LUCANIA. Velia. Circa 340-334 BC. Didrachm or Nomos (Silver, 24 mm, 7.66 g, 2 h). Head of Athena to left, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with a griffin springing left; behind neck guard, pellet-in-P. Rev. ΥΕΛΗΤΩΝ Lion walking right; above, Φ. HN Italy 1284. SNG ANS 1292 (same dies). SNG Ashmolean 1193 (same dies, also overstruck on a Pegasos stater). SNG München 857 (same dies). Williams 264 (O152/R203). Lightly toned, struck on a broad flan and of fine style. A very interesting piece overstruck on an earlier Corinthian type stater. Traces of overstriking, otherwise, about extremely fine.



This magnificent didrachm of Velia was overstruck on a Pegasos stater of Corinthian type. On the obverse, the wing on Athena’s cheek and, below it, the legs of Pegasos in flight to the right remain visible, while on the reverse the upper part of Athena’s helmet is visible before the lion’s head. The undertype can be identified by its control symbol - a caduceus, faintly visible beneath the Velian ethnic - and can most likely be attributed to Leukas in Akarnania (cf. Calciati 86). The coin therefore also provides a terminus ante quem for the Leukadian stater, which must have been struck no later than circa 340-334 BC, assuming Williams’s dating of the Velian issue is correct.