Greek Coin: Nomos

Inv. No.: c021
Provenance: Nomos, Tarentum
Date: c. 281-272 B.C.
Weight: 5.80g
 
Obv.: Horseman, helmeted, riding prancing horse and lancing downwards; round shield and two javelins in reverse behind him.

Rev.: Taras, carrying trident and branch and riding dolphin.

The “horsemen” of Tarentum, which the Greeks called Taras, were the commonest coins in the Italian peninsula to the end of the third century B.C.: they spread throughout Magna Graecia and into other parts of Italy as well. After the third century they gradually yielded to Roman coins. The horseman obverse was varied constantly: he might be either man or boy; he could be riding, walking beside his horse or dismounting. On the other hand, variation in the dolphin reverse was confined mainly to the objects held by the eponymous Taras, son of Poseidon. The “horsemen” show a consistently high standard of artistry and technical skill. The legends are probably the abbreviated signatures of magistrates or mint officials.

Comparanda:
V 721.