Classical Numismatics Discussion - Members' Coin Gallery
  Welcome Guest. Please login or register. Share Your Collection With Your Friends And With The World!!! A FREE Service Provided By Forum Ancient Coins No Limit To The Number Of Coins You Can Add - More Is Better!!! Is Your Coin The Best Of Type? Add It And Compete For The Title Have You Visited An Ancient Site - Please Share Your Photos!!! Use The Members' Coin Gallery As A Reference To Identify Your Coins Please Visit Our Shop And Find A Coin To Add To Your Gallery Today!!!

Member Collections | Members' Gallery Home | Login | Album list | Last uploads | Last comments | Most viewed | Top rated | My Favorites | Search
Home > Members' Coin Collection Galleries > Enodia > Magna Graecia - Taras (Diobols)

Taras_Diobol_2.JPG
Taras, Calabria325-280 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.02g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla.
R: Herakles kneeling right, strangling the Nemean lion; club behind.
cf Vlasto 1308-9; HN Italy 976; Sear 351v
ex Jencek Historical Enterprise



Enodia
Taras_diobol~0.JPG
Taras, Calabria415-405 BC
AR Diobol (11mm, 0.95g)
O: Horse right, running free.
R: Taras astride dolphin right, left hand holding [distaff].
D'Andrea XVIII, 283; D'Andrea Diobols C, 6; Vlasto 1225; Cote 177; SNG Fitzwilliam 348; HGC I, 827; HN Italy 907
Very Scarce
ex Davissons Ltd

As the first port-of-call in southern Italy from Greece, Taras’ fine natural harbor soon established the city as a major center of Greek influence.
Founded in 706 BC by the Spartan Phalanthos, Taras derived its name from the son of Poseidon, who was carried ashore by a dolphin. Legend has it that Phalanthos too, after being shipwrecked, was rescued by a dolphin, and this explains the artistic device so common throughout this prolific coinage.
2 commentsEnodia
Vlasto_1404.JPG
Taras, Calabria272-240/35 BC
AR Diobol (13mm, 0.93g)
O: Head of Athena right wearing crested Attic helmet.
R: Herakles standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; club behind, ΦΙ between legs, [T]APANTIN to right.
D'Andrea XLIV, 1440; D'Andrea Diobols H, 240; Vlasto 1404; McGill II, 178; HN Italy 912
ex Aegean Numismatics

1 commentsEnodia
Vlasto_1415_2.JPG
Taras, Calabria290-281 BC
AR Diobol (12-14mm, 1.08g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin.
R: Herakles standing left, strangling the Nemean lion; club above Ionic capital to right, TAP above.
D'Andrea XL, 964; D'Andrea Diobols F, 163; Vlasto 1415; Cote 423; SNG ANS 1459; SNG Cop 1000-01; HN Italy 1064
Rare
From the Colin E. Pitchfork collection. ex CNG; ex Quadriga Ancients

Left-facing Athena’s are slightly less common on Tarentine coinage, and Corinthian helmets a bit moreso. But a left-facing Herakles is quite scarce and I am very happy to add this one to my collection.
5 commentsEnodia
V1236.JPG
Taras, Calabria330-325 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.06g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla.
R: Herakles standing right, strangling the Nemean lion.
D'Andrea XXXIII, 731; D'Andrea Diobols Series E, 22; Vlasto 1236; Cote 248; SNG Cop 994; McGill II, 148; SNG ANS 1359; HN Italy 914
From the Colin E. Pitchfork collection. ex CNG

The image of Herakles wrestling the Nemean lion on this series was inspired by the coinage of Herakleia, a Tarentine colony in Lucania and the headquarters of the Italiote League during the first half of the 4th century BC.
After the conquest of Herakleia by the Massapians in 356 leadership of the League was transferred to Taras, who began minting these diobols as a federal issue. It became almost as ubiquitous as the dolphin rider type, circulating as small change throughout southern Italy.
1 commentsEnodia
cf_V1239v.JPG
Taras, Calabria272-240/35 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 0.88g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla.
R: Herakles, holding club overhead, kneeling left on the back of the Nemean lion; [N]O above lion’s head, cornucopia to right.
D'Andrea XLIV, 1456; D'Andrea Diobols H, 256; Vlasto 1427; cf Cote 443-44; HN Italy 913
Scarce
ex Jencek Historical Enterprise

A scarce little coin featuring yet another scene from Herakles’ epic battle with the Nemean lion.
5 commentsEnodia
Vlasto_1405.JPG
Taras, Calabria272-240/35 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 0.85g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet.
R: Herakles standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; club behind, owl with spread wings between legs.
D'Andrea XLIV, 1442; D'Andrea Diobols H, 242 (this coin); Vlasto 1405; Cote 467-68
ex Gitbud & Naumann

D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series H, Type 242


2 commentsEnodia
Taras_Facing_Athena.JPG
Taras, Calabria281-276 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.05g, 10h)
O: Head of Athena facing slightly right, wearing triple crested helmet decorated with Skylla.
R: Herakles standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; club above amphora to left, ΕΥP between legs.
D'Andrea XLI, 1066; D'Andrea Diobols G, 318 (this coin); Vlasto 1437; SNG France 2135; Cote 597; SNG Cop 1004; HN Italy 1062
Very Scarce
From the Frank James collection. ex Spinks; ex Walter Holt; ex Roma Numismatics

D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series G, 218.
Facing heads do not occur often on Tarentine coinage, and the Athena with triple-crested helmet motif has always captivated me, so i am very happy to add this scarce type to my collection.
2 commentsEnodia
V_1296.JPG
Taras, Calabria335-333 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.22g, 11h)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp; Ξ behind neck-flap.
R: Herakles kneeling right, strangling the Nemean lion; [club] to left, TA above.
D'Andrea XXX, 609; D'Andrea Diobols E, 83 (thiscoin); Vlasto 1296 (this coin); HN Italy 912
From the M.P Vlasto Collection. ex Pegasi Numismatics; ex MNS

Vlasto plate coin, #1296
D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series E, Type 83

"Mr. Vlasto's collection of Tarentine coins is certainly the most complete that exists; practically all known varieties are represented; its catalog can therefore be considered a real corpus of the coinage of Tarentum. Numerous are the rare or unique specimens; but what makes this collection an outstanding one is its large number of exceptionally well preserved coins. Mr. Vlasto was never content with his specimens; if he could get a better one, he never missed the opportunity. He used to tell me that in some cases he had changed six specimens of the same coin and that he would even change the sixth if he could find a better one. The result is that many of his coins are really wonderful gems of priceless value. Any collector would be proud to have just one of them in his collection."

~ Oscar E. Ravel (Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Tarentine Coins formed by M. P. Vlasto - 1947)
4 commentsEnodia
V_1302.JPG
Taras, Calabria325-280 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.14g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with a hippocamp.
R: Herakles kneeling right, strangling the Nemean lion; EY above.
Vlasto 1302 (this coin); D'Andrea Diobols Series M (Herakleia); HN Italy 976
From the M.P Vlasto collection. ex MNS

Vlasto plate coin, #1302
This coin may in fact be an issue from Herakleia in Lucania.
2 commentsEnodia
Vlasto_1464.JPG
Taras, Calabria281-276 BC
AR Diobol (11mm, 0.77g)
O: Head of Athena facing slightly left, wearing triple-crested helmet decorated with Skylla; club to left, [TAPAΣ] above.
R: Herakles standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; club to left, AP monogram between Herakles legs.
D'Andrea XLI, 1069; D'Andrea Diobols G, 221; Vlasto 1464; Cote 558; SNG ANS 1476; SNG Cop 1005; cf HN Italy 1062
ex Marcantica Ancient Coins

There are many stories in Greek mythology regarding the goddess Athena; Her involvement in the War of the Giants, the contest with Poseidon to determine the patron of Athens, Her weaving contest with Arachne, the Judgment of Paris, and the blinding of Teiresias for viewing Her while bathing are among the most commonly known.
But it is Her assistance to Herakles during his Twelve Labors which concerns us here, the first of which, the slaying of the Nemean lion, is depicted on the reverse of this coin.
Enodia
Herakles_left.JPG
Taras, Calabria281-276 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.03g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla.
R: Herakles kneeling left, strangling the Nemean lion; club behind [owl] above lion.
D'Andrea XLI, 1026; D'Andrea Diobols G, 178; Vlasto 1325; Cote ---; McGill ---; SNG ANS 1412v
Very rare
ex Spartan Numismatics

A very uncommon left-facing Herakles.
Enodia
V_1235.JPG
Taras, Calabria375/70-370-65 BC
AR Diobol (11.5mm, 1.15g, 2h)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp.
R: Naked Herakles seated half-left on dead lion left, holding cup in right hand and club in left.
D'Andrea XXIV, 450 (this coin); D'Andrea Diobols D, 14d (this coin); Vlasto 1235 (this coin); SNG Cop 968 (same dies); HGC I, 829; HN Italy 910
Very Rare
From the AG Collection. ex Michel Pandely Vlasto Collection; ex Vecchi 17; ex CNG

Vlasto plate coin, #1235.
D'Andrea plate coin, Series XXIV, 450.
D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series D, Type 14.

Yet another reverse featuring Herakles‘ first labor. Here we see the final scene with our Hero, having slain the Nemean lion, now resting on the dead carcass and raising his cup. One can easily imagine him wondering how he is going to skin this impenetrable beast.
This coin is extremely rare, and Vlasto cites only this single die combination. I have found only three other specimens of this type listed.

3 commentsEnodia
Vlasto_1413.JPG
Taras, Calabria240/35-212 BC
AR Diobol (11mm, 0.97g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; T behind.
R: Herakles standing right, fighting Nemean lion with club in right hand; T to left.
D'Andrea XLV, 1660; D'Andrea Diobols I, 271; Vlasto 1413
Rare
ex Spartan Numismatics

Herakles Battle With the Nemean Lion
“… so the terrible lion arched himself and sprang from far upon me, raging to taste my flesh. I held in one hand my darts and the cloak from my shoulders, folded; with the other I swung my seasoned club about my ears and smashed it down on his head, but split the wild olive, rugged as it was, asunder on the invincible brute's maned skull. Before he could come at me, he fell, dropping down on the ground and stood on trembling feet swaying his head, for darkness swam about his eyes swaying his head, for darkness swam about his eyes at the stunning shock to the brain's core.”
~ Theocritus, Idylls 25. 132 ff
2 commentsEnodia
V_1241.JPG
Taras, Calabria333-331/30 BC
AR Diobol (11.5mm, 1.12g, 1h)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla.
R: Herakles standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; bow, quiver, and club to left; K between legs, [|- to lower right].
D'Andrea XXXII, 664; D'Andrea Diobols E, 36 (this coin); Vlasto 1241 (this coin); HN Italy 914
From the David Wray Collection. ex Michel P. Vlasto Collection; ex CNG

Vlasto plate coin, #1241
D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series E, Type 36.



Enodia
Vlasto_1323.JPG
Taras, Calabria281-276 BC
AR Diobol (11.5mm, 1.17g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla hurling stone.
R: Herakles kneeling right, strangling the Nemean lion; owl standing left above lion.
D'Andrea XLI, 1031; D'Andrea Diobols G, 183; Vlasto 1321; Cote 463; SNG Cop 976; SNG ANS 1413; SNG Lloyd 245; HN Italy 976
Scarce
From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection. ex Naville Numismatics


5 commentsEnodia
V_1300.JPG
Taras, Calabria
281-276 BC
Diobol AR (11mm, 0.77g.)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla.
R: Herakles kneeling right, wrestling the Nemean lion; owl standing left above lion, club to left.
D'Andrea XLI, 1023 (this coin); D'Andrea Diobols G, 175 (this coin); Vlasto 1331-23; HN Italy 976
ex Savoca Coins

D'Andrea plate coin, Series XLI, 1023
D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series G, 175
2 commentsEnodia
Vlasto_1260.JPG
Taras, Calabria320-315 BC
AR Diobol (13mm, 0.88)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp.
R: Herakles kneeling right with club in right hand, wrestling the Nemean lion; quiver below.
D'Andrea XXXV, 761; D'Andrea Diobols E, 46; Vlasto 1260; HN Italy 911; Sear 351v
ex Robert Ball Nchf, Berlin (1917-1934);
ex Aegean Numismatics

2 commentsEnodia
Vlasto_1431.JPG
Taras, Calabria272-240/35 BC
AR Diobol (11.5mm, 0.85g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet.
R: Herakles kneeling left on back of Nemean lion and holding him by the tail, about to beat lion with club held overhead; owl below.
D'Andrea XLIV, 1458; D'Andrea Diobols 258; Vlasto 1431; cf McGill II, 180; SNG ANS 1463; SNG France 2129; SNG ANS 1463; HN Italy 1065
ex Eukratides Ancient Numismatics

Here we see Herakles, having strangled the Nemean lion into submission, about to deliver the decisive blow. His knee is on its back and he has the lion by the tail, club raised to bash the life out of the beast.
2 commentsEnodia
V_1315.jpg
Taras, Calabria290-281 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.24g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla hurling a stone.
R: Herakles kneeling right, strangling the Nemean lion; A above.
D'Andrea XL, 953; D'Andrea Diobols F, 151; Vlasto 1315; HN Italy 976
From the D. Alighieri collection. ex CNG

I acquired this coin mainly for the provenance, but also because, despite the fact that the Vlasto catalog claims it to be "of barbarous style", I think the fully crested portrait of Athena is quite pretty.





2 commentsEnodia
Taras_Herakles.jpg
Taras, Calabria302-290 BC
AR Diobol (11mm, 1.07g)
O: Head of young Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress.
R: Herakles standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; A-T above, club and astragalos behind, Φ between legs.
D'Andrea XXXIX, 889; D'Andrea Diobols F, 146; Vlasto 1356; Cote 190; HN Italy 978; Sear 352
Scarce
ex CDMA

Here once again is the battle scene being played out between Herakles and the Nemean lion, however on this coin we see the head of a relatively young Herakles in place of the usual helmeted Athena.
This variation is much scarcer than most of the Athena types.

3 commentsEnodia
Vlasto_1416.jpg
Taras, Calabria290-281 BC (Period VIII)
AR Diobol (13mm, 0.87g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet.
R: Herakles standing left, strangling the Nemean lion; club behind, TAPATI to left.
D'Andrea Diobols J, 282 (this coin); Vlasto 1416-19; HN Italy 1064
Rare
ex Nomos (Obolos II)

D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series J, Type 282
This coin was sold as being from Teate, Apulia and Vlasto claims that this type was minted "in alliance with Teate". Both of these opinions are based on the ethnic reading TIATI, which it may, but I am not entirely convinced that it doesn't in fact read TAPAN.
In either case it is a very scarce type with Herakles facing left in his struggle with the Nemean lion, and is very similar to my specimen of the Vlasto 1415 diobol but without the Ionic capital below Herakles' club.



1 commentsEnodia
20190408_171251.jpg
Taras, Calabria 281-276 BC
AR Diobol (11mm, 0.82g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet.
R: Herakles standing right, wrestling the Nemean lion; club behind, TAPAN above.
D'Andrea XLI, 1032; D'Andrea Diobols G, 184; cfVlasto 1365; HN Italy 976
Very scarce
ex Savoca Coins

2 commentsEnodia
Ejs49HBmbgT57CfQ2tR2Fn3kLzM6P4.jpg
Taras, Calabria302-290 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.07g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with wreath.
R: Herakles kneeling right wrestling the Nemean lion, club in right hand.
D'Andrea XXXIX, 859; D'Andrea Diobols F, 106; Vlasto 1340-43; SNG France 2109-10; McGill II, cf.170; Cote 256; HN Italy 976
ex LAC

3 commentsEnodia
KAw6s48S3GoxmXQ98gLFe2Rr5nJBdT.jpg
Taras, Calabria281-276 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.03g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with 3 rosettes; M behind, A on neckguard, Δ below chin.
R: Herakles kneeling right, wrestling the Nemean lion, club in right hand.
D'Andrea LXI, 1047; D'Andrea Diobols G, 199; cfVlasto 1372-73; SNG France 2117; Cote cf 254; HN Italy 976
ex Bertolami Fine Arts
3 commentsEnodia
7amAT3PzHj2qd95SJkn5gm8MZ4BfeE.jpg
Taras, Calabria 333-331/30 BC
AR Diobol (13mm, 1.07g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet decorated with elaborate scroll.
R: Herakles standing right, wrestling the Nemean lion; club behind, [TAPAN] above.
Very Scarce
D'Andrea XXXII, 692; D'Andrea Diobols E, 87; Vlasto 1286-87; McGill II, 156; Cote cf. 253
ex Numiscorner

A scarce type with an unusual helmet design.
3 commentsEnodia
Fbf9Ym8AC6fzGTn2H4AyWq3R7Wez25~2.jpg
Taras, Calabria380-334 BC
AR Diobol (13mm, 1.11g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing unadorned crested Attic helmet.
R: Herakles kneeling right, wrestling the Nemean lion.
Scarce
Vlasto 1344; Cote 259
ex LAC
4 commentsEnodia
7LdNbGG58fXKS9wdgp2J6oFJk53AB4~3.jpg
Taras, Calabria302-290 BC
AR Diobol (11.5mm, 0.88g)
O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with wing.
R: Herakles kneeling right, wrestling the Nemean lion; club in right hand.
Scarce
D'Andrea XXXIX, 868; D'Andrea Diobols F, 114; Vlasto 1284; HN Italy 911
ex LAC
1 commentsEnodia
kK8R3DBqemM5yY2bZwE49idCnX6nQx~6.jpg
Taras, Calabria 240/35-212 BC
AR Diobol (10mm, 0.74g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Triton.
R: Infant Herakles, nude, strangling a serpent with each hand; monogram to left, ΛE in exergue.
D'Andrea XLV, 1664; D'Andrea Diobols I, 275; Vlasto 1460-61; HN Italy 1068; Cote 551; SNG ANS 1474-75; SNG France ---; McGill ---
Very scarce
ex Munzhandlung Ritter

A scarce diobol showing the infant Herakles strangling the two serpents sent by Hera to kill him, it becomes even scarcer with Athena facing right.
Vlasto has two specimens, both of which describe Her helmet as decorated with a 'sea horse' (hippocamp), but which is actually 'Triton'.
The damage to this coin is unfortunate but did bring the price down without really affecting the devices, other than impairing Athena's otherwise full crest.


4 commentsEnodia
Taras_crab_0.jpg
Taras, Calabria 290-281 BC
AR Diobol (12mm, 1.13g)
O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla.
R: Herakles kneeling right, wrestling the Nemean lion; crab above, club behind.
D'Andrea XL, 956; D'Andrea Diobols F, 154; HN Italy 976; Vlasto ----; Cote ---; SNG France ----; McGill ---
Scarce
ex Pavlos S. Pavlou

A scarce variety with the crab control mark, unlisted in most major references.
2 commentsEnodia
30 files on 1 page(s)

All coins are guaranteed for eternity
Forum Ancient Coins
PO BOX 1316
MOREHEAD CITY NC 28557


252-497-2724
customerservice@forumancientcoins.com
Facebook   Instagram   Pintrest   Twitter