My latest acquisition from these unlucky folks. They never learned that "messin' with Rome" was a bad idea. Southern Lucania, Metapontion, c. 290-280 BC. AR Stater (19mm, 7.64g, 3h). Wreathed head of Demeter right; ΔI to l. R/ Barley ear of seven grains with leaf to r.; ant to lower l., cornucopia to r. Johnston class D, 4.13; HNItaly 1624. You gotts love the little ant in the left lower field. Post coins from Lucania or anything that fits here including coins with bugs!
I, too, love the ant. My favorite Metapontion coin is a fraction (obol) from the early period when the reverse was the incuse of the obverse design. When they got down to the little silver, the reverse lost its whole head of grain and got just one kernel. At this size, that kernel is about life size on the coin. I do not have a full stater of Metapontion with the full grain head incuse so I'll take this opportunity to show a stater another city of Lucania, Sybaris, which used a bull in place of the grain. Mine is quite worn but most of these broad, thin coins you see in lower price brackets are chipped or broken. I preferred the wear. To protect its edges, I keep this one in a slab style holder but one that can be opened and reclosed.
..and I should thank @Marivnvm for giving me the courage to pull the trigger on the OP coin. I am very glad that I did!
I can contribute here. Italy, Bruttium, Kroton Anonymous Civic Coinage (BC 530-520) AR Nomos 24 mm x 7.77 grams Obverse ϘPO left field, Lion legged Tripod center , Bennu bird standing facing left. Reverse Tripod in recess. Ref: SNG ANS 227
Wooo-Doggie => that is a fantastic OP-score, JBG Oh, and yes => the ant rocks!! (very cool coin) Ummm, I also have a pretty cool example from Lucania ... wanna see it? ... man, I love that coin (no ant, but the grasshopper is also pretty cool, eh?) Oh sorry, I forgot what I was doin' (rough day) => congrats again on your amazingly sweet new addition!!
Another ant?! Jealous!! Oh! I completely forgot about this Lucania and it has an ant (take that, @stevex6 )! Kidding, of course. I stole Steve's tessera ant and pasted it on my coin. Other than the added ant, it is legitimate and digitally unmolested LUCANIA, Velia 305-290 BCE AR didrachm, 17.5 mm, 7.3 gm Obv: Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet, decorated with griffin; at left, A Rev: YEΛHTΩN; lion standing on exergual line; above dolphin between I and Φ Ref: SNG ANS 1375-6
Ahahaha, that's hilarious ... awesome tech-skilz, TIF => oh, but keep your paws off of my ant, coin-princess!!
