Nomos 18

LUCANIA. Poseidonia. Circa 470-445 BC. Stater (Silver, 18 mm, 7.96 g, 12 h). ΠΟΜΕ Poseidon striding to right, brandishing trident and with chlamys over his shoulders. Rev. ΠΟΜΕ (retrograde) Bull standing left on ground line. HN III 1114. SNG ANS 651 (same dies). An attractive and well-preserved stater of Poseidonia, toned, well-struck and well-centered on a broad flan, and with a figure of Poseidon shown in a particularly elegant early classical style. Very lightly crystalized surfaces, otherwise, extremely fine.

From a European collection, ex Gorny & Mosch 211, 4 March 2013, 34.

The flans of the earlier double-relief staters of Poseidonia, issued shortly after the discontinuation of the incuse types, are often too small or too dumpy to show the entire type. While this piece has, as usual, a somewhat irregular flan, the types are so well-centered as to make the ensemble into a truly sculptural work of art.