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An ancient Greek silver didrachm from the city of Taras, Southern Italy. Struck circa 280 - 272 BC.

The obverse with a naked youth on horseback, shown crowning himself with a laurel wreath. The horse with front right foot raised elegantly, column below. The inscriptions reading:

IW

IALO

The reverse with Taras, the legendary son of Poseidon, seated nude atop a dolphin. He is shown veiled, offering out an aphlaston (warship's stern) in his outstretched right hand and cradling a distaff in his left. The inscriptions reading:

ANO

TARAS

"Taras"

The beautiful silver coins minted by the city of Taras are surely amongst the most pleasing and poetically inspired of all ancient Greek coinage. On the obverse we see one of the famous Tarentine horsemen, revered across the ancient world as the most talented and fierce riders while the reverse offers a charming representation of the city's foundation myth: Taras, son of Poseidon, having been shipwrecked and on the verge of death, was miraculously saved and carried to shore by a dolphin. So on the very spot he was brought to land, he founded his new colony, naming it after himself.

 

Weight: 6.30 g

Diameter: 23 mm

Provenance:

Ex. French private collection. Nicely toned.

 

 



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