lordmarcovan Posted October 19, 2023 · Member Share Posted October 19, 2023 I just love this little coin. The owl looks as though he's had a lot of caffeine. Greece (Spartans in Taras, Calabria, Italy): ca. 302-281 BC silver drachm Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing helmet with figure of the monster Scylla hurling a stone. Reverse: Owl standing right, head facing, TAP left, ZOP (magistrate’s name) over olive branch. Issuer: Spartan colony of Taras in Calabria. Specifications: Silver, 16.9 mm maximum diameter, weight 3.233 g, die axis 180°. Grade: NGC XF; Strike 5/5, Surface 5/5, cert.# 4280918-003. Purchased raw. Reference: Vlasto 1049; SNG ANS 1303; HN Italy 975; BMC Italy p. 201, 309; SGCV I 367.* Provenance: Ex-Forum Ancient Coins, USA, 28 June 2017.* Prior provenance to Art of Money, Portland, Oregon, USA. Notes: This is an exceptional example of the artistry on the coinage of the Spartan colony in Taras, Calabria, situated at the southern tip of Italy. The city was later known to the Romans as Tarentum. The modern Italian city is called Taranto. Comments: This is one of my favorite coins. I love that startled-looking little owl. 21 1 1 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Limes Posted October 19, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted October 19, 2023 Great coin! I really like the scylla on the helmet. Do you know what TAP stands for? Is also for the magistrate? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryro Posted October 19, 2023 · Supporter Share Posted October 19, 2023 (edited) Lovely example! Athena's helmet is fantastic as is the owl! I recently bought this Calabrian. I plan on doing a Herakles first labor write up on it this weekend. The Athena is ho-hum, but I really liked the artistry of the lions body. You can see it wriggling to get out of Herakles choke hold (as we know, to no avail). Calabria, Tarentum Diobol circa 325-280, AR 12.00 mm., 0.85 g. Head of Athena r., wearing crested Attic helmet. Rev. Heracles standing facing, strangling the Nemean Lion to r.; club to l., Z between legs. cf. Vlasto 1398. Historia Numorum Italy 976. Good Very fine Edited October 19, 2023 by Ryro 15 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Anthos Posted October 19, 2023 · Member Share Posted October 19, 2023 (edited) Nice diobol! The TAPAN, and the TAP on the drachm, is the ethnic. Taras, Calabria 302 - 281 BC (Period VI) AR Drachm (16mm, 3.09g, 3h) Nikokrates magistrate. O: Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet decorated with Skylla throwing stone. R: Owl with closed wings standing right on Ionic capital, head facing; [NIKO]KPAT[HΣ] to left, TA to right. Vlasto 1099 (this coin); HN Italy 1052 From the M.P. Vlasto Collection. ex CNG Vlasto plate coin, #1099. ~ Peter Edited October 19, 2023 by Phil Anthos 13 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Romismatist Posted October 21, 2023 · Member Share Posted October 21, 2023 Brilliant coin! 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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