Lucania. Metapontum. c. 450 BC
Lucania. Metapontum. c. 450 BC
AR 1/24 Stater, 0.36g (8mm, 11h). Four-grained ear with an ant (?) in field to right / Frontal facing bull's head with horns curving downward
Pedigree: From the collection of Dr. H.M. Ex Münzen und Medaillen A.G. List 287, April 1968, 15
References: Noe, Metapontum II, 346.
Grade: Rare and tiny fraction from Metapontum. Nicely struck and clear images. EF. (gk1521)
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The coinage of Metapontum is among the earliest coins struck in mainland Greece after the onset of coinage in c. 650 BC. These early coins have thinner flans and the reverse is simply an incuse of the obverse. Other Italian cities such as Sybaris and Poseidonia also had similar styles with an incuse for the reverse.
This tiny coin at 0.36g has a four-grained ear on the obverse but instead of an incuse of the same image on the reverse has a bull’s head with horns.