Boy on a Dolphin Coin
Denomination: Nomos
Ruler: Greek City-States
Mint: Tarentum
Country: Calabria (Top of the inside heel part of ancient Italy)
Date: Circa 275-235 B.C.
Metal: Silver
Framing: 14kt, 1.28 ct Sapphire
Certificate: 51776
Obverse: Taras, son of Poseidon, astride dolphin swimming to left holding his father’s trident in right hand, wearing chlamy around shoulders and left arm; owl standing left in right field, TAPAE below letters.
Reverse: Naked horseman crowning victorious horse. Nike flying behind his head. Letters EIM below.
One of the earliest recording of the special bond between humans and dolphins can be found upon the obverse of the beautiful die-cast silver coins stamped in the ancient Greek city of Taras beginning in about the 3rd Century B.C. The coin depicts the story of young Taras- son of Poseidon- and his own encounter with dolphins. According to myth, Taras was thrown from a sinking shi[ during a raging storm. Menacing sharks circle the helpless youth. When all seemed lost, an attacking dolphin pod- sent by Poseidon- forced the man-eating threats to flee. The steadfast dolphins carried Taras ashore where he subsequently founded the city of Taras, now the modern city of Taranto.
Denomination: Nomos
Ruler: Greek City-States
Mint: Tarentum
Country: Calabria (Top of the inside heel part of ancient Italy)
Date: Circa 275-235 B.C.
Metal: Silver
Framing: 14kt, 1.28 ct Sapphire
Certificate: 51776
Obverse: Taras, son of Poseidon, astride dolphin swimming to left holding his father’s trident in right hand, wearing chlamy around shoulders and left arm; owl standing left in right field, TAPAE below letters.
Reverse: Naked horseman crowning victorious horse. Nike flying behind his head. Letters EIM below.
One of the earliest recording of the special bond between humans and dolphins can be found upon the obverse of the beautiful die-cast silver coins stamped in the ancient Greek city of Taras beginning in about the 3rd Century B.C. The coin depicts the story of young Taras- son of Poseidon- and his own encounter with dolphins. According to myth, Taras was thrown from a sinking shi[ during a raging storm. Menacing sharks circle the helpless youth. When all seemed lost, an attacking dolphin pod- sent by Poseidon- forced the man-eating threats to flee. The steadfast dolphins carried Taras ashore where he subsequently founded the city of Taras, now the modern city of Taranto.
Denomination: Nomos
Ruler: Greek City-States
Mint: Tarentum
Country: Calabria (Top of the inside heel part of ancient Italy)
Date: Circa 275-235 B.C.
Metal: Silver
Framing: 14kt, 1.28 ct Sapphire
Certificate: 51776
Obverse: Taras, son of Poseidon, astride dolphin swimming to left holding his father’s trident in right hand, wearing chlamy around shoulders and left arm; owl standing left in right field, TAPAE below letters.
Reverse: Naked horseman crowning victorious horse. Nike flying behind his head. Letters EIM below.
One of the earliest recording of the special bond between humans and dolphins can be found upon the obverse of the beautiful die-cast silver coins stamped in the ancient Greek city of Taras beginning in about the 3rd Century B.C. The coin depicts the story of young Taras- son of Poseidon- and his own encounter with dolphins. According to myth, Taras was thrown from a sinking shi[ during a raging storm. Menacing sharks circle the helpless youth. When all seemed lost, an attacking dolphin pod- sent by Poseidon- forced the man-eating threats to flee. The steadfast dolphins carried Taras ashore where he subsequently founded the city of Taras, now the modern city of Taranto.