Beautiful Ancient Greek Silver Didrachm Coin from Taras - 280 BC

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Beautiful Ancient Greek Silver Didrachm Coin from Taras - 280 BC:
$3700.00

A very beautiful example of one of the most charming ancient Greek coin types. A silver didrachm from the city of Taras, Southern Italy. Struck circa 280 - 272 BC.

The obverse with a naked youth on horseback, shown crowning himself with a laurel wreath. The horse with front right foot raised elegantly, column below. The inscriptions reading:

IALO

The reverse with Taras, the legendary son of Poseidon, seated nude atop a dolphin. He is shown veiled, offering out an aphlaston (warship\'s stern) in his outstretched right hand and cradling a distaff in his left. The inscriptions beautiful silver coins minted by the city of Taras are surely amongst the most pleasing and poetically inspired of all ancient Greek coinage. On the obverse we see one of the famous Tarentine horsemen, revered across the ancient world as the most talented and fierce riders while the reverse offers a charming representation of the city\'s foundation myth: Taras, son of Poseidon, having been shipwrecked and on the verge of death, was miraculously saved and carried to shore by a dolphin. So on the very spot he was brought to land, he founded his new colony, naming it after himself.

A remarkable coin, struck from a reverse die of extraordinary detail and quality. The work of a true master engraver.

Diameter: 21.40 mm
Weight:6.65 gFurther notes: Provenance:Ex. Swiss Bank Corporation, sale 38, Zurich, 12th September 1995. Lot 46.

Approximate region of originAuthenticity
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