Lot 1998

Description

Italy, Lucania, Metapontum, (c.540 B.C.), silver stater, (7.83 grams) on broad thin flan, obv. ear of corn in high relief, to left MET weakly cut, rev. ear of corn incuse, MET boldly cut, dotted border, (cf.S.235, Noe [NN&M 32] Class I, No.4, SNG ANS 161, [same dies], SNG Munich 929 [same dies]). Some porosity and obverse corrosion left side area and edge, otherwise nearly very fine/good very fine and rare.

A detailed discussion occurs in Ann Johnston additions and corrections to Sydney P. Noe's book on the Coinage of Metapontum Parts I & 2, New York, 1984, pps. 1-6 and pps. 35-49. This example one of the earliest dies in the series and this coinage is still considered to begin c.550-540 B.C.