146. Calabria. Tarentum. 510-510 BC. Stater (Silver, 25.51 mm, 7.16 g). TARAS (retrograde), Naked Phalantus seated on dolphin right, with arm extended and hand on dolphin’s back; below, scallop shell. Rev. The same type incuse left, without ethnic. HN Italy 826. Vlasto 68. Fischer-Bossert 14 (V7/R10, these dies). Heavily cleaned, with remains of abundant and heavy oxides, otherwise, about Near Extremely Fine. Lovely archaic style. Very Rare.
From a Swiss collection formed before 2005.
The dolphin carries Phalantus, the naked Spartan exile, safely across the sea and brings him to Italy in accordance with the Delphic oracle, which commanded him to found the city “where he would see rain fall from a clear sky.” There he founded Taras (Taranto).