The Coin Cabinet
Auction 72 25 Oct 2022
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Ancient Greece: Taras, Calabria c.281-240 BC Silver Didrachm Ch VF Strike: 3/5 Surface: 3/5 #6156160-004
Ch VF Strike: 3/5 Surface: 3/5 | ANCIENT GREECE. TARAS, CALABRIA.
Silver didrachm, c.281-240 BC.
Taras, or perhaps better known by its Roman name Tarentum, was an ancient Spartan colony in southern Italy. In all of Magna Graecia, the Tarentine Mint was one of the more prolific mints, producing silver coinage as early as the late 6th century BC. The reverse depicts a man, likely Taras, the son of sea god Poseidon and nymph Satyrion. One founding myth of the city tells of Taras being stranded on an island, with his father rescuing him by sending a dolphin for his son to ride on. The dolphin carried Taras to the southern end of Italy, into what is now known as the Gulf of Taranto. Where he landed is where Taras was founded.
Taras and the dolphin iconography is depicted on the majority of Tarentine coinage and was paired with a variety of reverses in the fifth century BC. The most well-known variety are various depictions of horsemen, either military or athletic. After the introduction to this reverse, the next two centuries focused on the horseman/dolphin-rider iconography. This extensive series of horsemen reverses has been a favorite for collectors to engage in and find as many as they can.
Horserider crowning horse facing left. / Male, possible Taras, riding dolphin and holding trident, facing left. Owl to right. TARAS in Greek below.
Ch VF Strike: 3/5 Surface: 3/5.
Weight: 6.33 g.
Composition: Silver.
PLEASE NOTE: 6% Buyer Premium + VAT on this lot. No other fees, including live bidding. Delivery cost will be added to your order.
Ch VF Strike: 3/5 Surface: 3/5 | ANCIENT GREECE. TARAS, CALABRIA.
Silver didrachm, c.281-240 BC.
Taras, or perhaps better known by its Roman name Tarentum, was an ancient Spartan colony in southern Italy. In all of Magna Graecia, the Tarentine Mint was one of the more prolific mints, producing silver coinage as early as the late 6th century BC. The reverse depicts a man, likely Taras, the son of sea god Poseidon and nymph Satyrion. One founding myth of the city tells of Taras being stranded on an island, with his father rescuing him by sending a dolphin for his son to ride on. The dolphin carried Taras to the southern end of Italy, into what is now known as the Gulf of Taranto. Where he landed is where Taras was founded.
Taras and the dolphin iconography is depicted on the majority of Tarentine coinage and was paired with a variety of reverses in the fifth century BC. The most well-known variety are various depictions of horsemen, either military or athletic. After the introduction to this reverse, the next two centuries focused on the horseman/dolphin-rider iconography. This extensive series of horsemen reverses has been a favorite for collectors to engage in and find as many as they can.
Horserider crowning horse facing left. / Male, possible Taras, riding dolphin and holding trident, facing left. Owl to right. TARAS in Greek below.
Ch VF Strike: 3/5 Surface: 3/5.
Weight: 6.33 g.
Composition: Silver.
PLEASE NOTE: 6% Buyer Premium + VAT on this lot. No other fees, including live bidding. Delivery cost will be added to your order.