Lot 2027

Description

Italy, Lucania, Metapontum, (c.300 B.C.), silver stater or nomos, (7.89 grams), obv. three quarter facing bust of Demeter partially to right, wearing corn wreath, to right in field A[G], rev. ear of corn, MET[A] upwards to left, **AQA to right, leaf with bucranium above, (S.417; Fitzwilliam Colln. 503 (same obverse die) and 504-5 (same reverse die); Johnston [NN&M 164] Class C, 2., same obverse die as C 2.2-2.4, reverse die for 2.9). Nearly very fine/very fine and very rare.

Johnston records nine known specimens of this facing Demeter type all from three different obverse dies. This specimen has an unpublished reverse die.