Alliance issue with Sybaris.   Nomos circa 510-500, AR 7.37 g. [(koppa)PO] Tripod, legs ending in lion’s paws, with three handles. Rev. VM Incuse bull standing r., head reverted. BMC 2. SNG ANS 873 (these dies). SNG Lloyd 631 (this obverse die). Gorini 1 (this obverse die). SNG Ashmolean 1535 (these dies). Attianese 271 (these dies). Kraay, NC 1958 14 and pl. III, 2 (this obverse die). Kraay-Hirmer 266 (these dies). AMB 206. Historia Numorum Italy 2098 (this obverse die).
Extremely rare, only very few specimens known. Surface
somewhat corroded, otherwise very fine

From a european private collection.
This documents the historical period in which the alliance between Croton and Sybaris took place. We know that, after being influenced by the politics of Sybaris and defeated by the Locrese near the river Sagra, Croton reached its political and economic peak towards the end of the VI and the first half of the V century (the epoch in which this coin was minted). Under Pythagora of Samos there was a rapid transformation of the State of Croton, which became more conservative and aristocratic in structure. Its expansion policy resulted in the destruction of Sybaris, and Croton’s control over the northern part of the area which is known as Calabria.