(1) Taras, Calabria (Italy) - AV stater, c. 280 B.C., 8.57
g. (inv. 91.005).
Obverse: Bearded and laureate head of Zeus r.
Reverse: Eagle with spread wings on thunderbolt l.; monogram in l. field.
Provenance: Bank Leu, 1980.
Bibliography: G.C. Brauer, Jr., Taras: its History and Coinage (New
Rochelle, NY 1986).
Taras, known as Tarentum to the Romans, was located on a bay opening into
what is now called the Gulf of Taranto. It was the only colony of Sparta,
and, with the only good port on the southeastern coast of Italy, it became
a thriving commercial center known for its luxury.
Taras was often in conflict with its Italian neighbors and it regularly
sought help from foreign mercenaries. When threatened by the Romans c. 281
B.C., Taras called in Pyrrhos of Epeiros, who came to Italy the next year
with men and elephants. He fought the Romans in several battles but in 275
B.C. withdrew from Taras and went to assist the Greek cities in Sicily against
their enemies the Carthaginians; Taras eventually surrendered to Rome. The
coins of Taras were briefly influenced by the presence of Pyrrhos. Zeus
had an important sanctuary at Dodona in Epeiros, and Zeus was a favorite
Epeirot coin type. While Pyrrhos was at Taras the city issued gold staters
with a head of Zeus on the obverse and his symbols the eagle and thunderbolt
on the reverse. The head was very similar to the head on Epeirot coins,
but the Epeirot oak wreath was replaced at Taras by a wreath of laurel.
C.L.L.
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