Nomos 25

CALABRIA. Tarentum. Circa 240-228 BC. Didrachm or nomos (Silver, 19 mm, 6.43 g, 9 h), struck under the magistrate Philokles. Nude jockey riding horse walking to right, holding the reins in his left hand and crowning the horse with a wreath held in his right; to left, monogram of ΑΡΝ; to right, monogram of ΛΕ; below, ΦΙΛΟ / ΚΛΗΣ over dolphin swimming to right. Rev. Τ-Α-ΡΑΣ Phalanthos riding dolphin to left, holding a horse rhyton in his right hand and a trident (the two side prongs of the trident head are in the form of dolphins) in his left; to right, two highly elaborate amphoras (or loutrophoroi?) on elaborate stands and with lids. HN III 1057. SNG ANS 1254. SNG Paris 2057. Vlasto 953 (same dies). Well-centered, sharp and most attractive. Good extremely fine.

From the Morcote Collection, formed before 2005.

This jockey must have been very proud of his horse: he has taken the wreath he received for winning the race and crowned his horse with it!