Showcase: Tarentum

[Taras69]

Hello all,

the coinage of Tarentum is of special interest to me and I think we can agree that the coins from Taras are very beautiful. That’s why I‘d like to have a place here where everyone can post their own coins from Tarentum, so we can see the beautiful variety of this coinage in an own sub.

I‘ll start with a recent acquisition, a Didrachm minted ca. 390-385 BC. 7,8 g. Vlasto 363 (same dies), Fischer-Bossert group 27, 380 (V169/ R295). Very fresh reverse die, Fischer-Bossert writes about the H signature on the dolphin: „It is possible that, exceptionally, this is the signature of an engraver" (p. 159 from his die study from 1999, noticing the fact the H doesn’t appear in the field of the dies but consistently on the dolphin and with regard to signatures from other groups that are less likely signatures of engravers but more likely from mint officials). In any case, I really like these earlier types and the details on this example are beautiful.

I‘m excited to see your coins from Taras!

[Curtisimo]

Beautiful coin @Taras69. Here is my example from third city.

Calabria, Tarentum
AR Nomos, Tarentum mint, struck 280-272 BC (Pyrrhic War issue) 
(20.4 mm, 6.4 g)
Obv.: Helmeted warrior on horseback l., holding two spears and round shield decorated with star. ΖΩ in right field, ΑΠΟΛΛΩ below
Rev.: ΤΑΡΑΣ, Taras riding dolphin l., holding distaff and bunch of grapes. ΑΝΘ in right field
Ref.: Vlasto 790
Private purchase from Camerarius Numizmatika, January 27, 2022

Edited December 8, 2024 by Curtisimo

[Taras69]

Thank you, I really like the warrior behind his massive shield on your one! Also, the amount of varieties of the dolphin rider type is just fascinating.

[rvk]

Beautiful coins, I always see something new that I haven't seen before with these coins.

CALABRIA. Tarentum. 344-340 BC. AR Nomos (21.5mm, 7.89g). Tarentum mint. Nude youth on horseback left, wearing crested helmet, holding spear and shield; beneath horse, Δ / TAPAΣ; Phalantos astride dolphin left over waves, holding trident over his right shoulder; below, K. Vlasto 445.

[Ordinary-Ride-1595]

 

1. CALABRIA. Tarentum. Ca. 302-281 BC.

AR didrachm (24mm, 7.74 gm, 5h).

Obverse: Eu-, Kle-, and Aristeus, magistrates. Nude warrior on horseback charging right; EY in upper left field, APIΣTAΣ below

Reverse:  TAPAΣ, Taras astride dolphin left, grapes in outstretched right hand, distaff cradled in left; KΛH below.

HN Italy 972. Vlasto 706. 

 

2. CALABRIA. Tarentum.

AR Didrachm (Nomos) (7.69 gms), ca. 302-280 B.C.

Obverse: Nude rider on horseback to right, holding lance in right hand and shield with two javelins in left; Reverse: Phalanthos, holding small dolphin, astride dolphin to left.

HGC-1, 816; HN Italy-967.

 

3. CALABRIA. Tarentum

AR Didrachm (Nomos)

Obverse: Nude youth on horse trotting right, holding reins and crowning horse with wreath; to left, small Nike flying right, crowning youth; ΣIM below;

Reverse: Phalanthos, holding kantharos and cradling scepter in arm, riding dolphin left; I-HP and waves below.

HGC-1, 784; Vlasto-503; HN Italy-886.

 

4. CALABRIA. Tarentum.

Ca. 240-228 BC. AR stater or didrachm (20mm, 6.55 gm, 12h).

Obverse: Xenocrates, Tk-, and So-, magistrates. Armored warrior on horseback walking left, head facing, right hand raised, reins in left; TK monogram and pileus cap behind, ΞE-NOKAP/T-HΣ below

Reverse: TAPAΣ, Taras astride dolphin left, trident in right hand, chlamys in left; ΣΩ monogram above dolphin tail, waves and cuttlefish below.

HN Italy 1058. Vlasto 957. HGC I 904.

Edited December 9, 2024 by Ordinary-Ride-1595

[Phil Anthos]

Ooh, nice thread! 🙂 

Here's a pair of 'H' didrachms...

Taras, Calabria

385-380 BC (Period III - The Age of Archytas) AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.37g, 11h) O: Naked youth crowning horse standing right; kerykeion before, Λ below, all within linear border. R: Taras seated sideways on dolphin left, resting his left hand on its tail; H (signature) on body of dolphin, P below, TAPAΣ to left, all within linear border. D'Andrea XXII, 354; Vlasto 352; Evans III, A2; Cote 121v; Fischer-Bossert 442d; Sear 341v Rare From the Frank James Collection. ex Forvm Ancient Coins; ex Roma Numismatics A noted general, inventor, mathematician and philosopher, Archytas was a Pythagorean and friend of Plato, and likely responsible for saving the latter from death at the hands of Dionysius II of Syracuse. While not one of the more exciting designs from the Taras mint, this coin, signed by ’H', or 'HP’, is still nicely rendered and actually quite rare. Fischer-Bossert sites only 7 known examples. I do not know if this specimen is one of those.   Taras, Calabria 390-385 BC (Period III - The Age of Archytas) AR Didrachm (20mm, 7.83g) O: Naked boy (Taras?) with radiate hair riding galloping horse right, all within linear border. R: Taras astride dolphin left, holding akrostolian in extended right hand, left hand on dolphins back; H (signature) on dolphins flank, ΤΑΡΑΣ below, all within linear border. D'Andrea XXI, 328; Vlasto 362; Fischer- Bossert 381 (V168/R296); SNG France 1712; McGill II, 19; Jameson 110; HN Italy 870 Rare ex Roma Numismatics; ex Forvm Ancient Coins Once again we see the 'H' signature on the side of the dolphin, although here we have a much less static horseman. H only appears for a brief moment in Period III, and while Evans has an essay specifically dedicated to artist signatures he makes no mention of the enigmatic H or his galloping horse obverse. On the engraver's few known specimens the signatures are all uniquely placed on the dolphin's flank. ~ Peter

[Phil Anthos]

And a few hard to find bronzes...

Taras, Calabria

281-209 BC Æ13 (13.5mm, 1.64g), O: Kantharos; eight-rayed star on each side. R: Kantharos; TA to left, filleted bucranium to right. D'Andrea 1722; Vlasto 1821-23; Hands Type IV; McClean 796; Cote 427; HGC 1, 939; SNG Cop 1601; HN Italy 1086; Sear 609 Scarce From the E.E. Clain-Stefanelli Collection. ex Naville Numismatics “Receive the god into your kingdom,  pour libations, cover your head with ivy, join the dance!”  ~ Euripides (The Bacchae)   Taras, Calabria 276-272 BC AE 14 (13.5mm, 1.85g) O: Scallop shell with 11 teeth. R: Kithara with six strings; olive branch to left. D'Andrea 1309; Vlasto 1850; HN Italy 1092; SNG France- ---; McGill ---; Cote --- Very Rare ex Agora Auctions This very rare bronze is the last 'official' Tarentine coin listed in Vlasto's collection. The lyre is, of course, symbolic of Apollo, and while such a reference is not typically seen on the more common coins of Taras, the cult of Apollo Hyakanthus was strong in the city (as well as in the mother city of Sparta) and may be seen represented on the earliest (and very rare) incuse coinage struck here, as well as various gold issues. While not stunning in its beauty, I have only found two other specimens online, and so was very glad to find one for myself.   Taras, Calabria 276-272 BC Æ21 (21mm, 8.04g) O: Laureate head of Zeus right. R: Nike standing right, holding thunderbolt; [TA]PANTIN[ΩN] to right. D'Andrea 1300; Vlasto 1799; Cote 220; Laffaille 35; Sear 607 Rare ex Praefectus Coins Apart from Athena on its prolific series of diobols Taras was not particularly known for portrait coins. Here we find Zeus, or more appropriately Zeus Kataibates, ‘The Descender‘ or ‘He Who Comes Down’. This epithet refers to His ability to send thunder and lightning down from the sky, apparent here in the thunderbolt Nike holds in Her hands. While not generally represented on their coins, the cult of Zeus must have been strong at Taras. A 66 foot bronze colossus of the Father of the Gods, attributed to the sculptor Lysippus, stood in the city, and most residents of Taras had a small column-shrine to Zeus Kataibates in front of their homes as a protection against lightning strikes.

[shanxi]

Nice coins in this thread !

Calabria - Tarentum
AR-Diobol
Obv.: Helmeted head of Athena left
Rev.: Heracles strangling Nemean lion
Ag, 1.20g, 12.1mm
Ref.: Pausanias V, 25, 8

Edited December 9, 2024 by shanxi

[taja1948]

 

[taja1948]

ex- LHS 100, lot 63  23 April 2007; ex Carosino hoard of 1904 (IGCH 1928), subsequently in the collection of Michel Vlasto and then appearing in Monnaies et Médailles X, 22nd June 1951, lot 168. Subsequently in the collection of Dr Roland Maly. Published as coin 9 sic, plate X in, Unpublished Coins of Tarentum, N.C. 1907, M Vlasto

[taja1948]

[taja1948]

7.80 grams

[Phil Anthos]

36 minutes ago, taja1948 said:

 

Stunning KAL!

[taja1948]

Thanks, it makes me very happy!

[Phil Anthos]

Some Tarentine rarities. This first one, while harshly cleaned, is the nicest of the four known specimens...

Taras, Calabria

375/70-370/65 BC AR Diobol (11.5mm, 1.15g, 2h) O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp. R: Naked Herakles seated half-left on dead lion left, holding cup in right hand and club in left. D'Andrea XXIV, 450 (this coin); D'Andrea Diobols D, 14d (this coin); Vlasto 1235 (this coin); HGC I, 829 (this coin); SNG Cop 968 (same dies); HN Italy 910 Very Rare From the AG Collection. ex Michel Pandely Vlasto Collection; ex Vecchi 17; ex CNG Vlasto plate coin, #1235. D'Andrea plate coin, Series XXIV, 450. D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series D, Type 14. HGC 1 plate coin, #829 Yet another reverse featuring Herakles‘ first labor. Here we see the final scene with our Hero, having slain the Nemean lion, now resting on the dead carcass and raising his cup. One can easily imagine him wondering how he is going to skin this impenetrable beast. This coin is extremely rare, and Vlasto cites just this single die combination. I have found only three other specimens of this type listed.   Taras, Calabria 276-272 BC AR Drachm (15mm, 2.98g) O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet decorated with Skylla hurling rock; I on neckflap. R: Owl with closed wings standing left on olive branch; TAPA[N] to right, AΠ monogram to left. D'Andrea XLII, 1246 (this coin); Vlasto 1065; Cote 431; Evans VII, V; SNG France 1947 Very Rare ex Auctiones GmbH; ex Rutten & Wieland D'Andrea Plate Coin Series XLII, 1246 This type is described by Sir Arthur Evans in ‘The Horsemen of Tarentum’, and is the same coin which M.P Vlasto later acquired for his own famous collection. This coin isn’t as nice as the Evans/Vlasto specimen, but I was very happy to find it. Left-facing owls are very rare on Tarentine drachms. I have only found one other type with the left facing owl, but that with Athena also facing left (Vlasto 1101, Cote 489).   Taras, Calabria 281-276 BC AR Diobol (12mm, 1.12g) O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla throwing stone. R: Herakles kneeling right, left leg bent, strangling the Nemean lion; grasshopper above, club behind. D'Andrea XLI, 1028; D'Andrea Diobols Series G, Type 180; Vlasto 1027-28v; SNG ANS 1421; HN Italy 976 Very rare ex Aegean Numismatics This coin is a rare variety of a fairly common type. Most sources site only the Herakles kneeling on both knees type, while this specimen with the left leg bent is far more rare.   Taras, Calabria 290-281 BC AR Diobol (12-14mm, 1.08g) O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin. R: Herakles standing left, strangling the Nemean lion; club above Ionic capital to right, TAP above. D'Andrea XL, 964; D'Andrea Diobols F, 163; Vlasto 1415; Cote 423; SNG ANS 1459; SNG Cop 1000-01; HN Italy 1064 Rare From the Colin E. Pitchfork collection. ex CNG; ex Quadriga Ancients Left-facing Athena’s are slightly less common on Tarentine coinage, and Corinthian helmets a bit moreso. But a left-facing Herakles is quite scarce. ~ Peter

Edited December 9, 2024 by Phil Anthos

[panzerman]

I do not have any coins from there. But appreciate seeing all your wonderfull examples.

John

[Deinomenid]

Here's a very detailed one from very close in time to the first one shown at the top of the thread. I have no idea why it is deemed only good - ratings have always been a mystery to me. As an occasional bareback rider, I can tell you the rider's position here is terrible and he is going to be in some very specific pain if that horse pulls  up short...

Fischer-Bossert Group 28, 398d (V175/R307’ – this coin - I hate these "this coin" for the FB bible as  there are literally thousands  of "this coin"s in it!) )
CALABRIA, Tarentum. Circa 390-385 BC. AR Nomos (20.5mm, 7.81 g, 12h). Nude youth on horse galloping right; tiny Λ below / Phalanthos, nude, holding akrostolion, riding dolphin right; tiny Λ "signature". below.  Good VF.

ex Ars Classica XIII (27 June 1928), lot 37.
 

 

 

[Deinomenid]

And because we have @panzerman here, I've got to roll out a bit of gold!

Diobol or sixth stater circa 320-315
AU 10 mm, 1.42 g. [TAPAΣ] Head of Apollo l., with long hair, wearing laurel wreath; ΣA to upper l.; to lower l., dolphin downwards. Rev. Heracles standing facing, raising club and holding out l. arm to ward off the Nemean Lion, which attacks him from r.; in l. field, quiver over bow and below, |-H. Vlasto 27 (these dies). SNG ANS 1 (these dies). Boston, MFA 73 (these dies). McClean 599 (these dies). Fischer-Bossert G14. Historia Numorum Italy 951. Rare. Very fine
 

[panzerman]

16 minutes ago, Deinomenid said:

And because we have @panzerman here, I've got to roll out a bit of gold!

Diobol or sixth stater circa 320-315
AU 10 mm, 1.42 g. [TAPAΣ] Head of Apollo l., with long hair, wearing laurel wreath; ΣA to upper l.; to lower l., dolphin downwards. Rev. Heracles standing facing, raising club and holding out l. arm to ward off the Nemean Lion, which attacks him from r.; in l. field, quiver over bow and below, |-H. Vlasto 27 (these dies). SNG ANS 1 (these dies). Boston, MFA 73 (these dies). McClean 599 (these dies). Fischer-Bossert G14. Historia Numorum Italy 951. Rare. Very fine
 

Thanks for posting/ great coins/ that Nemean Lion looks like he is taking a large chunk from Hercules waist!

[Phil Anthos]

A few coins from the M.P. Vlasto collection...

Taras, Calabria

272 - 240/35 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. D'Andrea XLII, 1425; Vlasto 1099 (this coin); SNG France 1951-52; SNG ANS 1324-25; HN Italy 1052 From the M.P. Vlasto Collection. ex CNG Vlasto plate coin, #1099.

 

Taras, Calabria

335-333 BC AR Diobol (12mm, 1.22g, 11h) O: Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with hippocamp; Ξ behind neck-flap. R: Herakles kneeling right, strangling the Nemean lion; [club] to left, TA above. D'Andrea XXX, 609; D'Andrea Diobols E, 83 (this coin); Vlasto 1296 (this coin); HN Italy 912 From the M.P Vlasto Collection. ex Pegasi Numismatics; ex MNS Vlasto plate coin, #1296 D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series E, Type 83   Taras, Calabria 333-331/30 BC AR Diobol (11.5mm, 1.12g, 1h) O: Head of Athena left, wearing crested Attic helmet decorated with Skylla. R: Herakles standing right, strangling the Nemean lion; bow, quiver, and club to left; K between legs, [|- to lower right]. D'Andrea XXXII, 664; D'Andrea Diobols E, 36 (this coin); Vlasto 1241 (this coin); HN Italy 914 From the David Wray Collection. ex Michel P. Vlasto Collection; ex CNG Vlasto plate coin, #1241 D'Andrea Diobols plate coin, Series E, Type 36.   Taras, Calabria 272-240/35 BC AR Obol (10mm, 0.53g) O: Kantharos; three pellets around. R: Kantharos with bunch of grapes to right; pellets around. D'Andrea XLIV, 1522; Vlasto 1661 (this coin); SNG France 2206; Cote ---; HN Italy 1076; Sear 356v Scarce From the M.P Vlasto collection. ex Den of Antiquity Vlasto plate coin, #1661. The kantharos device on this series of coins, and the bunch of grapes on this particular specimen, probably refer to the influence upon the Tarentines of the local cult of Chthonic Dionysus, and a festival to Him was held annually within the city.   Taras, Calabria 276-272 BC AR Litra (11mm, 0.64g, 12h) O: Scallop shell with nine teeth. R: Dolphin leaping right; small dolphin left above, |-HΦ below. D'Andrea XLII, 1265; Vlasto 1489 (this coin); McGill II, 182; HN Italy 979 From the M.P Vlasto Collection. ex MNS Vlasto plate coin, #1489. I believe these red adherences are remnants of the wax used to cast the molds for for the Vlasto catalog illustrations back in 1946. ~ Peter

[Alegandron]

I read “The Spartans” by Paul Cartledge. He states that Taras was Sparta’s only colony (Italia - Magna Graeca, Tarantum). AND, that Athena was a very important Goddess to the Spartans. Sparta highly revered her, and she was the “Patron Goddess of Sparta”... page 56 and 58.

Ergo, this is WHY Athena / Owl is on a SPARTA colony!

Calabria Tarentum / Taras AR Drachm 18mm 3.1g 3rd C BCE Athena Corinthian Scylla OWL olive TAP ZOP HN Italy 975 Vlasto 1052


Temple of Athena Chalkioikos, Acropolis of Sparta

Temple of Athena Chalkioikos
The temple of Athena Chalkioikos was designed by the architect Vathyklis from Magnesia. It is located to the top of the Spartan Acropolis and the north side of the theater. Interiors of the temple were adorned with copper sheets (from 6th B.C.) from which the temple derives its name (Copper = Chalkioikos). The Temple of Athena Chalkiikos had a bronze statuette of Athena, statue of Leonidas, statuette of a trumpeter, and a cult statue created and erected by a local man called Gitiadas.
Source: Archaeology of Myth: Sparta
http://www.academicmentoronline.com/2017/05/archeology-myth-sparta/#:~:text=The temple of Athena Chalkioikos was designed by,cult statue created and erected by a 
 

[Anaximander]

Here is my earliest example from Tarentum (c.465-455 BC)...

 

...and my Athena/Owl drachm (281-272 BC). A conventional right-facing example, but an overstrike where the undertype is somewhat visible.

  

[AncientOne]

Here's some "small change" from Taras.

Taras, Calabria AR Triartemorion.

Obv: Bridled horses head right.
Rev: Bridled horses head right, bird before.
10mm., 0.43gm.
380-228 BC.

[Phil Anthos]

4 minutes ago, AncientOne said:

Here's some "small change" from Taras.

Taras, Calabria AR Triartemorion.

Obv: Bridled horses head right.
Rev: Bridled horses head right, bird before.
10mm., 0.43gm.
380-228 BC.

I think the bird is a pretty scarce control mark. Nice find.

~ Peter 

[Phil Anthos]

A selection of didrachms from across three centuries.

The first is from the fifth century BC and is among the earliest of the equestrian types, with the horseman on the reverse...

 

From the forth century we have these two...

 

From the third century we have this lighter post-Pyhrric coin...

 

And of course the Tarentine 'trade dollar'...

 

And finally this half shekel struck during the time of Hannibal's occupation after 212...

 

All of these coins have one very distinct thing in common; they all describe the horse rider as 'naked youth' or 'nude jockey' or sometimes just 'young boy'. How anonymous!

In fact I don't think he's anonymous at all. I believe this is Taras, the son of Poseidon, the god of horses. Seeing this similar image across the entire duration of the equestrian period might suggest a certain veneration, especially noticing what seems to be a crown on the second coin. On the next one he has an attendant. This young kid is even crowning the horse on many specimens, although he seems a bit young to be a champion.

What gives him the right? Maybe it's Daddy's influence. We must remember Poseidon's significance in the home city of Sparta. Whoever he is he looks not unlike the boy on this coin, Vlasto 1 (not mine!), who is identified specifically as Taras...

 

Anyway, that's my two obols.

~ Peter