Calabria, Tarentum, Silver Nomos.

Calabria, Tarentum, silver Nomos, c. 280-272 BC,ΣI magistrates, rider on horseback to right, holding lance in right hand and shield with two javelins in left, rev. Taras on dolphin left, holding kantharos, K in left field, dolphin below, 7.82g, 10h (Vlasto 608-9). Appealing tone, good very fine.

An accompanying, recent, dealer's ticket states that the coin is from the Monteparano Hoard (1905) but we are not able to confirm this at the time of cataloguing.

This silver nomos was struck at Tarentum in Calabria, southern Italy, around 280272 BC, during a period when the Greek cities of Magna Graecia were facing increasing pressure from the expanding power of Rome. Tarentum was one of the most prosperous and culturally important Greek cities in Italy, and its coinage is particularly famous for its elegant depictions of horsemen and the city's patron hero, Taras. The obverse shows a young rider mounted on a horse moving to the right, holding a lance in his right hand and a shield containing two additional javelins in his left. The scene reflects Tarentum's strong equestrian and military traditions, with the horseman perhaps representing the city's cavalry or an idealised citizen warrior. On the reverse, Taras, the mythical founder and divine hero of the city, is shown riding to the left upon a dolphin. According to local mythology, Taras was the son of Poseidon and was rescued from the sea by a dolphin, eventually reaching the site where Tarentum was founded. He holds a kantharos, a two-handled drinking vessel associated with wine and religious ritual, while a dolphin appears beneath him. The letter K in the left field and the ΣI magistrate initials provide additional information about the particular issue and its officials. The coin's imagery beautifully combines the city's military strength, maritime identity and mythology. The exceptional movement of both horse and dolphin, together with the carefully balanced compositions, demonstrates the sophisticated artistry of Tarentine coin engravers. This nomos therefore provides a vivid representation of Tarentum at a significant moment in the history of southern Italy, shortly before the city became directly involved in the conflicts between the Greek world and Rome.