Details
Italy, Lucania, Thourioi (c. 380 BC), Silver Distater, 15.65 gms., die axis 135°, head of Athena right, wearing crested helmet decorated by a figure of Skylla and a griffon, rev. bull butting right, fish in exergue, /K(TH)OYRION/k above (Noe c6; Boston 143; SNG Cop. 1428; cf SNG ANS 958; ACGC 731), almost extremely fine and very rare in this condition
Provenance
Purchased from Dr. Jacob Hirsch in 1945 for $1350
Naville/Ars Classica XVI, 1933, lot 244
Nordheim Collection, Spink/Glendining, 1929, lot 835
Duruflé Collection, Rollin and Feuardent, 1910, lot 82
Naville/Ars Classica XVI, 1933, lot 244
Nordheim Collection, Spink/Glendining, 1929, lot 835
Duruflé Collection, Rollin and Feuardent, 1910, lot 82
Further details
Thourioi was originally founded at the suggestion of the Athenian general Pericles in 446 BC. In the fourth Century it became the only Italian city to produce a large size Distater. The extra supply of silver bullion required to produce an issue of large coins may have come from reserves established from Athenian owls by the original colonists or it may have come from local mining activity.