LUCANIA. Poseidonia. Circa 420-410 BC. Stater (Silver, 20 mm, 7.72 g, 6 h). ΠΟΣEIΔA Poseidon striding to right, his left arm outstretched, brandishing trident with his right hand and with chlamys draped over his shoulders; in field to left, Θ. Rev. [Π]ΟΜΕΣΔΑΝ Bull standing left. De Luynes 531 (same dies). Gillet 212 (this coin). HN Italy 1127. Jameson 335 (same dies). Locker Lampson 26 (this coin). Noe 23d (this coin). SNG ANS 679 (same dies). Weber 817 (this coin). A magnificent example, beautifully toned, sharply struck from dies of fine style, and with an exceptional pedigree. Struck on an oval flan, otherwise, extremely fine.



This magnificent stater of Poseidonia, with its distinguished provenance, graced the front cover of our catalogue for Auction 13 on 27 May 2023. The superb High Classical Poseidon, advancing in a powerful lunge, his body exquisitely modelled, is matched on the reverse by an equally impressive bull. It is one of the finest surviving coins of Poseidonia, the flower-rich city praised by Martial:

Audet facundo qui carmina mittere Nervae,
pallida donabit glaucina, Cosme, tibi,
Paestano violas et cana ligustra colono,
Hyblaeis apibus Corsica mella dabit.

'He who ventures to send verses to the eloquent Nerva,
will present common perfumes to Cosmus,
violets and privet to the inhabitant of Paestum,
and Corsican honey to the bees of Hybla.'

Martial, Epigrams 9.26.3-6.