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Sale 46
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Lot 2
Calabria. Tarentum, c. 340-325 BC. AR Nomos (8.16 g). Nude youth, with spears and shield, brandishes lance, on galloping horse right; interspersed in field around, A O T, below, "KAL." Reverse: Taras, on dolphin right, holds up crested helmet, two stars flanking; ethnic at left, below, ONA. Vlasto 554; SNG ANS 973 var.; Fischer-Bossert 775. Minor weakness on youth, otherwise an unusually sharp strike, in exceptional style. Very handsome toning, over pristine lustrous fields. NGC graded About Uncirculated.
Situated on the heel of the great boot of the Italian peninsula, Tarentum was the first safe harbor for westbound ships coming from Greece. Tarentum's fields were enviously verdant, and the sea provided, perhaps even more importantly than fish, the lucrative murex mollusk, which supported the luxury purple dye industry. In the 5th and 4th centuries BC, Tarentum was among the pre-eminent Greek cities. It was cultured, wealthy, and strong. Its craftsmen in gold and the luxury arts were famous and eagerly sought after.
The downfall of the Tarentines would eventually result from their expedient practice of inviting in mercenary generals, from Sparta and other parts of Greece, to defend them from their more warlike neighbors. Around 283 BC the Lucanians and the Bruttians were on the aggressive. Neighboring Greek colonies not trusting Tarentum for aid, sought the help of Rome, who, eager to extend and bolster its influence, agreed promptly. Factions in Tarentum, suspicious of and antagonistic towards Rome, in turn applied to King Pyrrhus of Epirus as a counter to the Roman presence (Epirus was located on the Greek peninsula across the Adriatic Sea from southern Italy). Thus the boot of Italy, and subsequently Sicily, became embroiled in the Pyrrhic Wars, which dragged on for nearly a decade. It is from these conflicts, in which the results were barely conclusive and yet the casualties and losses were excessively high, that we get the term "Pyrrhic Victory." In the end, Pyrrhus departed the field when the tide turned against him, and Tarentum was forced to surrender to Rome. Rome's terms were surprisingly lenient. The city did not learn its lesson, however, and the next generation of Tarentines sided with Hannibal against Rome in the Second Punic War. The Romans once again took Tarentum. This time Rome happily plundered the city and sold tens of thousands of its people into slavery.
Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,000.
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| Realized $2,760 |
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