Female Head & Four Dolphins / Thrush

Laos (Lucania) - Æ
Wreathed head of female (Demeter? Arethusa?) right; four dolphins around
Thrush standing right; [head of stag to right]

Description

Obverse: Wreathed head of female (Demeter? Arethusa?) right; four dolphins around
Reverse: Thrush standing right; [head of stag to right]

Certainly inspired by Arethusa, as the 4 dolphins surrounding the head are a Syracusan motif. Demeter herself though appears on other coins of Laos, so is more likely to be the figure here.

Details

CompositionBronze
IssuerLaos
Ruling AuthorityUnknown
Period of Issue350 BC - 300 BC
Weight5.88 g
Diameter18.5 mm
Orientation
↑↑
10h
DenominationÆ
StandardLucanian Bronze
ReferencesHN Italy #2295; SNG ANS 2 #143

Numista Reference

Provenance

LocationDescriptionDate
United Kingdom
Roma Numismatics Ltd, E-Sale 32 - Lot 82
Jan 7, 2017
United Kingdom
Paul Munro-Walker Collection
-
United Kingdom
Roma Numismatics Ltd, E-Sale 57 - Lot 110
May 31, 2019
United States
Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 606 - Lot 11
Mar 18, 2026
United States
Lelouch Collection
Current