CALABRIA. Tarentum. Circa 344-340 BC. Nomos (Silver, 20.5 mm, 7.89 g, 12 h). Nude rider on horse galloping left, preparing to dismount, holding the reins with his right hand, a small round shield and a spear with his left, and with his right knee on the horse's back; below horse, ⊣. Rev. ΤΑΡΑΣ Youthful Phalanthos, nude, riding a dolphin to left, holding a crested Corinthian helmet with his right hand and resting his left on the dolphin's back; below, Ι over waves. Fischer-Bossert 653d (V252/R505, this coin ). HN III 876. Vlasto 437. Nicely toned and well-centered. Traces of overstriking on the reverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

From the collection of Major Anthony F. Milavic, USMC (Ret.), ex Leu Numismatics 86, 5 May 2003, 203.

Probably overstruck on a Corinthian-type stater brought to Calabria in connection with the the Italian campaigns of King Archidamos III of Sparta. The Tarentines sought his military aid in 343 against the neighboring Lucanians; he obliged and arrived with a fleet and an army of Peloponnesian mercenaries. He fought successfully against Tarentum's Italic enemies of Tarentum until he was killed in battle against the Messapians in 338.