Silver Didrachm from Taras in Calabria (about 2,250 years ago)
This is another example of a silver didrachm from Taras (Roman Tarentum, modern Taranto) in Calabria, southern Italy. Minted between approximately 280-240 BCE, this coin exemplifies the artistic achievements of Magna Graecia during a period when Greek influence in southern Italy was being increasingly challenged by Roman expansion. Taras was renowned for its harbor, wealth from trade and wool production, and its distinctive coinage.
Coin Description:
Front side: The obverse shows a horseman, potentially a cavalry officer, athlete, or hero, reflecting the city's pride in its cavalry and equestrian traditions.
Back side: The reverse depicts a figure (presumably Taras, the city's mythical founder) riding on a dolphin, often holding various symbols like a trident, wreath, or other attributes of status and power.
Technical Details:
Silver composition (AR)
Didrachm denomination (a substantial coin equal to two drachms)
Weight: Approximately 7-8 grams
Size: Approximately 20-22mm in diameter
Grade: MS (Mint State) - indicating exceptional preservation with no wear
Strike Quality: 2/5 (below average strike with incomplete details)
Surface Quality: 3/5 (good surface preservation with some minor issues)
Date of minting: Circa 280-240 BCE (during conflicts with Rome)
Historical Significance: Despite this coin's exceptionally preserved condition, its lower strike quality reflects the economic and political pressures Taras faced during this period. The city was a major cultural and commercial center that minted coins for international trade throughout the Mediterranean. The dolphin-rider motif had been used on Tarentine coinage for centuries, becoming one of the most recognizable coin designs in the ancient world. This issue dates to the time when Taras and other Greek cities in southern Italy were increasingly threatened by Roman expansion, ultimately leading to Roman control of the region.
This is another example of a silver didrachm from Taras (Roman Tarentum, modern Taranto) in Calabria, southern Italy. Minted between approximately 280-240 BCE, this coin exemplifies the artistic achievements of Magna Graecia during a period when Greek influence in southern Italy was being increasingly challenged by Roman expansion. Taras was renowned for its harbor, wealth from trade and wool production, and its distinctive coinage.
Coin Description:
Front side: The obverse shows a horseman, potentially a cavalry officer, athlete, or hero, reflecting the city's pride in its cavalry and equestrian traditions.
Back side: The reverse depicts a figure (presumably Taras, the city's mythical founder) riding on a dolphin, often holding various symbols like a trident, wreath, or other attributes of status and power.
Technical Details:
Silver composition (AR)
Didrachm denomination (a substantial coin equal to two drachms)
Weight: Approximately 7-8 grams
Size: Approximately 20-22mm in diameter
Grade: MS (Mint State) - indicating exceptional preservation with no wear
Strike Quality: 2/5 (below average strike with incomplete details)
Surface Quality: 3/5 (good surface preservation with some minor issues)
Date of minting: Circa 280-240 BCE (during conflicts with Rome)
Historical Significance: Despite this coin's exceptionally preserved condition, its lower strike quality reflects the economic and political pressures Taras faced during this period. The city was a major cultural and commercial center that minted coins for international trade throughout the Mediterranean. The dolphin-rider motif had been used on Tarentine coinage for centuries, becoming one of the most recognizable coin designs in the ancient world. This issue dates to the time when Taras and other Greek cities in southern Italy were increasingly threatened by Roman expansion, ultimately leading to Roman control of the region.
This is another example of a silver didrachm from Taras (Roman Tarentum, modern Taranto) in Calabria, southern Italy. Minted between approximately 280-240 BCE, this coin exemplifies the artistic achievements of Magna Graecia during a period when Greek influence in southern Italy was being increasingly challenged by Roman expansion. Taras was renowned for its harbor, wealth from trade and wool production, and its distinctive coinage.
Coin Description:
Front side: The obverse shows a horseman, potentially a cavalry officer, athlete, or hero, reflecting the city's pride in its cavalry and equestrian traditions.
Back side: The reverse depicts a figure (presumably Taras, the city's mythical founder) riding on a dolphin, often holding various symbols like a trident, wreath, or other attributes of status and power.
Technical Details:
Silver composition (AR)
Didrachm denomination (a substantial coin equal to two drachms)
Weight: Approximately 7-8 grams
Size: Approximately 20-22mm in diameter
Grade: MS (Mint State) - indicating exceptional preservation with no wear
Strike Quality: 2/5 (below average strike with incomplete details)
Surface Quality: 3/5 (good surface preservation with some minor issues)
Date of minting: Circa 280-240 BCE (during conflicts with Rome)
Historical Significance: Despite this coin's exceptionally preserved condition, its lower strike quality reflects the economic and political pressures Taras faced during this period. The city was a major cultural and commercial center that minted coins for international trade throughout the Mediterranean. The dolphin-rider motif had been used on Tarentine coinage for centuries, becoming one of the most recognizable coin designs in the ancient world. This issue dates to the time when Taras and other Greek cities in southern Italy were increasingly threatened by Roman expansion, ultimately leading to Roman control of the region.
