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Iberia and Magna Graecia, c. 420 - 30 B.C., Lot of 15 Ancient Coins
The following is from Moneta Numismatic Services and (1) Sayles and Lavendar tags and is not verified by FORVM: 1) Menaion, Sicily, mid 3rd-2nd century B.C., AE16, 4.08g, veiled head of Demeter/MENAINWN, crossed torches, IIII below, CNS 7, aF. 2) Bruttium, Italy, 214-211 B.C., 8.06g, head of Zeus, grain behind/eagle standing left on thunderbolt, cornucopia left, Scheu 13, VF. 3) The Bretti, Bruttium, Italy, c. 208-203 B.C., AE24, 12.12g, helmeted head of Ares/Hera advancing right, HN Italy 2003, nVF. 4) The Bretti, Bruttium, Italy, 214-211 B.C., AE17, 3.62, Nike left/Zeus hurling thunderbolt, HN Italy 1943, gF. 5) Syracuse, Sicily, 406-405 B.C., AE12, 1.46g, female head right/octopus, Calciati II p. 38, 9, F, ex Sayles and Lavendar. 6) Obulco, Iberia, 1st century B.C., AE20, 3.90g, laureate head of Apollo right/bull standing right, VF. 7) Leontini, Sicily, 207 - 200 B.C., AE14, 2.44g, wreathed and veiled head of Demeter left/bundle of four grain ears, CNS 9, F. 8) Akragas, Sicily, 240-212 B.C., AE19, 5.58g, Kore wearing grain/Asklepios standing resting on serpent-entwined staff, CNS 144, VF/F. 9) Iberia, hacksilver, 4th-2nd century B.C., 4.29g, equal in weight to an Attic drachm. 10) Iberia, Punic Issues, mid-late 3rd century B.C., AE12, 1.80g, wreathed head of Tanit right/Horse head left, ACIP 590, F. 11) Gadir, Iberia, 2nd century B.C., AE25, 7.95g, head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin headdress/two fish, SNG BM 228, nF. 12) Zeugitana, Carthage, 300-264 B.C., AE20, 5.44g, wreathed head of Tanit left/head of horse right, MAA 57, VF. 13) Paestum, Lucania, 3rd century B.C., AE17, 4.45g, laureate head of Neptune right/dolphin left, F. 14) Kamarina, Sicily, 420-405 B.C., AE10, 1.02g, Gorgoneion/owl standing right, lizard before, Westermark-Jenkins 186, VF. 15) The Mamertini, Messana, Sicily, 211-208 B.C., AE26, 9.97g, Zeus/warrior, CNS 41, nF. LT96255. Bronze Lot, 15 ancient bronze coins from Iberia and Magna Graecia, c. 420 - 30 B.C.; the actual coins in the photograph, in flips (non-archival) with Moneta Numismatic Services (14) or Sayles & Lavender (1) tag (information not verified by FORVM), tag prices total $925, 15 coins; $400.00 SALE PRICE $360.00
Apulian Greek, Gnathia Ware Kantharos, c. 3rd Century B.C.
AC34110. Black pottery Gnathia Ware kantharos, Choice, 15.5 cm (6 1/8") tall, 22 cm (8 1/2") across handles; vertical ribbing, tall neck handles, yellow slip decoration in a pattern as a necklace with multiple bangles, pinched in bottom base; small chip in handle, crack in side; SOLD
Greek, South Italian, Black Kylix, 4th Century B.C.
From the collection of Alex G. Malloy, former dealer in antiquities for 40 years. AM35507. Kylix; cf. Farwell, fig. 64-69 (similar ware); 8 ½ inches from handle to handle, Attractive average condition, wheel made with stemmed foot, rim everted above slight shoulder, two long handles at sides, buff-pink clay, full black glaze to surface, restoration to part of body and rim base; SOLD
Thourioi, Lucania, Italy, c. 400 - 350 B.C.
A superb example from the period when Thurium's coinage reached its highest point of excellence in execution. The head of Athena is probably that of the sea-goddess Athena Skyletria. The bull may be a symbol of Dionysos or may have been derived from the archaic coins of Sybaris and symbolize the river Krathis. A more romantic view is that the butting bull symbolizes the rushing waters of the fountain Thuria from which the city took its name.SH28048. Silver double nomos, Noe Thurian, group F, 28 (same dies); HN Italy 1805; SNG ANS 969; SNG Lloyd 486 (same dies); Jameson 359 (same dies); Pozzi 229 (same dies), VF, toned, weight 15.461 g, maximum diameter 26.3 mm, die axis 0o, Thourioi (near Sibari, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy) mint, c. 400 - 350 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla scanning; ΙΔ behind neck guard; reverse ΘΟΥΡΙΩΝ, bull butting right, fish right in exergue; well struck on a broad flan, ex Sunrise Collection, Triton X lot 45; SOLD
Taras, Calabria, Pyrrhus of Epirus, c. 280 B.C.
Certificate of Authenticity issued by David R. Sear.
Gold coins of Magna Graecia are scarce and were only minted for exceptional occasions, such as paying mercenaries. In 279 BC, Pyrrhus forces, supporting the Greek cities of southern Italy, met and defeated the Romans at the battle of Asculum in Apulia. Pyrrhus, however, lost many men, several close associates, and all of his baggage. When one of his soldiers congratulated him on his victory, he famously replied: "Another such victory and we are ruined!" From this we have the term Pyrrhic victory, a victory achieved at ruinous cost.
SH24865. Gold quarter stater, Fischer-Bossert p. 370, G59g and pl. 68 (this coin); HN Italy 986; Vlasto 49; SNG ANS 1043, VF, weight 2.134 g, maximum diameter 11.7 mm, die axis 225o, Taras (Taranto, Italy) mint, c. 280 B.C.; obverse laureate head of Apollo right, AP monogram behind; reverse ΤΑΡΑΝΤΙΝΩΝ, eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings open, (AP monogram) left; ex Hess-Leu, 27th March 1956, lot 12; rare; SOLD
Kroton, Bruttium, c. 350 - 340 B.C.
In 295 B.C., Kroton fell to another Syracusan tyrant, Agathocles. When Pyrrhus invaded Italy in 280 B.C., it was still a considerable city, with twelve miles (19 km) of walls, but after the Pyrrhic War, half the town was deserted (Livy 24.3). What was left of its population submitted to Rome in 277 B.C. After the Battle of Cannae in the Second Punic War, Hannibal made it his winter quarters for three years and the city was not recaptured until 205 or 204 B.C. In 194 B.C., it became the site of a Roman colony. Little more is heard of it during the Republican and Imperial periods.SH15423. Silver nomos, SNG ANS 379 (same dies), Head HN 2160, VF, weight 7.053 g, maximum diameter 20.5 mm, die axis 90o, Kroton (Crotone, Calabria, Italy) mint, c. 350 - 340 B.C.; obverse head of Hera Lakinia facing, wearing stephane; reverse Herakles seated left on lion-skin, holding cup in extended right; above, bow, quiver and club; attractive high relief obverse and nicely toned; SOLD
Thourioi, Lucania, Italy, 443 - 400 B.C.
Nearly 70 years after Sybaris was destroyed by the Crotoniats, a new colony was founded on the site on the Gulf of Taranto. Soon after, on the advice of an oracle, the settlers moved a short distance away near a fountain named Thuria, after which the new city was named. This obverse die is one of the most beautiful of this series.SH08279. Silver stater, SNG Cop 1405, SGCV I 435, EF, weight 7.91 g, maximum diameter 20.7 mm, die axis 0o, Thourioi (near Sibari, Cosenza, Calabria, Italy) mint, 443 - 400 B.C.; obverse head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet decorated with olive wreath; reverse ΘΟΥΡΙΩΝ, thickset, short legged bull right, head in profile, just beginning to charge, fish in exergue; fine style, high relief, beautiful toning with rainbow colors; SOLD
Taras, Calabria, Italy, c. 280 - 272 B.C.
Taras, the only Spartan colony, was founded in 706 B.C. The founders were Partheniae ("sons of virgins"), sons of unmarried Spartan women and Perioeci (free men, but not citizens of Sparta). These out-of-wedlock unions were permitted to increase the prospective number of soldiers (only the citizens could be soldiers) during the bloody Messenian wars. Later, however, when they were no longer needed, their citizenship was retroactively nullified and the sons were obliged to leave Greece forever. Their leader, Phalanthos, consulted the oracle at Delphi and was told to make the harbor of Taranto their home. They named the city Taras after the son of Poseidon, and of a local nymph, Satyrion. The reverse depicts Taras being saved from a shipwreck by a dolphin sent to him by Poseidon. This symbol of the ancient Greek city is still the symbol of modern Taranto today.GS85114. Silver nomos, Vlasto 739 ff., HN Italy 1006, SNG ANS 1106 ff., SNG BnF 1904 ff., SNG Munchen 669 ff., SNG Lloyd 206, Dewing 211, EF, lovely old cabinet toning with hints of iridescence, well centered, beautiful depiction of Phalanthos, some obverse die wear, weight 6.537 g, maximum diameter 22.8 mm, die axis 45o, Taras (Taranto, Italy) mint, magistrates Zo…, Neyme…, & Poly…, c. 280-272 B.C.; obverse nude youth on horseback right crowning horse with wreath; magistrates' names ZΩ above and NEY/MH in two lines below; reverse Taras (or Phalanthos) astride dolphin left, nude, legs crossed, helmet in extended right hand, stars flanking before and behind, magistrates name ΠΟΛΥ above right, TAPAΣ below; ex Goldberg auction 96, lot 1498; SOLD
Neapolis, Campania, Italy, 320 - 300 B.C.
Naples is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Bronze Age Greek settlements were established in the second millennium B.C. The city was refounded as Neapolis in the sixth century B.C. and became an important hub of Magna Graecia, playing a key role in the merging of Greek culture into Roman society. Naples remained influential under Rome and more so after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, serving as the capital city of the Kingdom of Naples between 1282 and 1816. Thereafter, it became the capital of the Two Sicilies until the unification of Italy in 1861.SH79832. Silver didrachm, Historia Numorum pl. 10, 571 (same dies); Sambon 438; SNG ANS 318; BMC Italy p. 98, 47; SNG Cop -, VF, beautiful style, well centered on a tight flan, uneven toning, weight 7.362 g, maximum diameter 19.0 mm, die axis 0o, Neapolis (Naples, Italy) mint, 320 - 300 B.C.; obverse diademed head of siren Parthenope right, wearing large pendant earring and pearl necklace, bunch of grapes (control symbol) behind neck, ΔΙΟΦΑΝΟΥΣ (master engraver or magistrate name) below neck truncation (off flan); reverse man-faced bull standing right, head turned facing, Nike above flying right and placing wreath on bull's head, ΠΔ monogram below, NEOΠOΛITΩN in exergue (off flan); SOLD
Taras, Calabria, Italy, c. 272 - 240 B.C.
Taras, the only Spartan colony, was founded in 706 B.C. The founders were Partheniae ("sons of virgins"), sons of unmarried Spartan women and Perioeci (free men, but not citizens of Sparta). These out-of-wedlock unions were permitted to increase the prospective number of soldiers (only the citizens could be soldiers) during the bloody Messenian wars. Later, however, when they were no longer needed, their citizenship was retroactively nul|lified and the sons were obliged to leave Greece forever. Their leader, Phalanthus, consulted the oracle at Delphi and was told to make the harbor of Taranto their home. They named the city Taras after the son of Poseidon, and of a local nymph, Satyrion. The reverse depicts Taras being saved from a shipwreck by a dolphin sent to him by Poseidon. This symbol of the ancient Greek city is still the symbol of modern Taranto today.SH75331. Silver nomos, SNG Cop 927, Vlasto 890, HN Italy 1037, gVF, fine style, well centered on a tight flan, toned, some marks, scratches, and light corrosion, weight 6.332 g, maximum diameter 18.7 mm, Taras (Taranto, Italy) mint, c. 272 - 240 B.C.; obverse |-ΗΡΑΚ/ΛΗΤΟΣ below, helmeted and cuirassed warrior on horseback right, shield on his back, transverse spear downward in right hand; reverse TAPAΣ, Phalanthos on dolphin left, flower in extended right hand, cornucopia in left hand, EΓ monogram and thymiaterion (incense burner) behind; SOLD