Calabria, Tarentum
Nomos circa 510-450, AR 7.92 g. TARAΣ retrograde Phalantus seated on dolphin r., left arm extended; below, shell. Rev. The same type l. incuse. Vlasto 65 (this obverse die). Fischer-Bossert 7. De Nanteuil 74 (these dies). Historia Numorum Italy 826. Very rare. A fascinating issue of fine Archaic style, perfectly centred and with a light iridescent tone. Minor area of weakness on obverse, otherwise good very fine / about extremely fine This coin is sold with an export licence issued by the Republic of Italy. Dating from the late sixth century, this nomos shows Phalantus naked, riding a dolphin, expressing a motif destined for popular success in the coins of Taras: the dolphin brings Phalantus safe and sound across the sea (also evidenced by the presence of a pecten in the lower field of the coin), and conveys him to Italy, according to the dictate of the Delphic oracle. We learn from the Periegesis of Greece of Pausania (II cent. A.D.) that statues of Taras, Phalantus, and Phalantus' dolphin (cf. Paus. X 13) were among the votive offerings (anathemata) presented to Delphi by the Tarantines with a fifth of the spoils taken from the Peucetii and the Iapygians. The reverse has the same representation as the obverse, in incuse, using a well-known technique of early coinage that was deployed at many other Southern Italian cities besides Taras.