Phil Anthos

Taras, Calabria 235-212 BC (Period IX - The Roman Alliance II) AR Didrachm (20mm, 6.21g) Xenokrathes magistrate. O: Bearded strategos on horse parading left, wearing short tunic and chlamys, raising right hand, short sword in scabbard under left arm; monogram and pileus above, Ξ ENO - KP ATHC in two lines below. R: Taras wearing leafy crown, astride dolphin left, naked but for chlamys raised in left hand and draping over right thigh, trident over right shoulder; waves and cuttlefish below, [Τ]ΑΡΑΣ to left, monogram to right. Vlasto 958; Evans IX, G1; Cote 579; HN Italy 1058 Next: altar

It's showing for me... damn. It is I Lost My Head by Gentle Giant. ~ Peter

M. Sergius Silus 116-115 BC AR Denarius (17mm, 3.76g) O: Helmeted head of Roma right; ROMA and * behind, EX.S.C before. R: Horseman galloping left, holding sword and severed head of Barbarian; Q in field, M SERGI below, SILVS in ex. Crawford 286-1; Sydenham 534; RSC Sergia 1; BMC Italy 517 ~ Peter

Taras, Calabria 302-281 BC (Period VI - From Kleonymos to Pyrrhus) AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.68g) Nikon magistrate. O: Naked ephebe vaulting from horse galloping left, holding javelin and small shield in left hand; EY above, [NI]KΩN (magistrate) below. R: Phalanthos astride dolphin left, holding ear of grain; API to left, TAPAΣ to right, spearhead below. Vlasto 703; Evans VI, E2; Cote 342; HGC I, 817; HN Italy The didrachm was reduced from c. 7.5g to c. 6.5g after 281 to help pay for Pyrrhus' campaigns against the Romans. However the spearhead on the reverse is in this context definitely an Epirote symbol, likely making this one of the last coins struck on the old standard. ~ Peter Next: pileus

Pretty sure it's not Magna Graecia. I looks similar to a coin from Soloi but the flan isn't right. ~ Peter

Syracuse, Fourth Democracy 289-288 BC AE Litra (21mm, 9.57g, 7h) O: Head of Artemis Soteira right, quiver over shoulder; ΣΩΤΕΙΡΑ before. R: Winged thunderbolt; ΣΥΡΑΚ−ΟΣΙΩΝ above and below. HGC 2, 1461; Calciati 138; SNG ANS 749; Sear 1207v Scarce Next: Seafood

Fascinating cloak and dagger stuff, but I hope this exposure doesn't lead to confiscation. ~ Peter

Corinth, Corinthia 345-307 BC AR Stater (21mm, 8.15g) O: Pegasos with pointed wing flying left; koppa below. R: Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet; chimaera behind. Ravel 1010v; Calciati 1, 262; Sear 2630v (Nike behind) Next: dog

Lysimacheia, Thrace 309-220 BC AE 21 (21mm, 8.14g) O: Wreathed and veiled head of Demeter right. R: Nike standing left, holding wreath; ΛYΣIMA[XEΩN] around to left. SNG Cop 905; Sear 1621; BMC 3, 6 Next: veiled goddess

More news from... Smyrna, Ionia 75-50 BC AE21 (21mm, 7.33g) O: Laureate head of Apollo right, within laurel wreath. R: Homer seated left, holding scroll and staff; ΣΜYΡΝΑΙΩΝ to right. SNG Cop 1207; Mionnet 921; Weber 6138; SNG Tuebingen 3180; BMC 116; Sear 4571v

The nymph Terina... Terina, Bruttium circa 300 BC AR Drachm (16mm, 2.21g) O: Head of nymph Terina left; triskeles behind, TEPINAIΩN left. R: Winged Nike seated left on cippus, holding bird in extended right hand; star to left. Holloway & Jenkins 111; HN Italy 2642

Lol, reminds me of...

And while many may disagree, I believe that this is Satyra too... Taras, Calabria 281-228 BC AR Didrachm (20mm, 6.95g) O: Diademed head of nymph Satyra left, wearing triple-pendant earring. R: Nude youth on horseback right crowning horse and holding reins; star of eight rays above, dolphin below, TA beneath raised foreleg. Vlasto 1036-37, Cote 548; McGill II, 131; SNG ANS 1301; HN Italy 1098; Sear 366v

Cool topic! This is Satyra, mother of Taras... Taras, Calabria 470-465 BC AR Didrachm (18.5mm, 7.95g) O: Phalanthos riding dolphin left, arms outstretched; scallop shell below. R: Head of nymph Satyra left, hair tied back in knot, within circular border; all within circular incuse. Scarce Vlasto 145 (3rd Group); Fischer-Bossert 95, V49/R63 (Group 5); SNG France 1596-99; SNG ANS 843; HN Italy 838; HGC I, 756

ha! Well I haven't really decided yet. Probably my Romans first though. ~ Peter

I've known all along that I would have to sell off eventually, but now that I'm retired the dilemma is real... which of my children do I sell first? I have all but certainly bought my last coin, unless I find a nice Vlasto 1 for which I could always sell a kidney. But 'liquidating' is such a scarey word! ~ Peter Hope

Thurii, Lucania 300-280 BC AR Didrachm (21mm, 7.67g) O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with Skylla hurling a stone. R: Bull butting right; ΘOYPIΩN and ΘE above, tunny fish in ex. SNG ANS 1081; HN Italy 1870; Sear 443v (no inscription on exergual line) Next: lion's skin

P. Clodius M.f. Turrinus 42 BC AR Denarius (18mm, 3.86g) O: Laureate head of Apollo right; lyre behind. R: Diana Lucifera standing facing, holding two long torches, bow and quiver on her shoulder; M.F - CLODIVS flanking. RSC Claudia 15; Crawford 424-23; Sydenham 1117; CRI 184; RSC Claudia 15; BMC 4290 ~ Peter Hope Next: tunny

Here's an unusual dolphin rider from Corinth. This was sold as a rare variety from Taras, which I knew wasn't true. But I was fascinated to find out what it really was, and finally nailed it down. Not Taras, not even completely Greek... ~ Peter Hope Corinth, Corinthia 14-37 AD (Reign of Tiberius) AE Semis (14mm, 3.03g) O: Pegasus flying right. R: Melikertes naked, swimming with dolphin left, left hand holding dorsal fin. Amandry XVI63

Here is another coin which I believe fits the theme. This is a common bronze in rough shape, but the forlorn look on Demeter's face perfectly depicts a mother's grief. And while the typical description of the reverse is 'Artemis Tauropolis', this strikes me more as Hekate, a goddess much more appropriate to the myth, imo. ~ Peter Hope

My wife's favorite myth, it played an unexpectedly large part in her funeral. As a result I have a place deep in my heart for Persephone. It is hard to describe the myth without dreaming of the Eleusinian Mysteries, so i have a small sub-collection dedicated to it. The first one is a lovely bronze from Syracuse... Syracuse, Reign of Hiketas 287-283 BC AE23 (23mm, 11.375g, 135o) O: Head of Kore (Persephone) left, wreathed in grain; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ before, pellet and stalk of grain behind. R: Nike driving biga right, whip in right hand, reigns in left; star above, Σ in exergue. HGC 2, 1446; Calciati II, p. 259, 123; SNG ANS 760 var. (no Σ in ex.); Sear 1209 Next is a rare silver fraction from Enna in Sicily, the location of Persephone's abduction... Enna, Sicily 450-440 BC AR Litra (13mm, 0.69g) O: Demeter driving slow biga right, holding grain ears. R: Demeter standing facing, holding torch over altar to left; [HE]NNAI[ON] to right. HGC 2, 391; Sear 777 Very rare Finally is an interesting coin from Eleusis (probably minted in Athens) depicting some scenes which may have been a part of the Mysteries... Athens, Attica Eleusinian Festival Coinage 340-335 BC AE 16 (16mm, 3.65g) O: Triptolemos seated left in winged chariot drawn by two serpents, holding grain ear in right hand. R: Pig standing right on mystic staff; EΛEYΣI above, bucranium in ex. SNG Cop 416; Sear 2586v ~ Peter Hope

I was always musically inclined but not musically talented. So I became a sound engineer in the Bay Area for about 10 years. Worked with a few known bands, but then I got married and lost interest in long nights with crappy pay. Here's a rather plain but quite rare bronze from Taras... Taras, Calabria 281-209 BC AE 14 (13.5mm, 1.85g) O: Scallop shell with 11 teeth. R: Kithara with six strings; olive branch to left. Vlasto 1850; HN Italy 1092; SNG France- ---; McGill ---; Cote --- Very Rare ~ Peter Hope

Word. If slabbing affects my buying decision at all (and it does) it is to cause me to avoid that coin. I see it as a useless process which cost a me money for something I'm going to break anyway. I can see it for modern coins to allow them to be sold sight unseen. However for ancients it strikes me as unnecessarily extravagant. ~ Peter Hope

"Rumour has it eBay was used as a selling vehicle!" I'm shocked!!! 😲

A weird little coin from a weird little town. This one always reminds me of the Cowardly Lion. Phistelia, Campania 325-275 BC AR Obol (10mm, 0.55g) O: Head of Nymph facing slightly left. R: Lion standing left, right forepaw raised; star above, [serpent] in exergue(?). SNG ANS 590; HGC I, 505; HN Italy 619 ~ Peter Hope