Nomos 28

CALABRIA. Tarentum. Punic occupation, circa 212-209 BC. 1/2 Shekel (Silver, 19 mm, 3.99 g, 10 h), struck under the magistrtes Ek..., Zo..., and Kritos. KRITO-Σ Youth riding horse prancing to right, crowning horse with a wreath held in his right hand and holding the reins and a palm branch in left left. Rev. ΤΑΡΑΣ Taras astride dolphin to left, holding Nike, crowning him to right, in his right hand and a trident in his left; to left, monogram of EK; to right, monogram of ΖΩ. HN III 1080. SNG Paris 2067. Vlasto 980. Rare. Clear and well-centered. Struck on a slightly tight flan and with some flatness on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

During the Second Punic War Tarentum switched sides in 212 BC and joined forces with Hannibal. The Punic army took control of the city but could not get access to the citadel, which remained in the hands of Roman troops and their allies. The strategic value of Tarentum for Hannibal was much diminished by the inability to take the enemy stronghold within the city.