Nomos 29

CALABRIA. Tarentum. Circa 450-380 BC. Trias (Silver, 6.5 mm, 0.21 g, 12 h). T surrounded by three pellets; on the lower right, H. Rev. T surrounded by three pellets. Côte 182 var. (no letter in field). HN III 853 var. (no letter in field). Cf. Vlasto 1193 (P instead of H). Very rare. Toned. Some deposits as found. Good very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, and from the collection of L. Mildenberg, a gift from R. Abecassis.

These triantes are rather obscure, and there seem to be a number of unpublished varieties that bear letters. We have read an Η on this piece, but it might just be a badly made Ρ; others bear Δ or Κ. In any case, the large T that appears on both the obverse and reverse of this coin serves a double function: as the initial of the coin's value - a trias - and of the city name!