Lot 1005
Calabria, Taras. Silver Nomos (6.40 g), ca. 280-272 BC. Phy…, Sodamos and Gy…, magistrates. The Dioskouroi on horseback riding left; above, magistrate's monogram: ΦY; below, between horses' hooves, magistrate's name: [ΣΩ]Δ-A-M-O-Σ.Rev. TA-PAΣ, Taras seated astride dolphin left over waves, holding Nike crowning him with wreath and small, round shield ornamented with a hippocamp and javelins; in left field, magistrate's name: ΓY. (Vlasto 773-80; HN Italy 1011). Lovely cabinet toning. Extremely fine. Estimate $2,000UP
Ex Roma V (23 March 2013), lot 24.
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 shipwrecked 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).
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