Nomos 8

CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 325/0-315 BC. Didrachm or nomos (Silver, 21mm, 7.76 g 12), signed by the Kal... engraver on both sides. On the left, Nike standing facing, turned slightly to the right to grasp the reins and head of a galloping horse ridden to the left by an ephebe, nude but for his helmet, who holds the reins with his right hand and two javelins and a shield adorned with a hippocamp in his left; below horse, Μ and ΚΑΛ; to left, Φ. Rev. ΤΑΡΑΣ Taras, with his cloak over his left shoulder and holding a spear in his upraised right arm and two in his left, riding dolphin to right, over six waves; below the dolphin, ΚΑΛ. AMB 92. Fischer-Bossert 793. HN III 893. Vlasto 531-534. Very rare. A beautifully toned and centered example, surely the finest example of this type known. Extremely fine.

From a northern European collection, ex Astarte XVI, 16 November 2004, 1005.

This coin was struck from dies that are remarkably lively and artistic - they are, in fact, triumphs of late Classical-early Hellenistic style.