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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Valentinian, post: 4193748, member: 44316&quot;]The boy-riding-dolphin type of Taras (= Tarentum, on the inside of the heel of Italy&#039;s boot) is very well known and comes with many varieties. We have had threads on it before (search on &quot;Taras&quot;) This one came today:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1076438[/ATTACH]</p><p>20-19 mm. 6.52 grams, of &quot;Tarentine standard&quot;.</p><p>Struck 280-272 BC.</p><p>Horseman right, spearing downwards, shield and two extra spears</p><p>Dolphin rider right with bow and arrow, elephant below, TAPAΣ almost off the flan at 10:00-11:00.</p><p>Hoover Handbook I (Magna Graecia) 881, Sear Greek -- but close to 370, HN 999, Côte 363-5. SNG Cop 873.</p><p>This reverse has a connection to history. Pyrrhus, King of Epirus was invited to lead the Tarentines in their war against Rome, which we now know as the Pyrrhic War, 280-275 BC. He was the first to use war elephants in Italy, hence the elephant on the reverse. Pyrrhus famously won two battles but suffered significant losses and is quoted as saying &quot;If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined.&quot;</p><p><br /></p><p>Many boy-riding-dolphin coins weigh distinctly more, c. 7.8 grams, but this one is on the reduced standard of coins minted during the war.</p><p><br /></p><p>Show us something related![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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