Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XII 29 September 2016
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Bruttium, Rhegion AR Tetradrachm. Circa 435-425 BC. Facing lion's head; dotted border / RECINOS (retrograde), Apollo Iocastos enthroned left, holding long staff; laurel wreath around. Herzfelder 52 (same dies); HN Italy 2491; SNG Copenhagen -, cf. 1929; SNG ANS 640. 17.05g, 27mm, 1h.
Good Very Fine. Obv. of particularly fine style. Old cabinet tone.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 9, 16-17 April 1996, lot 118;
Ex Astarte 2, 5 March 1999, lot 50;
Ex Italo Vecchi 8, 04 December 1997, lot 17.
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. Obv. of particularly fine style. Old cabinet tone.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 9, 16-17 April 1996, lot 118;
Ex Astarte 2, 5 March 1999, lot 50;
Ex Italo Vecchi 8, 04 December 1997, lot 17.
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.