Lucania. Metapontum. Circa 290-280 BC. Didrachm or nomos (Silver, 22 mm, 7.58 g, 8 h). Head of Demeter to right, wearing wreath of barley ears. Rev. ΜΕΤΑ Ear of barley; to left, satyr standing on barley leaf and playing pipes. HN III 1614. Johnston D2.8. SNG Lloyd 395. Rare. Nicely toned. Areas flatly struck on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.
Ex Nomos FPL 10 (2016), 6, and from a Swiss collection, Hess-Divo 328, 22 May 2015, 5, acquired from Maison Platt in Paris in 1980.
The symbol of Pan playing his pipes on the reverse is a particularly interesting and amusing one. He seems to be standing on the barley leaf and playing to the grain, helping it to grow!.