11 / 194
6
Calabria, Taras. Silver Diobol (1.25 g), ca. 325-280 BC. Head of Herakles facing slightly left, wearing lion’s
skin headdress; club at shoulder. Rev. Herakles standing right, wrestling the Nemean lion; in left field,
club; between legs of Herakles,
F
. Vlasto 1348 (same dies); SNG ANS 1431; HN Italy 977. Perfectly
centered and sharply struck obverse. Exceptional for the issue. A miniature numismatic gem!
Toned. Extremely Fine.
$1,000
Ex Hess-Divo 317 (27 October 2010), lot 10;
Ex Peus 372 (30 October 2002), lot 39;
Ex Peus 345 (1 November 1995), lot 19.
7
Calabria, Taras. Silver Nomos (6.47 g), ca. 280-272 BC. Phy…, Sodamos and Gy…, magistrates. The
Dioskouroi on horseback riding left; above, magistrate’s monogram:
FU
; below, between horses’ hooves,
magistrate’s name: [
SWD
-A-M]-O-
S
. Rev:
TA
-[
RAS
], Taras seated astride dolphin left over waves, hold-
ing Nike crowning him with wreath and small, round shield ornamented with a hippocamp and javelins; in
left field, magistrate’s name:
G
Y. Vlasto 773-80; HN Italy 1011. Boldly struck and very choice. Attractively
toned. Removed from an NGC holder where graded AU, strike: 4/5, surface: 5/5.
Our grade Superb Extremely Fine.
$750
From the Dionysus Collection.
The city of Taras was named for the hero of the same name who was a son of Poseidon and the nymph Satyrion. He was ship-
wrecked during a crossing from Tainaron in the Peloponnesos to southern Italy, but Poseidon sent a dolphin to carry him to
safety. The city was founded not far from the site where the hero came ashore. It has been suggested that this myth may reflect
actual occurrences of dolphins saving shipwrecked sailors from drowning. This particular issue may have been struck to hire
mercenaries to support Taras against the Romans during the Pyrrhic War (280-275 BC).
8
Calabria, Taras. Silver Drachm (3.29 g), ca. 280-272 BC. Helmeted head of Athena left; below, EY. Rev.
TAPANTIN
W
N, owl standing right on thunderbolt, head facing; in right field,
SW
. Vlasto 1077; SNG
Delepierre 250; HN Italy 1018. Lustrous surfaces and lightly toned. Superb Extremely Fine.
$300
From the Dionysus Collection.