LUCANIA. Metapontum. Circa 302 BC. Third stater (Gold, 15 mm, 2.62 g, 3 h), Achaian standard. NIKA Head of Nike facing slightly to the right, her hair in an ampyx, wearing a single pendant earring and a pearl necklace. Rev. ΜΕΤΑΠΟΝ Barley ear with six grains and leaf to right. Gulbenkian 71 ( same obverse die ). HGC 2, 1023. HN III 1629. Johnston G3 ( same obverse die ). Kraay & Hirmer 245 ( same obverse die ). With a lovely facing head of Nike, very sharply struck and well-centered on an unusually broad flan. Very slight doubling on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

Sold on behalf of the Compagnie Bancaire Helvétique, Switzerland, acquired from Tradart and ex Münzen und Medaillen 75, 4 December 1989, 80.

The portrait on the obverse is that of Nike, the goddess of victory; here she is shown in a very soigné manner, carefully coiffed and looking remarkably serious. She's not flying, with her hair in disarray, nor has she just landed and in catching her breath; she is calmly overseeing the results of victory.

A particularly fine third stater of Metapontum