Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction X 27 September 2015
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Bruttium, Rhegion AR Tetradrachm. Circa 435 BC. Facing lion's head / Iocastus seated left on diphros, holding staff in right hand and resting left on back of seat, RECINON (retrograde) around, all within olive wreath border. HN Italy 2483; Herzfelder 42A. 17.32g, 30mm, 12h.
Good Very Fine. Very Rare.
Well centred obverse of good style, attractively highlighted with gold iridescent toning.
From the Ambrose Collection;
Ex Peter Guber Collection, Manhattan Sale II, 4 January 2011, lot 7;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 33, 6 April 2006, lot 52.
The lion on the obverse of Rhegion's coinage is the sacred animal of Apollo, patron god of colonisation. The seated figure on the reverse has no distinctive attributes that aid identification, however current interpretations attribute him as being Iocastos, son of Aiolos, and who was king over much of the toe of Italy. That he died from the effects of a snake-bite we learn from Heraklides, a pupil of Plato: "Rhegion was founded by Chalkidians who had left Euripas on account of a pestilence; they were aided by Messenians, who settled down first near the grave of Iocastos, one of the sons of Aiolos, whom they say died from the bite of a snake." The fact that his brothers Pheraimon and Agathurnos were commemorated on coins of Messana and Tyndaris renders it likely that Iocastos should likewise be made the subject of a type.
Good Very Fine. Very Rare.
Well centred obverse of good style, attractively highlighted with gold iridescent toning.
From the Ambrose Collection;
Ex Peter Guber Collection, Manhattan Sale II, 4 January 2011, lot 7;
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 33, 6 April 2006, lot 52.
The lion on the obverse of Rhegion's coinage is the sacred animal of Apollo, patron god of colonisation. The seated figure on the reverse has no distinctive attributes that aid identification, however current interpretations attribute him as being Iocastos, son of Aiolos, and who was king over much of the toe of Italy. That he died from the effects of a snake-bite we learn from Heraklides, a pupil of Plato: "Rhegion was founded by Chalkidians who had left Euripas on account of a pestilence; they were aided by Messenians, who settled down first near the grave of Iocastos, one of the sons of Aiolos, whom they say died from the bite of a snake." The fact that his brothers Pheraimon and Agathurnos were commemorated on coins of Messana and Tyndaris renders it likely that Iocastos should likewise be made the subject of a type.