Calabria, Didrachm, ca. 280-272 BC
Tarentum - Silver - NGC - Ch AU 5/5-4/5
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Youth (Dioscurus ?) on horseback, prancing right, crowning horse. Monogram AP behind.
Taras (?) astride dolphin to left, holding Nike who crowns him in right hand and shield and two spears in left, waves below.
Graded NGC Ch AU Strike: 4/5 Surface: 5/5. Striking coin covered with a splendid and bewitching patina with iridescent tones. An extremely interesting coin with an almost unknown combination of obverse and reverse types. On the obverse, the type with the horseman is extremely close to the obverse referenced in HGC 1-884 (monogram not referenced) or HN Italy 1008 (identical monogram, without name of magistrate), while being associated with this splendid reverse with the god riding his dolphin above the waves, corresponding to HGC 1-886 / HN Italy 1012. This association is therefore unpublished in standard references, and only the reference Vlasto 782 seems to be used in sales. Ex Roma Numismatics, 22 September 2022, Auction XXV, Lot 53; Ex Heritage World Coin Auctions, ANA Signature Sale 3094, 19 August 2021, lot 34011; Ex Stack's Bowers & Ponterio, Sale 173 Session A (8 January 2013), lot 32; Demarete Collection; Clain-Stefanelli Collection.
TA - PAΣ
6.63 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
