Silver Nomos, Poseidonia 530-500 BCE
Type/Object Name: Ob:Poseidon, with cloak draped over upper arms, holds trident. Inscription ΠΟΣ (POS = abbreviation of Poseidonia). | Re: Incuse of Poseidon. Inscription ΠΟΣ (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 CU Art Museum, courtesy of John Nebel.
Notes: Expressions of Civic Identity
Poseidonia was a Greek colony on the west coast of southern Italy. It minted coins using the “incuse technique” 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’s patron god, Poseidon, on each side of the coin. 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 “incuse” coins were much stronger and could be thinner than other Greek coins.
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.