GREEK. LUCANIA, Metapontion. Circa 540-510 BC. Silver Nomos (7.90g). Ear of barley with eight grains and bracts at base; MET down left field, pellet border / Incuse ear of barley with eight grains; rayed border. Noe Class I, 1; Gorini -; HN Italy 1459; SNG ANS 166; Kraay & Hirmer 228; Prospero 51. gVF or better for the type. This silver nomos, an exceedingly rare Noe 1 from the first emission of Metapontion around 540 BC, stands at the very beginning of the city's celebrated coinage. Founded by settlers from Kroton and Sybaris and enriched by vast grain fields, Metapontion adopted the distinctive incuse fabric of Magna Graecia and chose the barley ear as a proud symbol of its agricultural wealth. (P)

Estimate: AUD 3000