★ Ex Bement, 1924 and Feori Pepito, 1987 collections ★

Lucania. Thourioi. Circa 443-400 BC. Didrachm (Silver, 21.26 mm, 7.77 g) Head of Athena right wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with olive branch and necklace, Φ above visor. Rev. ΘΟΥΡΙΩΝ above. Bull walking left with lowered head, Φ on rump, bird to left with open wings below its belly, tunny fish swimming to left in exergue below double ground line. HN Italy 1772. SNG ANS 948. SNG Lockett 477. Pozzi 223. SNG Ashmolean 988-902. HGC 1, 1259. Nice old cabinet tone. Splendid classical style. Small test cut at edge, otherwise, Very Fine.

From the collections of Clarence S. Bement, Naville Ars Classica VI, 28 January 1924, lot 219. J. Schulman 167, 16 December 1926 “Superbe collection de monnaies grecques, romaines et byzantines” and from the collection of Dr. Feori Pipito, Superior Galleries, 12 Dicember 1987, lot 50.

This coin is usually attributed to Phrygillos (twice signed with Φ in this exemplar), the famous coin and gem engraver, as for the bird on reverse, considered a pun on his name (“finch”). He is known for his signed dies at Syracuse and his work has also been identified at Terina.