LUCANIA, Metapontion. Time of Alexander the Molossian. Circa 334-330 BC. AV Third-Stater (2.61 gm). Achaean standard. Struck circa 334-332 BC. Head of Hera right, wearing stephane and earring / METAPON, six-grained barley ear with curly leaf to right; owl perched right on left. Johnston G1 (same dies); SNG ANS 395; SNG Lloyd -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Lockett 406; Jameson -; Gulbenkian -; Pozzi -; Weber -; HN Italy 1578. VF. Very rare.

Ex. NAC 2, lot 31 (21 Feb 1990).
From the James A. Ferrendelli Collection.
Ex. Triton VII, lot 25; Jan. 2004
Ex. Triton IX, lot 672; Jan. 2006
Ex. Gorny & Mosch, 159, lot 18; Oct. 2007

As with many of the cities of Magna Graecia, the gold issues of Metapontion are typically associated with periods of abnormal military expenditure. The similarity of the head of Hera to that on the issues of Tarentum during the time of Alexander, and the exceptional appearance of Hera on a coin of Metapontion, indicate that this issue was struck when the city was allied with the Molossian.