Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Auction 123 23-24 May 2023
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BRUTTIUM, Kaulonia. Circa 525-500 BC. AR Nomos (31mm, 7.91 g, 12h). Apollo advancing right, holding branch aloft in right hand, left arm extended, upon which a small daimon, holding branch in each hand, runs right; KAVΛ to left; to right, stag standing right, head reverted; dot-and-cable border / Incuse of obverse, but daimon in outline and no ethnic; radiate border. Noe, Caulonia, Group A, 14; Gorini 3; HN Italy 2035; SNG ANS 147 (same obv. die); McClean 1591 (same dies). Wonderful deep old cabinet tone. EF.
Ex Mark and Lottie Salton Collection.
Kaulonia was founded in the 7th century BC by Achaean Greeks. The location, on the underside of Italy's "toe," has long since disappeared beneath the waves, but underwater archaeologists have located more than 100 fluted columns, likely for a large shrine to Apollo, the deity depicted on the city's beautiful coinage. On this exceptional piece, Apollo's nude body is shown striding to right, with a small winged daimon on his left arm; to his right stands a stag, sacred to both Apollo and his sister Artemis. The unusual fabric of this piece follows a style peculiar to Greek southern Italy in the archaic period: A broad, thin flan, obverse depicted in relief, the reverse repeating the obverse motif but incuse, and reversed. The reasons for the popularity of this fabric are poorly understood; some scholars have postulated a connection to the mathematician-philosopher Pythagoras, who was active in Italy during this period.
Ex Mark and Lottie Salton Collection.
Kaulonia was founded in the 7th century BC by Achaean Greeks. The location, on the underside of Italy's "toe," has long since disappeared beneath the waves, but underwater archaeologists have located more than 100 fluted columns, likely for a large shrine to Apollo, the deity depicted on the city's beautiful coinage. On this exceptional piece, Apollo's nude body is shown striding to right, with a small winged daimon on his left arm; to his right stands a stag, sacred to both Apollo and his sister Artemis. The unusual fabric of this piece follows a style peculiar to Greek southern Italy in the archaic period: A broad, thin flan, obverse depicted in relief, the reverse repeating the obverse motif but incuse, and reversed. The reasons for the popularity of this fabric are poorly understood; some scholars have postulated a connection to the mathematician-philosopher Pythagoras, who was active in Italy during this period.