Calabria, Tarentum
Nomos circa 333-331/330, AR 7.89 g. Naked horseman r., spearing downwards with r. hand and holding shield and two further spears with l.; in field, B – Θ and below horse, ΚΑΛ / [T]. Rev. ΤΑΡΑΣ Dolphin rider r., holding crested Phrygian helmet; on either side, star and below, ONA. Vlasto 554 (this reverse die). Evans, type H, 4. Jameson 139 (this coin). SNG Lewis 128 (this reverse die). Fischer-Bossert 774c (this coin). Historia Numorum Italy 896. A very rare variety of masterly style. Struck on a broad flan and exceptionally complete for the issue. Wonderful old cabinet tone, minor marks, otherwise about extremely fine Ex Maison Palombo sale 13, 2014, 3. From the Arthur James Evans, Jameson and a private European collections. No other series of Greek coins offers such a consistently high degree of style for so long a period of time, and the brilliant variety for which Tarentine coins are famous make it one of the most desirable areas in all of Greek coinage to collect. On this coin we see the rider on horseback exercising his martial prowess, galloping forward and preparing to thrust a javelin into an object which the viewer does not see. On his far side he carries a round shield and two additional spears. The reverse depicts the dolphin rider facing to the right, holding a helmet of Phrygian design with cheek guards and a long, sweeping crest. Two stars in the fields flank the dolphin rider, and should perhaps be interpreted as alluding to the Dioskouroi and thus to Sparta. If so, then the design should be seen in light of the ill-fated expedition of the Spartan king Archidamos III. In 343/2 B.C. at the request of the city's leading citizens, the Spartan king arrived with a fleet and soldiers in order to help the Tarentines to repel incursions by their Italic neighbours, notably the noisome Lucanians to Tarentum's north and west. He was subsequently killed during the fighting, and the dolphin rider here may be thought of as mourning the slain Spartan king.