Pre-Long Beach Auction #81

Calabria, Taras. Gold ¼ Stater (2.14 g), ca. 276-272 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right, with long hair; behind, AP monogram. Reverse: TAPANT[INΩN], eagle standing left on thunderbolt, wings spread; before, AP monogram. Fischer-Bossert G59g (O50/R59; this coin); Vlasto 49; SNG ANS 1043; HN Italy 986.
This rare gold ¼ stater dates to a relatively late phase of Tarentine history (281-272 BC) when King Pyrrhos of Epiros intervened in the affairs of southern Italy on behalf of the citizens in Sicily and ultimately abandoned his Tarentine allies who were obliged to come to terms with the Romans. During this troubled episode Tarentum was forced to reduce the weight of its silver didrachms from 7.9 grams and thereafter this standard was maintained until the cessation of regular issues, ca. 228 BC. The special issue of gold denominations at this time were doubtlessly associated with the need for larger sums of money during wartime. Estimated Value $2,500 - 3,000

Ex Leu Auction 7 (9 May 1973), 22; Hess-Leu (27 March 1956), 12. Includes a detailed COA by David R. Sear.