CALABRIA. Tarentum. Circa 280 BC. Stater (Gold, 17 mm, 8.59 g, 5 h). Laureate head of Zeus to right; behind neck, monogram of NK. Rev. [TAPANTINΩN] Eagle with open wings standing right on thunderbolt; in lower right field, helmet; to right, ΑΠΟΛ. BMC 4. Fischer-Bossert G37 (V33/R37). HN Italy 983. Very rare. A beautiful coin of excellent style with a long pedigree. Tiny edge marks and the reverse struck slightly off center, otherwise, extremely fine.




This impressive gold stater was likely struck during the early stages of the Pyrrhic War. In this conflict, Pyrrhos of Epeiros, supported by other Diadochi, came to the aid of Tarentum and the Greeks of southern Italy against Roman expansion. Pyrrhos achieved a major victory at the Battle of Herakleia in 280 BC, but the hard-fought Battle of Asculum in 279 BC ended inconclusively, with heavy losses on both sides. According to Plutarch, who described this costly Greek victory, Pyrrhos famously remarked to his officers: "If we are victorious in one more battle with the Romans, we shall be utterly ruined!" (Plut. IX, 21.8).

The adventurous king soon left southern Italy to confront the Carthaginians in Sicily. Although initially successful, his despotic manner alienated the Greeks on the island. Returning to Italy in 275 BC, Pyrrhos suffered a decisive defeat near Maleventum, later renamed Beneventum by the victorious Romans. He retreated to Epeiros and was killed in 272 BC during street fighting in Argos, reportedly after an old woman threw a roof tile at him, leaving him vulnerable to his enemies.

By this time, Metapontion had already fallen to Rome, and Tarentum, where Pyrrhos had left a small garrison, succumbed to a Roman siege shortly thereafter. Subsequent Roman campaigns completed the conquest of southern Italy, paving the way for their focus on Sicily, where the monumental First Punic War (264–241 BC) would soon erupt.