CALABRIA. Tarentum. Circa 490-480 BC. Nomos (Silver, 20 mm, 7.99 g, 2 h). Τ - Α - Ρ - Α Phalanthos, nude, riding dolphin to right, his left arm outstretched to right and with his hand open, and holding behind him, in his left hand, an octopus; cable border. Rev. ΤΑΡΑ ( retrograde ) Hippocamp to right; below, scallop shell downwards; border of rays. Fischer-Bossert 45d (V19/R36, this coin ). HN III 827. SNG ANS 837 ( same dies ). Vlasto 119 ( this coin ). Rare. Very attractively toned and sharply struck. Overstruck on a didrachm from Akragas, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of R. Schonwalter, Triton V, 15 January 2002, 1025, ex Christie's, New York, 2 May 1989, 604 and Kricheldorf XV, 16 June 1965, 1897, and from the collections of M. P. Vlasto and F. S. Benson, Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 3 February 1909, 20.

For the overstrike, see U. Westermark, Overstrikes of Taras on Didrachms of Akragas, in GNA, p. 288 d and pl. 36, 7 ( this coin ). While the overstriking process has affected the clarity of the Tarentine coin's design, it is still remarkably sharp and - yes! - attractive!