Nomos 26

BRUTTIUM. Kroton in alliance with E... (?). Diobol (Silver, 10 mm, 1.12 g, 5 h), 300-250 BC. Ε (retrograde and with legs slanted in the archaic manner) Tripod with lions feet and rings. Rev. ϘϘ - Ϙ Owl with folded wings standing to left, head facing front. Cf. CNG 54, 2000, 220 (same reverse die). Cf. HN III 2129. Leu Numismatics 61, 1995, 49 (this coin). Of great rarity, possibly unique. Attractive and well-struck. Very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, ex Leu Numismatics 61, 17 May 1995, 49.

What do the letters on this coin mean? Is it merely just a normal coin of Kroton, albeit an extremely rare and an unusual one? After all, the tripod is the type par excellence of Kroton, and the koppa is the city's archaic initial (but why three?). Yet the owl is rather unexpected at this period, and the retrograde Ε is a great mystery. This is especially the case since the koppas) are on the reverse with the owl and the epsilon is on the obverse with the tripod!