CALABRIA, Taras
c. 302–280 BC
AR Didrachm
22mm | 7.88g | 9h | NGC AU 4/5 - 4/5
This exquisite silver didrachm from ancient Tarentum (modern Taranto) highlights the artistry and history of one of Magna Graecia’s most prosperous city-states.
Obverse: A nude youth on horseback crowns his horse, symbolizing victory and aristocratic culture. Magistrates Cratinos, Ago- and Xor- are referenced with inscriptions AΓΩ and KPATINOΣ.
Reverse: The mythical founder, Taras, astride a dolphin with a cantharus in his outstretched hand, referencing maritime prosperity and civic pride. Magistrate ΞOP is inscribed below.
Graded AU 4/5 - 4/5 by NGC, this coin is one of 152 examples in this grade, with only 13 graded higher. Its fine preservation underscores the superior skill of Tarentine engravers during the Hellenistic period.
This coin tells the story of a city that thrived on its maritime power, economic wealth, and strategic alliances. The depiction of Taras riding a dolphin connects the city's mythology with its identity as a naval powerhouse.