CAMPANIA. Phistelia. Circa 325-275 BC. Obol (Silver, 11 mm, 0.71 g). ΦΙΣΤE-ΛIA Young male head facing, turned slightly to right. Rev. 𐌚𐌉𐌔𐌕𐌋𐌖𐌉𐌔 ('fistluis' in Oscan) Dolphin swimming to right above barley grain and mussel shell. Basel 52 (this coin). HN Italy 613. Rutter 1. SNG ANS 579. A rare bilingual issue. Beautifully toned and with an unusually clear Greek ethnic on the obverse. The reverse struck from a somewhat worn die, otherwise, good very fine.


The city of Phistelia is only known from its coinage, which mostly bears the ethnic in Oscan on the reverse. Rare bilingual pieces such as this one give testimony to the influence of the nearby Greek cities of Cumae and Neapolis and perhaps indicate a mixed population of Greeks and Italics.