Description
Italy. Bruttium. Kroton. Nomos ca. 530-500 BC. Silver 8.11 g.; 28.7 mm.
Obverse: Tripod with lion paw feet, two snakes facing each other at the bottom and in the bowl, two S-shaped volutes under the bowl, crab on the right. Obverse caption: ϘΡΟ [P retrograde] //
Reverse: Incuse tripod; legend on left and crab on right in relief.
HN Italy 2078; HGC 1, 1444 and SNG ANS 244.
Nomos with a round, well-centered flan on both sides, adorned with a gray patina and the beginnings of iridescent reflections in the hollows. The tripod depicted is that of the Pythia of Delphi, who is said to have ordered Myscellos, an Achaean from Rhypes, to found a new city across the sea.
Extremely fine EF 40-45
Provenance Details
Ex Vinchon, 17 November 1990, lot 3.
Faune d'Argent Collection.
Comment
Kroton was born around 710 B.C. and took the tripod of the Delphic oracle as the emblem for its coinage, in memory of the legend of its foundation. Our coin, in a very good state of preservation, still shows many details, such as the exergue motif and the decoration of the seat legs on the obverse, as well as the incuse pattern on the reverse and the outline of the crab. A very fine specimen to acquire!
Payment
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