Calabria, Tarentum
Nomos circa 510-450, AR 7.98 g. TARAΣ retrograde Oecist seated on dolphin r., l. arm extended; below, pecten. Rev. The same type l. incuse. Vlasto 68 (this coin). Fischer-Bossert 16d (this coin). Gorini 3, enlarged p. 202-203 (this coin). Kent-Hirmer pl. 102, 294 (this coin). Historia Numorum Italy 826. Very rare and in unusually fine condition for the issue. Perfectly centred on a full flan and with a superb old cabinet tone, minor metal flaw on obverse field, otherwise about extremely fine / extremely fine Ex NAC sale 13, 1998, formerly exhibited at the Antikenmuseum Basel, 72. From the Curinga hoard (IGCH 1881). From the Vlasto and Athos and Dina Moretti collections. Dating from the late sixth century, this nomos shows Phalanthus naked, riding a dolphin, expressing a motif destined for popular success in the coins of Taras: the dolphin brings Phalanthus 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, Phalanthus, and Phalanthus' 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.