TARENTUM SILVER DIDRACHM – SCARCE AND CHARMING TYPE WITH BOY CLEANING HORSE’S HOOF – VF NGC GRADED GREEK CALABRIA COIN (Inv. 19203)

$2,250.00

19203. CALABRIA. TARENTUM. Ca. 340–334 BC.
Silver Didrachm (nomos), 7.84 g, 23 mm.
Obv. Youthful rider right, crowning his horse, as crouching boy below removes stone from the horse’s hoof, Φ in right field. Rev. TAPAΣ, dolphin rider left, holding cantharus and trident, shield slung on arm, E in lower field, waves in exergue.
Fischer–Bossert Group 50, 695 (O262/R542); Vlasto 510 (same dies); HN Italy 888; HGC 1, 786.
NGC graded VF, Strike 5/5, Surface 3/5, “graffito,” a variety featuring one of the most charming scenes on Greek coinage.

The Tarentine nomos series is well known for its depictions of all aspects of ancient horsemanship, but this particular piece is especially remarkable for its sensitive portrayal of the moments after a horse race, the most popular event of the ancient Olympic games. Here the youthful jockey places the laurel crown of victory on the head of his horse while another youth, perhaps a stable boy, attends to the horse’s front hoof. It is unclear whether he is removing a pebble lodged there during the race, as is sometimes suggested, providing a more general cleaning, or merely inspecting it for anything that might cause injury to the winning animal.