Nomos of Tarentum - Ride that Dolphin!

This is one of those coins that has long been on the ol' want list but that I've never prioritized because they've always seemed so plentiful. The thing about them, though, is that while the familiar dolphin rider is ever-present on them, the couple centuries during which they were struck saw a great number of different styles, minor symbols and type variations. They run the gamut from the common to the very rare, the stylistically pedestrian to the artistic and beautiful.

You can really take your pick with these and otherwise spend a long time collecting varieties. This one is my first, but probably will not be my last. I particularly liked the obverse type with the dismounting warrior and the winged hippocamp symbol on the reverse. Despite the imperfect flan and some crowding at the edges, nothing major is lost, and I think it has quite attractive light green, blue and pink tones to the metal highlighting the devices.

As always, post 'em if you got 'em!



CALABRIA, Tarentum
Circa 280 BC
AR Nomos
7.74g, 22.5mm
Vlasto 700; HN Italy 968
O: Helmeted naked warrior with shield jumping off horse galloping left; EY behind, NIKΩTTAΣ below.
R: TAPAΣ, Phalanthus of Tarentum, holding trident and short spear, riding dolphin right; below, hippocamp right, ΣOP to left.
Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 81 (1997) Lot 67

 

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Wonderful pickup and I'm oh so envious!! I want one with a hippocamp.

I'm afraid these Taras nomos will be like potato chips-- once I get one, I'll keep getting more. It wouldn't be a bad thing except for the bank account .

 

Super coin! I like it for all the reasons you do, the dismounting warrior, the hippocamp, the nice centering and color. Great catch!

 

Unanimous so far---It's a WONDERFUL coin and I wish I owned it!!!

Another on my wish list and that hippocamp makes it rise even higher in my eyes!

Congrats 'Z' !!!

 

Great coin & nice hippocamp. A denarius with a dolphin rider is on my wish list, but always seems to be just off my bid list. I want one like yours with good artwork that is still on the coin. Thanks for posting.

 

That's really a superb coin Z. The reverse is especially quite fetching!

 

I love the variety of the Tarentum nomoi. As TIF says, they are like potato chips. I'm selling two of them in CNG 102 and I keep trying to limit myself to the remaining four, but then I see another interesting type and lose all will power!



c 480-470 BC
Overstruck on a stater of Corinth, c 500 BC.
Ex: Numismatica Genevensis 7, 11/27/2012.
Ex: Lawrence R. Stack Collection, Stack's, 1/14/2008.


c 430-425 BC
Ex: Hunt, Vlasto, Seltman, and Gillet collections.



c 425-415 BC
Ex: Moretti and Roland Maly collections



c 340-325 BC
Ex: Abecassis, Knoepke, and Vlasto collections.
Ex: Carosino hoard, 1905.
Perhaps the most beautiful Tarentum I have seen!

 

Awesome score Z, nice toning on the piece.

 

WOW!! The first two may be within my budget...but I suspect the last two are far beyond it LOL

 

All are beauties!

 

Mikey Zee: I paid almost as much for the second coin as I did for the other three combined!

 

LOL Shows you how much i know about them...

 

Gorgeous capture! Love the detail and the hippo!

 

I do not know much about these coins, but they are strikely beautifull. Great additions. Collecting these fascinating pieces of history certainly has to be best hobby going.

 

Thanks for the compliments, everyone.

@ancientnut - wonderful pieces, as usual, those last two are keepers. One with waves is next on the list.

 

I especially like the ones where Taras uses a squid to whip the dolphin. Who said the ancient Greeks had no sense of humor?

 

CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 315-302 BC. AR Nomos (21mm, 7.71 g, 10h). Warrior, holding shield and two spears, preparing to cast a third, on horseback right; ΣA below / Phalanthos, holding kantharos and trident, on dolphin left; retrograde K to left; below, dolphin left. Fischer-Bossert Group 72, 861 (V340/R668); Vlasto 609 (same dies); HN Italy 937; SNG Copenhagen 850 (same dies).

 

very nice Z! the flow lines and toning around the warrior are great..and a cool little hippocamp also!

 

Two thumbs up Z.

 

Oh my => that's a fricken fine lookin' hippocamp you have there, my Z-friend!! (congrats)

Sadly, all I have is this same ol' example of mine ...



... just a stinkin' ol' dolphin symbol!!






Yah okay, I love my coin (your example is amazing as well ... I'm jealous!!)