Lot 4007
Lucania, Sybaris. Silver Stater (8.1g) struck ca. 550-510 BC. VM in exergue; bull standing left, head reverted. Reverse: Incuse bull standing right, head reverted. HN Italy 1729; SNG ANS 828-844; Dewing Coll. 406. Very bold and nicely toned. Nearly Extremely Fine.
An Achaean colony dating from about 720 BC, Sybaris rapidly grew to be the wealthiest city in the area. The luxury enjoyed by its population was proverbial, hence the modern words sybarite and sybaritic. The bull may symbolize the local river god Krathis. The archaic coinage of Sybaris was brought to an abrupt end in 510 BC when the city was destroyed by the rival state of Kroton. The waters of the Krathis were diverted to flow over the site of the sacked city, thus obliterating all trace of its former splendor.
Estimated Value $3,000 - 4,000.
The Hunter Collection.
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| Realized $3,220 |
