Lot 3425

Description

Italy, Calabria, Tarentum (Taras), (334-330 B.C.), silver stater or nomos, (7.82 g), obv. naked horseman on prancing horse to right holding lance downwards, shield behind, below **SA*, rev. Taras astride a dolphin to left, holding a distaff, below dolphin prow of vessel to left, **TAPAS in small letters on right, (S.347, cf.Vl.586, cf.SNG ANS 985-6). Nearly very fine/very fine.

Ex Alan Jordan Collection and purchased from Noble Numismatics Sale 77 (lot 3096) and previously from Noble Numismatics Sale 59 (lot 1779). This type was struck during the Italian campaign of the Epeirote king Alexander the Molossian. Ostensibly the champion of the Tarentines, Alexander soon revealed wider ambitions, but his career was terminated by his death in battle against the Lucanians and Bruttians.