Pretty excited about this coin I acquired recently. First, a little background history I found interesting - Velia (as it was called by the Romans) had its beginnings around 535 B.C., when a group of Ionian Greeks from the city of Phocaea (on the west coast of present-day Turkey) fled the Persian onslaught of Cyrus the Great. The Phocaeans were renowned seamen and had traveled extensively throughout the Aegean and Mediterranean; and after wandering the seas for a period of time they settled on the west coast of Italy, seized on an area from the local Italic tribes and founded a city which they called "Hyele", as Herodotus writes: "Such was the end of this part of the Phocaeans. Those of them who fled to Rhegium set out from there and gained possession of that city in the Oenotrian country which is now called Hyele. . ." (Herodotus Book 1, chapter 167, section 3) From Phocaea in the East to Hyele in the West. As the crow flies, not as the boat floats: From Google Maps. Beautifully situated right on the coast, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, Hyele (which later became known as Elea) soon became a flourishing seaport city. Notable natives of the city included the philosophers Parmenides and Zeno (of the famous paradoxes). Elea was not only economically prosperous, but militarily and governmentally strong as well. Unlike most Greek colonies in the region, Elea managed to hold its own against several rounds of attacks from other powers in the area and refused to surrender. Strabo the Geographer (64 B.C. - 21? A.D.) noted this (and other details) in his works: "On doubling this promontory one comes immediately to another gulf, in which there is a city which was called "Hyele" by the Phocaeans who founded it, and by others "Ele," after a certain spring, but is called by the men of today "Elea." This is the native city of Parmenides and Zeno, the Pythagorean philosophers. It is my opinion that not only through the influence of these men but also in still earlier times the city was well governed; and it was because of this good government that the people not only held their own against the Leucani and the Poseidoniatae, but even returned victorious, although they were inferior to them both in extent of territory and in population. At any rate, they are compelled, on account of the poverty of their soil, to busy themselves mostly with the sea and to establish factories for the salting of fish, and other such industries." (Strabo the Geographer book 6, chapter 1) Later, in 273 B.C. Elea joined forces with Rome, and lent assistance in the form of ships to aid in Rome's wars against the Carthaginians. In 88 B.C. Elea became a municipality of Rome and was renamed Velia. New road networks connecting the city to the vast Roman world led to less and less dependency on Velia's maritime economy, and as time went on, Velia slowly declined in power and significance. Now the coin! This coin was struck in Velia (or Elea) around 340-334 B.C., late in the Classical period, and though worn, it remains (IMHO) a beautiful example of late Classical Greek art, worthy of Elea's culturally rich heritage. The obverse features the helmeted head of the goddess Athena, life-like and skillfully executed; the reverse a lion which could be stalking, or crouching to spring. Above the lion is the Greek letter Phi (Φ - control mark?), and underneath are the letters "YEΛHTΩN" which from what I understand means "Of the people of Velia". In researching this coin I spent a bit of time trying to finding exact comparisons. The only picture I could find which matches my specimen in every detail came from this auction house: https://nomosag.com/default.aspx?page=ucAuctionDetails&auctionid=22&id=71&type=webauction I also found that this one from the CNG Coin Shop also matches mine, except that the monogram behind Athena's neck is reversed. (engraver's error?): https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=82046 ^I also found one like the above, with the backwards 'P', on wildwinds. Please feel free to post your numismatic "art pieces", from the Classical period, from Velia or elsewhere, or anything else you think is relevant and interesting!
Your coin is ex Nauman 101 (April 4, 2021), lot 12 and ex Rauch 35 ( September 17, 2020), lot 21. there are about 30 examples on Coin Archives from the same dies if your looking for comparisons. Williams 264 (O152/R203).
Beautiful coin! Very artistic dies. Here's mine from Velia with signed die Helmeted head of Athena left, wearing Phrygian helmet decorated with centauress, KE monogram behind Lion left, tearing prey, A above, KE monogram below, ΥΕΛΗΤΩΝ in ex. Circa 334-300 BC 7.22g Williams 327 (O.174/R.243) BMC 74; HN Italy 1294. The KE obverse monogram is the signature of Kleudoros, the artist or mint master of Velia.
Here’s one from the other side of Lucania LUCANIA. Herakleia. Circa 330/25-281 BC. Didrachm or nomos (Silver, 20 mm, 7.73 g, 2 h). Head of Athena to right, wearing a pendant earring, a simple necklace and a Corinthian helmet adorned with Skylla hurling a stone; to right, Κ. Rev. EYΦ HPAKΛHIΩN Youthful Herakles standing facing, nude but for a strap across his chest and with the lion's skin over his right arm, holding a bow and arrow in his right hand and a club in his left; to left, above, Nike flying to left to crown Herakles; to right, Σ. HN III 1383. SNG ANS 68 (same dies). Van Kauren 80. Particularly artistic dies of fine style; well-struck, centered and clear. Good very fine.
@The Meat man, nice coin. Maybe the monogram on yours is for Philistionos, another Velia artist of the same period. Kleodoros signed some of his productions in full KΛEYΔΩPOY, or with a monogram: KVEY or KE. One also signed by Kleodoros, but Athena got a punch in her nose.. Lucania, Velia (Hyele or Elea, today’s Castell’ a Mare della Brucca?), ca. 334 - 300 BC from the workshop of Kleudoros 20 mm, 7.354 g Williams Period VI, 327 or 329; SNG ANS 1337; Rutter, Historia Numorum 1293; HN Italy 1296; SNG Copenhagen 1563; SNG Lockett 558; BMC 82 “Biographical Dictionary of Medalists Coin, Gem and Seal Engravers, Ancient and Modern”, L. Forrer, Vol III, London Spink & Son, 1907, p. 177 at: https://archive.org/details/biographicaldict03forriala?view=theater#page/176/mode/2up Obv.: Athena to l. wearing Phrygian helmet decorated with centaur with drapery over l. arm, flap ornamented. Partial of monogram KE behind neck guard. Plain border Rev.: lion tearing prey held with l. paw to left; KE monogram below, A above, YЄΛHTΩN in ex. Plain border
Lucania, Velia. Circa 280 BC. Plated AR Nomos (21mm, 5.77g, 4h). Caduceus-Fulmen group. Obv: Helmeted head of Athena left, helmet decorated with griffin; Φ on neck guard, AP monogram behind neck guard. Rev: Lion standing right; caduceus with fillet above. Ref: Williams 539.1-9 plated specimens. Very Fine, good style but light weight indicates that this is a plated example.
LUCANIA, Velia c. 300-280 B.C. Stater or didrachm 7.39g - 21.5 mm Head of Athena left, wearing crested and winged Attic helmet; • K behind neck, Φ below chin. Lion standing left; Φ, triskeles, and I above; YEΛHTΩN in exergue. Williams 468 - Pozzi 259 - SNG ANS 1385
