Nomos 29

LUCANIA. Metapontum. Circa 440-430 BC. Obol (Silver, 8 mm, 0.39 g, 7 h). Four-grained ear of barley; in field to right, ant (?) or mule's head (??); border of dots. Rev. Ox head facing. HGC 1, 1087. HN III 1500. Noe 346 (same reverse die). Obolos 6, 2016, 55 (same dies). Toned. Struck from a worn obverse die but a fresh reverse. Good very fine/extremely fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, acquired in late 1991.

Interestingly enough, there is a number of other obols known, which were struck from the same dies, albeit in varying states. In fact, the die breaks make it clear what the order of striking must have been. This coin was first, with die breaks and wear on the obverse but with a fresh reverse; then come Obolos 6, 2016, 55 and NAC Spring Sale 2020, 61 (both have even more worn obverses and and the beginning of a die break on the reverse); finally we have Triton XVIII, 2015, 324 and CNG e385, 2016, 30 (struck from a new obverse die and a reverse die with even more extensive breaks). Fun!