Silver Nomos, Poseidonia 530-500 BCE

Silver Nomos, Poseidonia, 530-500 BCE; Reverse: Incuse of Poseidon. Inscription ΠΟΣ (POS = abbreviation of Poseidonia).
Unidentified Artist, Greek

Type/Object Name: Ob:Poseidon, with cloak draped over upper arms, holds trident. Inscription 螤螣危 (POS = abbreviation of Poseidonia). | Re: Incuse of Poseidon. Inscription 螤螣危 (POS = abbreviation of Poseidonia).

Dates: 530-500 BCE

Medium: Silver, Nomos

Dimensions: Diameter 29.0 mm, Weight 6.2384 g

Credit Line: On loan to 麻豆免费版下载Art Museum, courtesy of John Nebel.聽

Notes: Expressions of Civic Identity

Poseidonia was a Greek colony on the west coast of southern Italy. It minted coins using the 鈥渋ncuse technique鈥 that was typical in the area. On such coins the obverse sticks out in relief, and the reverse is impressed in intaglio. The sides are mirror images of each other. This coin is a good example of the incuse technique: it shows a similar image of the city鈥檚 patron god, Poseidon, on each side of the coin.聽Here we see Poseidon from the front on the obverse and from the rear on the reverse. This method was technically challenging, requiring precision when lining up the two sides. When minted correctly, these 鈥渋ncuse鈥 coins were much stronger and could be thinner than other Greek coins.聽

Collection: Coin, John Nebel

Bibliography: Rutter, N.K. 2001. Historia Numorum Italy. Page 108 #1107 and Plate 22 #1107. London: The British Museum Press; Kraay-Hirmer plate 77 #218 (variant); SNG ANS 613.