Bruttium, Lokris. Silver Stater (8.58 g), ca. 350-275 BC. ΛO, Pegasos flying left. Reverse: Helmeted head of Athena right; no controls. Pegasi 5. HN Italy 2338. SNG ANS 506. NGC grade Ch AU; Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5. Brushed. (we see no evidence of being "brushed"). Estimated Value $1,500 - UP
The perfect centering and beautifully sharp strike make this coin a wonderful example of the Corinthian type staters struck at Lokris in the late fourth and early third centuries BC. Although Lokris had struck nomoi with its own civic types earlier in the fourth century BC, staters on the Corinthian model were subsequently produced primarily to pay mercenary troops hailing from the Peloponnesos. Corinthian staters were well-known to Peloponnesians and could be easily spent back home, whereas the usual Achaian-weight nomoi might not pass as easily for mercenaries once they got back to the Peloponnesos.

This particular issue might have been struck for the mercenary forces of Dionysios II, the exiled tyrant of Syracuse. In 352 BC, he is known to have seized Lokris and installed a garrison in the city. This was only expelled by a Lokrian uprising that took place in 346 BC, while Dionysios II was away from the city. Alternatively, it may have been produced in support of the primarily Peloponnesian mercenary forces brought by Archidamos III of Sparta (in 342-338 BC), Alexander the Molossian (in 333-331 BC), Kleonymos of Sparta (in 303-302 BC), and Pyrrhos of Epeiros (in 280-275 BC) to defend Tarentum and the other Greek cities of southern Italy against the neighboring Lucanians and other Italic peoples. Indeed, Lokris served as an important base for Pyrrhos, but suffered abuses from his garrison. After an abortive revolt, Pyrrhos forced the city to pay a large indemnity and suffer the plunder of its temple of Persephone.

*This coin contains the COIN WORLD PLUS sticker.
Privately purchased from Lucien Birkler, 20 November 1993.