The Second Known

Samnium, Meles Cast Æ Sextans. Time of Hannibal, 216-210 BC. Bearded head of Hercules-Baal to right, club over shoulder; •• (mark of value) behind / African elephant with mahout advancing to left. ICC 325; Campana, PN 83, 1995, pp. 283-8, 2 A/a; Haeberlin p. 175, 9 pl. 69, 40; HN Italy 442; HGC 1, 343. 20.65g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine. Extremely rare with elephant to left.

From the inventory of a UK dealer.

Meles was a Samnite oppidum which Hannibal occupied as a base for his supply train; the precise location of which is unknown. The town was retaken by Rome in 210 BC. The coin types are derived from Barcid issues from Spain (cf. ACIP 553 and for discussion see: E.S.G Robinson, Essays Mattingly, p. 40).

Campania, Cales AR Didrachm. Circa 265-240 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet; branch behind neck / Nike in biga galloping to left, holding reins and kentron; CALENO below. HN Italy 434; Sambon 901 var. (different style of branch); SNG ANS -; Künker 273, 72 (same dies); HGC 1, 374. 7.10g, 22mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine. Rare with this control symbol.

From the inventory of a UK dealer.

Lucania, Herakleia AR Diobol. Circa 433-420 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp / Herakles kneeling to right, strangling lion; HE above. HN Italy 1360; Van Keuren 38-40; SNG ANS 17 (same dies); McClean 826-7; HGC 1, 984. 1.19g, 12mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine.

From a private European collection; Acquired from Dix Noonan Webb Ltd.

Delivered from Plague by the Intervention of Apollo

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 540-510 BC. Ear of barley with seven grains on each side; META downwards to left, grasshopper to right; raised and braided dotted border around / Incuse barley ear; dolphin upwards to left in linear relief. Noe 102 (2 examples); HN Italy 1472; HGC 1, 1027. 7.95g, 28mm, 12h.

Good Extremely Fine; very attractive old cabinet tone. Extremely Rare. An issue of great fascination.

Ex Long Valley River Collection, Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XX, 30 October 2020, lot 17; Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XII, 29 September 2016, lot 24; Ex B.R.H. Collection, privately purchased c.1980s in Munich.

The most desirable of all the incuse types of Metapontion, this remarkable and brief series comprising only four known obverse dies for the staters and one for a third stater marks the first usage of adjunct symbols on the coinage of Metapontion. A series of great fascination, the meaning of the grasshopper and the dolphin has been a subject of debate for many years. Noe (The Coinage of Metapontum, p. 7-9) advocated the symbols as representing the badges of the moneyers’ houses, an argument not dissimilar to that which led the early archaic Athenian coins to be called ‘wappenmünzen’. Lenormant’s view that the insect has a propitiatory significance is rejected with the derisory rhetorical question “there may have been a plague of locusts but could there have been a plague of dolphins?”, while avoiding trying to explain its significance.

Babelon (Traité I, pp. 1395-1396) proposed a punning reference to the hero Alybas, father of Metabos, and legendary founder of the city, however the Greek word he proposes to mean locust is incorrect, and the argument founders, still failing to explain the dolphin. It is most logical to follow Lenormant and view the appearance of the grasshopper-locust on the coins as being a propitiatory emblem or commemorating the deliverance of the city from a plague of locusts through the intervention of Apollo. Indeed, the god is closely associated with afflictions (and the relief thereof), and had as one of his epithets ‘Parnopios’, from πάρνοψ, “locust” - the expeller of locusts. Given that the dolphin was both a form he had taken and one of his sacred animals, as well as being a punning allusion to him as Apollo Delphinios, it seems eminently reasonable to determine the link between the two symbols as being in reference to a plague of locusts whose abatement was attributed to the intervention of Apollo. That the grasshopper-locust symbol recurs several times more throughout the extensive coinage of Metapontion and at appreciable intervals is hardly suggestive of descendants of a particular family holding office, as Noe suggested, but rather more likely indicative of recurrent swarms threatening the principle source of the city’s wealth and food.

Ex Stack’s Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio), Sale 177 - ANA Auction Sess. B, 13 August 2013, lot 11010.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 510-470 BC. Ear of barley with seven grains on each side; META upwards to right / Incuse ear of barley with seven grains. Noe Class IX, 185; HN Italy 1482; HGC 1, 1028.

NGC graded Ch XF 5/5 - 3/5 (#4936366-002).

Acquired from Classical Numismatics Group; Accompanied by old envelope from Coin Galleries (New York).

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 430-400 BC. Head of Demeter to right, hair bound in crossed fillet; HYΓIEIA along neck truncation / Barley ear of six grains with leaf to left; [ME] upwards to right, T below leaf. Noe 413 (same obv. die); HN Italy 1516; SNG ANS 322 (same obv. die); HGC 1, 1042. 7.68g, 21mm, 1h.

Extremely Fine; somewhat weakly struck. Rare.

Acquired from Artemide Aste s.r.l. (San Marino).

The delightful obverse die used to strike this piece included the inscription HYΓIEIA along the neck truncation, which Noe (following Head) took as identifying the type, or possibly as an epithet.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 340-330 BC. Phi-, magistrate. Wreathed head of Demeter to right, wearing triple pendant earring and necklace and veil / Ear of barley with leaf to left; mouse to left on leaf, Φ below, META downwards in right field. Johnston Class A, 8.8 (same dies); HN Italy 1570; SNG Lockett 412 (same dies); BMC 122 = Weber 775 (same dies); SNG ANS 419 (same obv. die) and 421 (same rev. die); HGC 1, 1061. 7.64g, 23mm, 3h.

Near Extremely Fine; pleasant dark cabinet tone.

From a private European collection.

27.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 340-330 BC. S- and Ami-, magistrates. Head of Leukippos to right, wearing Corinthian helmet; [ΛEYKIΠΠO]Σ above, hound seated to left in left field, Σ below neck truncation / Ear of barley with seven grains and leaf to right, from which dove is alighting; META upwards in left field, A[M] below leaf. Johnston Class B, 3.8-10 (same obv. die); HN Italy 1576; SNG ANS 447 (same obv. die); BMC 79 (same obv. die); McClean 949 (same obv. die); HGC 1, -. 7.95g, 20mm, 12h.

Near Mint State; attractive old cabinet tone.

Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group; uncertain old dealer’s ticket included noting inv. # 5016.

1,200

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 340-330 BC. S- and Ami-, magistrates. Head of Leukippos to right, wearing Corinthian helmet; ΛΕΥΚΙΠΠΟΣ above, hound seated to left in left field, Σ below neck truncation / Ear of barley with seven grains and leaf to right, from which dove is alighting; META upwards in left field, A[MI] below leaf. Johnston Class B, 3.14-16 (same obv. die); HN Italy 1576; SNG ANS 443-50; HGC 1, -. 7.88g, 21mm, 10h.

About Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

Ex Baldwin’s Auctions Ltd, Auction 100, 27 September 2016, lot 170.

1,200

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 330-290 BC. Dai-, and Mach-, magistrates. Wreathed head of Demeter to right, wearing triple pendant earring and necklace; Δ[AI] under chin / Ear of barley with leaf to right; META upwards in left field, plough above leaf, M[AX] below. Johnston Class C, 1.66 (same dies); HN Italy 1581; HGC 1, 1063. 7.80g, 20mm, 9h.

Extremely Fine; attractively toned with subtle hints of rainbow iridescence to both sides.

From a private European collection.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 330-290 BC. Da-, magistrate. Wreathed head of Demeter to left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace / Ear of barley with leaf to right, fork with long handle on leaf; ATƎM upwards in left field, ΔA below leaf. Johnston Class C, 5.9 (same dies); HN Italy 1582; SNG ANS 407 (same dies); SNG Fitzwilliam 506 (same dies); HGC 1, 1063. 7.81g, 21mm, 10h.

Near Extremely Fine; stunning, untouched and lustrous fields.

From the inventory of a North American dealer.

31.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 330-290 BC. Da-, magistrate. Wreathed head of Demeter to left, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace / Ear of barley with leaf to left, fork with long handle on leaf; META upwards in right field, ΔA below leaf. Johnston Class C, 5.8 (same obv. die, unlisted rev. die); HN Italy 1582; SNG Tübingen 458 (same obv. die); HGC 1, 1063; CNG 96, 4 (same dies). 7.83g, 21mm, 4h.

Near Extremely Fine; highly lustrous.

32.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 330-290 BC. Ly-, magistrate. Wreathed head of Demeter to right, wearing triple pendant earring and necklace; [EY] below chin / Ear of barley with leaf to right, star on leaf; META upwards in left field, ΛY in lower left field. Johnston Class C, 8.4 (same dies); HN Italy 1592; HGC 1, 1063. 7.78g, 20mm, 9h.

Near Extremely Fine; light cabinet tone with lustre around the devices.

600

33. 450

Extremely Fine; flan flaw and slight split to rev., light cabinet tone with lustre around the devices.

From the inventory of a North American dealer.

34. 900

Near Extremely Fine; attractive light iridescent tone around the devices.

Ex Ira & Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles, Auction 80, 3 June 2014, lot 3236; Ex Richard P. Miller Collection, Gemini LLC, Auction XI, 12 January 2014, lot 4; Ex Edward J. Waddell Ltd, Web Auction, 24 November 2004.

Lucania, Metapontion AR Diobol. Circa 325-275 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing Corinthian helmet / Ear of barley with leaf to right; META upwards in left field, cornucopiae above leaf. Johnston F21; SNG ANS 533-9; SNG Lockett 430; HN Italy -; HGC 1, -. 0.88g, 13mm, 8h.

Near Extremely Fine; light cleaning marks to fields. Rare.

Ex Sir Gerard Clauson Collection.

Very Rare Left-Facing Demeter

Lucania, Metapontion AR Stater. Circa 290-280 BC. Head of Demeter to left, wearing triple pendant earring / Ear of barley with leaf to left; [ME]TA upwards to right, satyr standing to right on leaf playing pipes. Johnston D2.5; HN Italy 1614; HGC 1, 1066. 7.53g, 21mm, 9h.

Near Extremely Fine; light corrosion on rev., portrait in high relief. Very rare with Demeter head to left.

From the inventory of a UK dealer.

Lucania, Metapontion AV Tetrobol - 1/3 Stater. Attic standard. Time of Pyrrhos of Epeiros, circa 280-279 BC. Bearded head of the hero Leukippos to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with Skylla hurling a stone; ΛEYKIΠΠO[Σ] above / Two six-grained barley ears, each with a curling leaf; [M]-E across outer fields, ΣI between. Johnston G5.1 (same dies); HN Italy 1630; SNG ANS 397-8; SNG Lockett 404 (same rev. die); Basel 153 = Gillet 202 (same obv. die); Dewing 378; Gulbenkian 72; Jameson 1867; HGC 1, 1025. 2.87g, 15mm, 4h.

Near Extremely Fine.

Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Auction 108, 16 May 2018, lot 7.

Extremely Rare

3,600

Lucania, Poseidonia AR Drachm. Circa 530-500 BC. Poseidon advancing to right, chlamys draped over shoulders, preparing to throw trident held aloft in left hand, right hand extended; ΠOΣ (retrograde, the Σ sideways) to left / Incuse of obverse, except legend in relief and not retrograde. HN Italy 1108; SNG ANS 620-623 var. (obv. legend); SNG Copenhagen 1274 var. (same); CNG e-483, 25; HGC 1, 1156. 3.62g, 20mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; attractively toned. Extremely rare with obverse legend retrograde.

From the inventory of a UK dealer.

3,600

Ex Sternberg 1982

Lucania, Poseidonia AR Stater. Circa 470-445 BC. Poseidon advancing to right, wielding trident; ΠΟMΕ retrograde and downwards before / Bull standing to right, ΠΟMΕS (retrograde) above. HN Italy 1114; SNG ANS 646; HGC 1, 1151. 8.05g, 21mm, 6h.

39. 2,700

Extremely Fine; attractively old cabinet tone.

Ex F. Sternberg AG, Auction XII, 18 November 1982, lot 47.

40. 1,050

41.

Lucania, Thourioi AR Stater. Circa 443-400 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with laurel wreath / Bull butting to right; ΘΟΥΡΙΩΝ above, Δ below; fish to left in exergue. HN Italy 1760; SNG ANS 885-9; SNG Ashmolean 874-7; HGC 1, 1258. 7.97g, 20mm, 11h.

Near Extremely Fine; attractive old cabinet tone. Rare.

Ex Jesus Vico S.A., Auction 110, 9 March 2006, lot 85.

Lucania, Thourioi AR Distater. Circa 400-350 BC. Head of Athena to left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated on the bowl with Skylla scanning; Δ behind neck guard / Bull butting to right; ΘOYPIΩN above, fish to right in exergue. Noe, Thurian D.4 (same dies); HN Italy 1804; SNG ANS 960 (same dies); SNG Lockett 489 (same dies); Nanteuil 182 (same dies); HGC 1, 1256. 15.89g, 28mm, 7h.

Near Extremely Fine; minor flan flaw before portrait, bright, lustrous metal.

From the inventory of a North American dealer.

1,800

42. 900

Lucania, Thourioi AR Distater. Circa 400-350 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated on the bowl with Skylla scanning, griffin on neck guard / Bull butting to right; ΘOYPIΩN above, small monogram on rump, IΣTOPOΣ in small letters on exergual line, fish to right in exergue. Noe, Thurian B6 (same dies); HN Italy 1781 var. (Φ above visor); SNG ANS 957; HGC 1, 1254. 15.78g, 28mm, 10h.

Extremely Fine; remarkable detail remaining. Rare.

From a private Australasian Collection.

Lucania, Velia AR Drachm. Circa 535-465 BC. Forepart of lion to right, devouring prey / Quadripartite incuse square. HN Italy 1259; SNG Copenhagen 1521; SNG ANS 1202-10; HGC 1, 1327. 3.57g, 14mm.

Near Extremely Fine.

From the inventory of a UK dealer.

Ex Spencer-Churchill Collection, Ars Classica 1933

Lucania, Velia AR Didrachm. Circa 300-280 BC. Philistion Group. Head of Athena to left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp on bowl; monogram before / Lion walking to right; Φ-I flanking ornate trident head to right above, YEΛHTΩN in exergue. Williams Period VII, 511.a (this coin, O257/R359); HN Italy 1312; SNG ANS 1390; McClean 1466 (same dies); de Luynes 640; HGC 1, 1319. 7.44g, 22mm, 1h.

Good Extremely Fine; a magnificent portrait of Athena with splendid iridescence and a beautiful old cabinet tone.

This coin published in R. T. Williams, Silver Coinage of Velia (London, 1992); Ex Beaussant Lefèvre, Auction 2, 11-12 October 2011, lot 8; Ex collection of Captain E. G. Spencer-Churchill (cousin to Sir Winston Churchill), Ars Classica S.A., Auction XVI, 3 July 1933, lot 285.

Apulia

3,600

Apulia, Arpi AR Diobol. Circa 325-275 BC. Head of Athena to right, wearing Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp / Herakles kneeling to right, strangling lion; ΑΡΠ CΕΡ above, Δ below, [club] to left. HN Italy 637 var. (arrangement of legends); SNG ANS 632 var. (rev. legend); Siciliano D.1 var. (arrangement of legends); BMC 24 (Herakleia) var. (same); R. Garrucci, Le monete dell ‘Italia antica, 9-12 var. (same); HGC 1, 527 var. (same).

1.09g, 12mm, 7h.

Extremely Fine.

From a private European collection.

The name on this series of diobols is uncertain and is possibly related to the Roman name Septimius as suggested by HN Italy.

Calabria

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 490-480 BC. Taras astride dolphin to right, holding octopus; TAPAΣ below / Hippocamp swimming to right; scallop shell below. Fischer-Bossert 32 (V13/R25) = Vlasto 129 (same dies); HN Italy 827; HGC 1, 753. 8.00g, 20mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine; dark old cabinet tone. Very Rare.

Acquired from Münzhandlung Ritter, Düsseldorf, List 79, June 2007, lot 356.

4,800

48.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. 415-390 BC. TA[PANT]INΩN, Taras seated on dolphin swimming to right, holding akrostolion; K behind, shell below / Nude on horseback to right; Θ below. Fischer-Bossert 316 (V97/R245); Vlasto -; SNG ANS 866; SNG Copenhagen 797 (same dies); cf. HN Italy 847 (no K, no legend on reverse). 8.19g, 23mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Spring Sale 2020, 25 May 2020, lot 27; Ex Stack’s Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio), Sale 164 - NYINC Auction, 6 January 2012, lot 23; Ex Stack’s Bowers Galleries (& Ponterio), Coin Galleries July 2011, 7 July 2011, lot 927; Ex Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 74, 19-21 October 1998, lot 22.

1,800

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 340-325 BC. Kal-, magistrate. Nude rider on horseback to right, holding lance in right hand and shield with two javelins in left; KAΛ below, A-N-X around / Taras seated on dolphin to right, holding Phrygian helmet; KAΛ below, TAPAΣ upwards to left. FischerBossert 740a (same dies); Vlasto 558 (same dies); HN Italy 896; HGC 1, 794. 7.80g, 23mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 141; Ex private German collection, formed c.1980-2020.

1,500

49. 300

50.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Diobol. Circa 325-280 BC. Head of Herakles facing slightly to left, wearing lion skin headdress; club to left / Herakles standing to right, wrestling the Nemean Lion; club to left, Φ between legs of Herakles. Vlasto 1348 (same dies); HN Italy 977; SNG ANS -; SNG BnF 2112 (same dies); SNG Ashmolean 476; HGC 1, 835. 0.97g, 13mm, 2h.

Near Mint State; attractive old cabinet tone.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica AG, Auction 72, 16 May 2013, lot 827.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 272-240 BC. Phi- and Aristeid-, magistrates. Reduced standard. Nude youth on horseback to right, being crowned with wreath by Nike flying to right above; ΦI in right field, [Α]ΡΙΣΤΕΙΔΑΣ below horse / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding branch and trident; monogram to right, TAP[AΣ] below. Vlasto 911; HN Italy 1042; HGC 1, 895. 6.52g, 20mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; attractive cabinet tone with lustre around the devices.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Zopyrion, magistrate. Reduced standard. Nude youth on horseback to right; ΖΩΠΥΡΙΩΝ and ΣΩ above bukranion below / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding hippocamp in extended right hand, trident against left arm; monogram and head of bearded Pan to right, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 941 (same obv. die); HN Italy 1054; SNG ANS 1248 (same dies); SNG BnF 2053; SNG Lloyd 225; HGC 1, 900. 6.53g, 21mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine; a highly attractive example of a rare type.

From a private European collection.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Olympis, magistrate. Reduced standard. Warrior on horseback to right, brandishing spear and holding reins; wreath behind, OΛYMΠIΣ below / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding kantharos and cornucopiae; tripod to right, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 942; HN Italy 1055; SNG ANS 1249; SNG Copenhagen 942; HGC 1, 901. 6.42g, 21mm, 5h.

Extremely Fine.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 151; Ex private German collection, formed c.1980-2020.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Philokles, magistrate. Reduced standard. Nude youth on horseback to right, crowning horse with wreath; monograms to left and [right], ΦΙΛΟΚΛΗΣ in two lines over dolphin to right below / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding horse rhyton and trident; two amphoroi (or loutrophoroi?) in right field, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 950; HN Italy 1057; SNG ANS 1254; HGC 1, 903. 6.36g, 19mm, 6h. Good Extremely Fine; struck on a tight flan of lustrous metal displaying a pleasant cabinet tone.

Acquired from Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger; Ex Ron Cathey Collection, privately purchased from Harlan J. Berk, Ltd. (dealer’s ticket included).

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Xenokrates, magistrate. Reduced standard. Bearded strategos on horse walking to left, wearing short tunic and chlamys, raising hand in salutation, with parazonium under left arm; monogram and pileus to upper right, ΞΕΝΟΚΡΑΤΗΣ in two lines below / Taras astride dolphin to left, with torso turned to right, naked but for chlamys raised in left hand, with trident over right shoulder; TAPAΣ to left, monogram to right, cuttlefish and waves below. Vlasto 955-958; HN Italy 1058; SNG ANS 1259; HGC 1, 904. 6.52g, 21mm, 7h.

Near Mint State.

From a private European collection.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Kallikrates, magistrate. Reduced standard. Strategos, holding Nike who crowns him in extended right hand, on horse rearing to right; monogram behind, KAΛΛIKPATHΣ in two lines below / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding Nike who crowns him in extended right hand, cradling trident in left arm; ligate NE behind, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 963; HN Italy 1059; SNG ANS 1260; HGC 1, 905. 6.44g, 21mm, 2h.

Near Mint State; a bright, lustrous example. From a private European collection.

1,200

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Kallikrates, magistrate. Reduced standard. Strategos, holding Nike who crowns him in extended right hand, on horse rearing to right; monogram behind, KAΛΛ[IKPATHΣ] in two lines below / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding Nike who crowns him in extended right hand, cradling trident in left arm; ligate NE behind, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 968; HN Italy 1059; SNG ANS 1262; SNG Lloyd 230; SNG BnF 2059-60; Dewing 316; HGC 1, 905. 6.56g, 20mm, 12h.

Near Mint State.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 148; Ex European collection, formed before 2005, Leu Numismatik AG, Auction 7, 24 October 2020, lot 1086.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Kallikrates, magistrate. Reduced standard. Strategos, holding Nike who crowns him in extended right hand, on horse rearing to right; monogram behind, KAΛΛIKPATHΣ in two lines below / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding Nike who crowns him in extended right hand, cradling trident in left arm; ligate NE behind, TAPAΣ below. Vlasto 968 (same dies); HN Italy 1059; SNG ANS 1262; SNG Lloyd 230; SNG BnF 2059-60; Dewing 316; HGC 1, 905. 6.46g, 21mm, 9h.

Mint State; attractive cabinet tone.

From a private European collection.

Calabria, Tarentum AR Nomos. Circa 240-228 BC. Kallikrates, magistrate. Reduced standard. Strategos, holding Nike who crowns him in extended right hand, on horse rearing to right; monogram behind, KAΛΛI[KPA]T[HΣ] in two lines below / Taras astride dolphin to left, holding Nike who crowns him in extended right hand, cradling trident in left arm; ligate NE behind, TAP[AΣ] below. Vlasto 968; HN Italy 1059; SNG ANS 1262; SNG Lloyd 230; SNG BnF 2059-60; Dewing 316; HGC 1, 905. 6.62g, 20mm, 9h.

Good Extremely Fine.

Ex Roma Numismatics Ltd., Auction XXII, 7 October 2021, lot 149; Ex private German collection, formed c.1980-2020.

Ex SKA-Monetarium FPL 47, 1987

Bruttium, Kaulonia AR Stater. Circa 525-500 BC. Nude Apollo walking to right, holding laurel branch, small daimon running to right on extended arm, holding branches; to right, stag standing to right with head reverted, KAVΛ to left; all within dot and cable border / Incuse of obverse, but no ethnic. Noe, Caulonia, Group A, 5 (same dies); SNG ANS 142 (same dies); Gulbenkian 119 (same dies); McClean 1589-90 (same dies); HN Italy 2035; HGC 1, 1416. 8.33g, 31mm, 12h.

Extremely Fine; beautiful old cabinet tone.

Ex Nomos AG, Auction 13, 7 October 2016, lot 116; Ex SKA-Monetarium, FPL 47, Spring 1987, no. 5.

8,100

The design of the incuse staters of Kaulonia has elicited various interpretations over the years; those that were current at the time of writing Historia Numorum in 1911 were reviewed by Barclay Head. Head interpreted the figure as being a representation of the oikist Typhon, who holds in his hand a plant (καυλος) stalk, alike to that of the parsnip plant, which he takes to be a punning allusion to the city. Modern scholarship however tends to identify the figure as Apollo, as the symbolism is more easily associated with this deity - a laurel branch, for instance, being more easily recognisable and sacred to Apollo. The small running figure most likely represents a daimon, a divinity of a lower order, who serves as a messenger of the gods. It may be, given his occasionally winged feet, that this daimon should be seen to be a wind god such as Zephyros. The stag is the only element which has consistently defied explanation (even by Head); its meaning was clearly sufficiently explicit and important for it to have eventually served as a the principle reverse type of Kaulonia. It may be a reference to Artemis, who at Aegium was worshipped jointly with Apollo in a temple the two gods shared.

Bruttium, Kaulonia AR Stater. Circa 475-425 BC. Nude Apollo walking to right, holding laurel branch, small daimon running to right on extended arm; to right, stag standing to right with head reverted, KAVΛ upwards to left / Stag standing to right; single branch in right field, KAVΛ (retrograde) above. Noe, Caulonia, 93 (same dies); SNG ANS 180 (same dies); HN Italy 2046; HGC 1, 1419. 7.79g, 20mm, 2h.

Near Extremely Fine; attractively toned with golden, iridescent highlights.

Ex Jesus Vico S.A., Auction 126, 9 June 2001, lot 194.

Bruttium, Kroton AR Stater. Circa 350-300 BC. Eagle with wings displayed and head raised, standing to left on olive branch; small AI below / Tripodlebes, with legs terminating in lion’s paws; KPO downwards to left, heron standing to left on [Δ] in right field. SNG ANS 367 (same obv. die); HN Italy 2174; HGC 1, 1464. 7.89g, 22mm, 8h.

Extremely Fine; fine detail, deep cabinet tone over lustrous metal.

Privately purchased from Nilus Coins (USD 2150); Ex Stack’s, The Saint Ludovico and Firth of Clyde Collections, 23 April 2009, lot 1019.

Bruttium, Kroton AR Stater. Circa 350-300 BC. Eagle with wings displayed and head raised, standing to left holding hare; AI below / Tripod-lebes, with legs terminating in lion’s paws; KPO downwards to left, heron standing to left on Δ in right field. SNG ANS 369-70; HN Italy 2175; HGC 1, 1464. 7.87g, 21mm, 2h.

Good Very Fine; striking rainbow iridescence to obv. devices.

From the Arethusa Collection; Ex Nomos AG, obolos 6, 20 November 2016, lot 68; Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Auction 143, 6 October 2008, lot 56.

2x 2x

Bruttium, Rhegion AR Litra. Circa 415-387 BC. Facing lion’s head / PH within olive sprig. Herzfelder pl. 11, J; SNG ANS 670-4; HN Italy 2499; HGC 1, 1655. 0.75g, 10mm, 3h.

Extremely Fine.

Ex Gitbud & Naumann, Auction 6, 4 August 2013, lot 55.

64.

A Magnificent Magna Graecian Bronze

Bruttium, Rhegion Æ 22mm. Circa 260-218 BC. Laureate head of Apollo to left; torque behind / Tripod; PHΓI-NΩN around. HN Italy 2543; SNG ANS 716-8; HGC 1, 1677. 6.80g, 22mm, 11h.

Near Mint State; in outstanding condition for the type - a truly magnificent Magna Graecian bronze.

Acquired from Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger; Privately purchased from CGB Numismatique (ticket included).

65.

Bruttium, The Brettii Æ Double or Didrachm. Circa 214-211 BC. Head of Ares to left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin; grain ear below, two pellets behind / Nike standing to left, placing wreath on trophy to left and cradling palm in her left arm; cornucopiae between, BPETTIΩN downwards to right. Scheu, Bronze 1; HN Italy 1975; SNG ANS 30-3; HGC 1, 1361. 17.44g, 26mm, 12h.

Good Very Fine; areas of flatness, pleasant patina.

Acquired from Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger.

Kingdom Of Mauretania

66.

600

300

Kingdom of Mauretania, Juba II AR Denarius. Caesarea, circa 25 BC - AD 24. Diademed head to right; REX IVBA before / Elephant walking to right on ground line. Mazard 135; MAA 75; SNG Copenhagen 577. 3.05g, 19mm, 5h.

Near Mint State; deep old cabinet tone. Very Rare.

Ex Graeculus Collection, Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 428, 28 April 2021, lot 537; Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 376, 29 October 2003, lot 820; Ex Schweizerischer Bankverein, Auction 28, 17-19 September 1991, lot 294.

Kingdom of Mauretania, Juba II, with Kleopatra Selene, AR Denarius. Caesarea, circa AD 11-23. Diademed head to right; REX IVBA before / Crocodile standing to left on ground line; BACIΛICCA above, [KΛ]ЄOΠATP[A] below. MAA 104 var. (placement of legend); Mazard 344; SNG Copenhagen 568-9; Roma XVIII, 515. 2.45g, 17mm, 6h.

Extremely Fine; areas of flat strike, attractive old collection tone. Very Rare.

Acquired from Silbury Coins.

1,050

600