Ancient Greek - AR Diobol - Athena and Hercules - Circa: 325-280 BCE

Denomination:  AR Diobol                                                        

Date:  Circa: 325-280 BC

Weight: 1.09 gm                                                                      

Mint: Calabria Tarentum

Grade: XF/Choice. Scarce Variant

Description: Calabria Tarentum.  AR Diobol.  Obverse: Helmeted head of Athena right. Helmet decorated with Skylla hurling rock. Reverse: Hercules kneeling. Club behind. Strangles Nemean Lion with both hands. A above lion.

History: Tarentum, or Taras as it was first known in Greek, was a colony founded by Sparta in the 8th century BCE as part of the wave of Greek colonization of the region which would become known as Magna Graecia. According to tradition the city was founded in 706 BCE by the Spartan hero Phalanthus.  Located on the coast and with the best harbor in the gulf of Tarentum, the city would prosper and become one of the most important commercial centers in the region. The growth of the city did bring it into conflict with local rivals such as Metapontum at the other end of the gulf, but Tarentum won important victories over local tribes (the Messapian’s and Peucetian) in 490 and 480 BCE. These battles were commemorated in dedications made at Delphi, although peace did not last long as the Messapian’s inflicted a serious defeat on Tarentum (c. 475 BCE) in a battle described by Herodotus as a 'great bloodbath.  A consequence of the city's military weakness was an overthrow of the ruling class, which was replaced by a system of limited democracy.