Lucania. Metapontum. AR Dinomos

Lucania. Metapontum. AR  Dinomos , circa 340–300 BC (30 mm, 15.66 g). Obv. Head of the hero Leucippus right, wearing Corinthian helmet richly adorned with Nike driving a quadriga right; behind the neck-guard, forepart of lion right and inscription ΑΠΗ. Rev. ΜΕΤΑΠΟΝΤΙΝΩΝ. Ear of barley with leaf to left; above, club upright; in field below, ΑΜΙ. Refs: Johnston B1; HN Italy 1574. This large and impressive issue of Metapontum pays homage to the city’s legendary founder, Leucippus, here shown in heroic style with a Corinthian helmet lavishly decorated with a chariot of Nike. The lion device and magistrate’s inscription behind the crest add further detail, attesting to the artistry of the engravers at this flourishing Italian polis. On the reverse, the ear of barley—the timeless civic emblem of Metapontum—speaks directly to the city’s agricultural wealth and the fertility of the coastal plain of Lucania. The addition of Herakles’ club associates Metapontum with pan-Hellenic heroic traditions, and perhaps also reflects contemporary alliances and political aspirations in the unsettled age following Alexander the Great’s death. The flan of this piece is notably broad, allowing for a nearly complete rendering of both types, a feature seldom encountered in the series. The combination of bold artistry, civic symbolism, and unusually full fabric make this a particularly desirable example of Metapontine coinage from the later 4th century BC. Condition: Struck on an exceptionally broad flan, the types unusually complete. Light wear, attractive cabinet tone.