Bruttium (Ancient Greek Italy)
Bruttium, Temesa. Silver Nomos (8.16 g) ca. 450 BC. Between two greaves, tripod with three ring handles, legs ending in lion's paws. Reverse: TEM, Corinthian helmet with crest right. AMB 234 ( this specimen ); Jameson 464. Extremely Rare. Well struck and well centered. Attractive light toning. Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $25,000
According to Greek mythological tradition the somewhat obscure city of Temisa was founded by Polites, one of the companions of Odysseus on the difficult return journey from the Trojan War. The city grew and prospered over the years and centuries, thanks in part to a nearby copper mine, but was said to be plagued by the shade of Polites, which attacked people in the night. (No reason is given as to why he should have haunted his own foundation). At last, the ghost was put to rest when the Olympic athlete Euthymos of Lokroi Epizephyrioi challenged it to a wrestling match and won. Evidently shouting "Boo!" in a scary voice was not enough to break a choke hold.

This story is thought to symbolize the probable late fifth-century BC domination of Temisa by Lokroi—only one in a line of cities to hold power over Temisa. It was originally subject to the indulgent city of Sybaris before the latter was destroyed by Kroton in ca. 510 BC. Once Sybaris was no more, Temisa fell under the domination of Kroton. Although the present coin was struck in the mid-fifth century BC when Krotoniat power was on the decline, the obverse tripod type (a well-established emblem of Kroton) suggests the continued influence of Kroton over Temisa. However, the addition of the greaves seems to be a specifically Temesan feature. A related issue (HN Italy 2122) employs the same tripod and helmet types as well as abbreviated legends that seem to name both cities.
Ex Abou Taam Family collection; Ex Dr. B. Peus Nach., Frankfort/M. 407, 2012, lot 141; Ex NAC AG, Zurich, Auction 13 (1998), lot 234; Ex Dr. H. Maag Collection; Ex Dr. A.D. Moretti Collection.