameter of the flans became increasingly smaller, ending at around 22mm. This therefore marks this coin as being at the earlier stage of the type at 28mm. It was minted on the Archaian standard (7.80g tridrachm) and so this example is exceptionally light. It was sold as Noe class III but is more in line with class VI.

Lucania, Metapontum Drachm circa 540-510, AR 19.00 mm., 2.34 g. Obv: Barley ear. Rev: The same type incuse.

In the second half of the sixth century BC the city was producing Achaian weight nomoi (staters) and fractions featuring the city’s grain ear emblem on the reverse. This incuse third-stater is dated around 540-510 BC. The reason for the use of an ear of barley as the civic type is unclear, but Noe refers to Strabo's record of the city that "they so prospered from farming, it is said, that they dedicated a golden harvest at Delphi". This has frequently been interpreted as a counterpart of the badge of the city, in gold. The most interesting aspect of this is the incuse reverse which is seen nearly uniquely in Southern Italy between 550 and 470 BC. This was achieved by creating a deep intaglio-carved obverse-die and a cameo-carved reverse die in high relief. The coins were minted on the Achaian standard (7.8g tridrachm) so this coins is underweight (2.34 rather than 2.60g), probably due to the obvious wear and edge chipping.

Lucania, Poseidonia. Ca. 470-420 BC. AR stater (20mm, 10h). Obv: ΠΟΣEΣ, Poseidon striding right, nude but for chlamys spread across shoulders, brandishing trident in right hand. Rev: ΠΟΣEΣ; bull standing left on ground line.

Little is known of Poseidonia from its foundation at around the end of the Seventh Century BC by colonists from Sybaris and Troezen. Evidence from votive figurines and the city’s architecture suggest close trade relations with Metapontum during the sixth and fifth centuries, but the relationship with its mother city appears not to have been particularly strong, since its coins are struck on the Campanian-Phokaian (Poseidoniat) standard of the neighbouring Phocaean colony Velia rather than the Achaian standard in use at Sybaris. Nonetheless, Poseidonia accepted refugees from Sybaris after their city was destroyed by Kroton in 510, evidenced by the fact that in the early fifth century Poseidonia’s coins adopted the bull seen on Sybarite coins. The Campanian-Phokaian standard was 7.5 g to the didrachm stater and regularly feature depictions of Poseidon. This coin weighs 7.66g. The coins of Poseidonia regularly carry abbreviated Greek legends naming the city and are written in an epichoric alphabet featuring San instead of Sigma until the late 5th century BC, when more familiar Ionic forms are used. There are only traces of the ethnic visible on the obverse under high magnification.

Lucania, Sybaris Triobol, 500-480 BC. Obv: Bull standing on the left, head turned on the right. Rev: Amphora, incuse; Tooth cut border on the outside. 1.34 g. 11 mm.

Following its defeat to Croton in 510 BC many of the inhabitants of Sybaris fled to neighbouring cities, including Poseidonia and Laus. Refugees at Laus appear to have struck a rare series of staters, triobols and obols using the types of their original city. This Triobol is one of those coins (Sybaris II) and on the obverse you can see the reverse-headed bull type of Sybaris. The reverse employs the incuse technique used at Sybaris, in this case displaying an amphora. This coin is the correct weight for a triobol of the standard (around 1.30g) and has the correct reverse type as described in N.K Rutter's Historia Numorum Italy. This should lend weight to the argument over the other coin of this type in the collection which is considerably lighter.

Lucania, Thurium. Stater (413-350 BC). Obv: Head of Athena to right, in the helmet Scylla holding oar. Rev: Bull charging to the right, above ΘOYΡIΩN, in exergo fish. AR 7.10g. 19.73mm

The coinage of Thurium is struck on the Achaian standard of 7.8g to the tridrachm stater until the early third century BC, when it adopted the Tarentine standard of 6.6g to the didrachm stater. This coin is therefore a bit light for the type. The head of Athena on these coins is that of Athena Skyletria, a sea-goddess whose worship appears to have prevailed at the town of Skylletion (of which, however, we have no coins) as well as on the rocky Iapygian promontory, at Heraclea, and perhaps at other dangerous points on the Bruttian coasts. With regard to the meaning of the bull on the reverse of the coins of Thurium there has been much difference of opinion. Some take it to be a symbol of Dionysus, others to be the rushing bull indicative of the fountain from which the city took its name, while others again, and perhaps with better reason, look upon it as symbolizing the river Krathis, and as merely an artistic outcome or development of the bull which was the constant type of the archaic coins of Sybaris. There is some graffiti on the coin which is simply part of its history.

Lucania, Thurium. Distater. 400-350 BC. Obv: Head of Athena to the right, wearing a Corinthian helmet, decorated with Skylla wielding a trident. Rev: Bull charging right, above legend ΘOYP(IΩN) / H, in exergue fish. Weight 15.29 g.

The coinage of Thurium is struck on the Achaian standard of 7.8g to the tridrachm stater until the early third century BC, when it adopted the Tarentine standard of 6.6g to the didrachm stater. The head of Athena on these coins is that of Athena Skyletria, a sea-goddess whose worship appears to have prevailed at the town of Skylletion (of which, however, we have no coins) as well as on the rocky Iapygian promontory, at Heraclea, and perhaps at other dangerous points on the Bruttian coasts. With regard to the meaning of the bull on the reverse of the coins of Thurium there has been much difference of opinion. Some take it to be a symbol of Dionysus, others to be the rushing bull indicative of the fountain from which the city took its name, while others again, and perhaps with better reason, look upon it as symbolizing the river Krathis, and as merely an artistic outcome or development of the bull which was the constant type of the archaic coins of Sybaris. Thurium was notable amongst the Achaian cities of Southern Italy for its frequent production of distaters in addition to drachms, triobols and smaller fractions. Ex Arcipreste de Hita Collection

Lucania, Velia (Hyele). Didrachm, 300-280 BC. Obv: Athena head in an attic helmet to the left. Rev: lion at bay right, trident above. Magistrate's name ΦI left and right of trident. YEΛHTΩN in exergue.

Velia was founded in by refugees who fled the city of Phocaea in Ionia when it was besieged by the Persians. According to Herodotus [1.164] the Phocaeans launched their fifty-oared ships, embarked their children and women and all their movable goods, besides the statues from the temples and everything dedicated in them except bronze or stonework or painting, and then embarked themselves and set sail for Chios; and the Persians took Phocaea, left thus uninhabited. These settlers eventually reached Lucania in 540 BC via Corsica and Rhegion and founded Hyele, later to be renamed Ele, and then, finally, Velia. Unsurprisingly this coin is therefore based on an 8.0g nomos derived from the Phocaean standard, which was originally a 16.2g electrum stater (this coin is 7.82g, 21.6mm). Velia successfully resisted both the native Lucanians and the invasion of Dionysius of Syracuse in 386 B.C and continued to mint coins using the lion emblem through to its alliance with Rome in 275 BC. The lion in this coin is seen standing proud, but other types include it devouring its prey or attacking a stag. This coin is of the R.T. Williams Period VII Philistion group minted on the Phocaean standard (8.0g didrachm). There are two nice examples of this type in the British museum (BMC 1919,0809.1, BMC 1851,0503.142) and each show the intriguing, stylised trident flanked by Φ and Ι. Note that the auction site had mis-attributed this as celtic.

Sicily, Leontini. Ca. 450-420 BC. AR tetradrachm (24mm, 16.78 gm, 8h). Obv: Laureate head of Apollo left. Rev: LEO-N-TI-N-OY, head of lion left with open jaws and protruding tongue; bay leaf behind, three barley corns counter clockwise around.

Leontini was founded by Naxos in around 729 BC and was captured by Gela in 496 BC, not recovering its independence until 467 BC. Internal strife meant that it was abandoned as a city after war with Syracuse in 424 BC, becoming a fortress garrisoned by Syracuse. It was repopulated by peoples displaced by the Carthaginian gains in the east of Sicily at the end of the 5th century BC, but this was temporary, with the population being replaced by mercenaries by Dionysios in 402 BC. This coin was therefore minted in the period between Leontini regaining independence and its eventual (temporary) abandonment. Note that Hoover offers slightly different dating of 455-430 BC. The earliest issues of the city were in the early 5th century BC when it was under the control of Heiron I. These were minted on the Attic standard (17.2g tetradrachm) and this and subsequent issues used the canting lion's head on the obverse or reverse. The issues with the head of Apollo paired with the lion were struck from the middle to the end of the 5th century BC, ending (as with all their silver coinage) on the removal of its population in 402 BC. There was a brief revival under Timoleon on the Corinthian standard, after which it ceased completely. This coin is light for an attic standard tetradrachm at 16.78g, but there is some material loss in the flan.

Sicily. Syracuse. Philistis, wife of Hieron II (275-215 BC). AR 16 Litrai-Tetradrachm, c. 218-214 BC. Obv. Diademed and veiled bust left; behind, wreath. Rev. BAΣIΛIΣΣAΣ/ΦIΛIΣTIΔOΣ. Nike driving walking quadriga right; ϕ above.AR. 13.58 g. 25.00 mm.

Hoover describes the coinage of Heiron II (275-215 BC) as complex and controversial, with silver coinage appearing to be struck in two series - the earliest on a reduced Corinthian standard (5.4g to the tridrachm stater) featuring the standard Athena/Pegasus types, and a more extensive series struck after 240 BC based on the indigenous litra standard. This coin is an example of the latter. The confusion denomination listed of16 Litra-Tetradrachm is explained by him as follows: "These coins were most commonly described as multiples of the Sicilian litra (c 0.86g) but the possibility that they were actually produced to circulate in conjunction with coins of the Ptolemaic standard (c 14.2g to the tetradrachm) or the Roman quadrigatus standard (6.8g to the didrachm) have appeared in recent years." This coin weighs 13.58g (16 0.86g litra would be 13.76g) and so is probably too light to be considered within the Ptolemaic standard. Alignment to the quadrigas standard for the purposes of trade is an intriguing possibility. The probable date of this coin (218-214 BC) is in the early phases of the Second Punic war, during which Heiron II was an Roman ally, so having a coin which could trade 1:2 with the quadrigatus would be beneficial (the Roman move to the denarius was around 211 BC). The portrait on the obverse has been identified as Philistis, known only from her coins, which were called Philistideia, and from an inscription in the theatre of Syracuse (IG XIV 3), where her name appears alongside that of Queen Nereis, who was a daughter of Pyrrhos of Epeiros and the wife of Gelon, the son of the King, Hieron II (275-215 BC). Given this connection and the large output of coins in Philistis' name, it is very likely that she was Hieron's wife. If so, she would have been the daughter of Leptines. Polybius comments that "of all the citizens Leptines enjoyed the highest position and credit, and that among the common people especially he was by far the most influential man existing." [Histories Book 1.9]

Sicily, Syracuse, Silver Tetradrachm, Second Democracy, Charioteer/Arethusa, c460-440 BC. Obv: Charioteer walking horse drawn chariot, holding reins in each hand, Nike above, flying right, holding wreath; ketos below. Rev: Head of Arethusa right, hair twisted and bound into a chgnon at nape, wearing beaded headband, earring an pearl necklace, four dolphins around ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙ-O-N. 24mm, 17.09g

I am not 100% convinced on the attribution here as the reverse seems very close to those produced under Hieron I (475-470 BC). See The Chronological Sequence of the Coins of Syracuse by Barclay Head, plate II.7 and in describing the coins of Hieron, "The series with the pistrix, or sea-monster, exhibits a marked advance upon the archaic style. For instance, the eye of the female head is represented, for the first time, in profile, and no longer with both corners visible as if seen from the front, a peculiarity of archaic art (see another coin in my collection attributed to Hieron I). The hair also is waved, and a greater variety is apparent in the mode of arranging it, the plain string of beads being often replaced by a fillet bound two or three times round the head. The horses of the quadriga, as on the earlier coins, are, with a single exception always represented as walking and the charioteer is also always apparently male." This coin does display the pistrix below the chariot and the head of Arethusa is as described by Head. While it is common to attribute the more classical portraiture to the Second Democracy, the transition on the style is not one I believe is fixed to a change in ruler but more in the aesthetics of the die-engravers of the period. So the transition to the more classical style could have occurred prior to the second democracy in 466 BC and in line with the evolution noted by Head. The plate described by Head does closely resemble the type of this coin and is attributed by him to Hieron I.

Diomedes Ancient Coins

Coins of Magna Graecia