Nomos 19

LUCANIA. Metapontum. Time of Kleonymos, circa 302 BC. Third stater (Gold, 15 mm, 2.62 g, 8 h), Achaian standard. NIKA Head of Nike facing slightly to the right, her hair in an ampyx, wearing a single-pendant earring and a pearl necklace. Rev. METAΠON Barley ear with six grains and leaf to right. Gulbenkian 71 (same dies). HN III 1629. Johnston G3 (from the same dies as the example illustrated). Kraay & Hirmer 245 (same dies). Very rare. Clearly struck on a broad flan. Nearly extremely fine.

From the Trausnitz Collection, ex Hirsch 187, 19 September 1995, 77, Bank Leu 61, 17 May 1995, 37 and Monnaies et Médailles 32, 20 October 1966, 20.

Kleonymos was the adventurer second son of Kleomenes II of Sparta, and was excluded from succession to the throne, replaced by Areus I, because of his vicious character. He then became a mercenary leader helping the Tarentines in their wars against their neighbors until they expelled him. He returned to Sparta and remained a pest to almost everyone until his death sometime after c. 272.