LUCANIA, Poseidonia. Circa 530-500 BC. AR Nomos (6.08 gm). POS downwards on left, Poseidon walking right, wielding trident overhead in right hand, chlamys draped over both arms / POS raised on right, Poseidon as on obverse but incuse, trident raised. SNG ANS 606; SNG Copenhagen 1271; Gorini pg. 31, 3 var. Gillet 206 (same dies). Toned. Excellent style and well struck on good metal. A rare and important archaic type.
About EF, light scratches on obverse. Very rare.

Ex. Berk (2000) Buy or Bid sale #117, lot 124.
Ex. William N. Rudman Collection.
Ex. Triton V, 16 Jan 2002, lot 1109.
Source: Edward J. Waddell, 29 June 2007.

A Sybarite colony founded circa 600 BC, Poseidonia grew rapidly in the 6th century through the exploitation of its considerable agricultural resources. This was a time of extensive temple construction and, in common with the other Achaean cities of southern Italy, Poseidonia began producing silver coinage of the distinctive ‘incuse’ fabric in the final decades of the century. The fine archaic striding figure brandishing a trident is, of course, Poseidon, god of the sea, the patron deity of the city and probably inspired by a colossal statue that stood in a temple in the city.
Photo and text courtesy CNG (www.cngcoins.com)