Lot 4035
Calabria, Taras, c. 510-500 BC. AR Stater (or Nomos; 8.03 g). Taras astride dolphin right, scallop shell below; all within dot-and-reel border. Reverse: As obverse, only incuse and reversed (but ethnic in relief). Fischer-Bossert 16 (these dies); Vlasto 68. Nearly Extremely Fine.
Early Greek coinage minted in southern Italy resulted in thin, spread-fabric nomoi which incorporated one principal type. This type was utilized both in relief (obverse) and incuse (reverse) — for Taras, or Tarentum, it involved the city's mythological founding. At about this time, Pythagoras expounded a philosophy of positive and negative, good and bad, birth and death, which could well have influenced the creation of these numismatic treasures.
On this extremely rare coin, note the beautiful facial details on Taras, the dolphin rider. When becoming one with this coin, the viewer is astounded by the complexities as well as the simplicity in design and execution. Two distinct dies were employed — one for the obverse, one for the reverse — which necessitated their alignment at the moment of stiking. Otherwise, the planchet would shatter.
Estimated Value $15,000 - 20,000.
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| Realized $10,925 |
