Taras, silver, didrachms (355-340 BCE)
From SILVER
355 BCE - 340 BCE Silver 2,399 kg
Description
ObverseInscription or printing placed on the obverse.: | Helmeted and naked horseman holding shield and vaulting from horse prancing l., beneath horse, wreath. |
ReverseInscription or printing placed on the reverse.: | TAPAΣ (Greek).TAPAΣ Dolphin rider r., holding spear in r. hand and trident in l. |
Mint and issuing power
MintIdentifies the place of manufacture or issue of a numismatic object.: | Taras | Ancient regionAncient region.: | Calabria | Modern countryModern country: Italy | AuthorityIdentifies the issuing power. The authority can be "pretended" when the name or the portrait of X is on the coin but he/she was not the issuing power. It can also be "uncertain" when there is no mention of X on the coin but he/she was the issuing power according to the historical sources: |
Chronology
FromIdentifies the initial date in a range assigned in a numismatic context. | 355 BCE | toIdentifies the final date in a range assigned in a numismatic context.. | 340 BCE | PeriodTime period of the numismatic object.: Classical 480-323 BC ![]() |
Physical description
MetalThe physical material (usually metal) from which an object is made.: | Silver ![]() |
Median weightMedian of the weights of numismatic objects (in grams). in grams | 7.85 | DenominationTerm indicating the value of a numismatic object. Examples: tetradrachm, chalkous, denarius.: | didrachm ![]() |
StandardStandard.: |
Image

AC 25 - Taras, silver, didrachm, 355-340 BC.jpg [1]
References
Die study referencePublication of the study: | Fischer-Bossert 19991Fischer-Bossert 1999, groups 43-49 (varieties 629-692: O245-O260 et R484a-R539). | ||
Coin series referenceReference to coin series study: | Sear I2Sear I, n° 341-343, RQEMAC3RQEMAC, n° 25, HN Italy4HN Italy, n° 875-885, HGC 15HGC 1, n° 811 | ||
Coin series web referenceCoin series web references: |
Obverse dies distribution
FrequencyFrequency of specimen in distribution. ᵖ | Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | % (o) | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | % (n) | Die nameName(s) of the die(s). |
4 | 1 | 6.25 | 4 | 0.66 | 257 |
5 | 1 | 6.25 | 5 | 0.82 | 249 |
6 | 1 | 6.25 | 6 | 0.99 | 247 |
14 | 2 | 12.5 | 28 | 4.61 | 245, 258 |
18 | 1 | 6.25 | 18 | 2.96 | 248 |
22 | 1 | 6.25 | 22 | 3.62 | 250 |
25 | 1 | 6.25 | 25 | 4.11 | 255 |
26 | 1 | 6.25 | 26 | 4.28 | 246 |
34 | 1 | 6.25 | 34 | 5.59 | 254 |
48 | 1 | 6.25 | 48 | 7.89 | 256 |
56 | 1 | 6.25 | 56 | 9.21 | 260 |
73 | 1 | 6.25 | 73 | 12.01 | 253 |
76 | 1 | 6.25 | 76 | 12.5 | 251 |
87 | 1 | 6.25 | 87 | 14.31 | 252 |
100 | 1 | 6.25 | 100 | 16.45 | 259 |
Total | 16 of 16 | 100 | 608 of 608 | 100.01 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | 16 | Number of singletons (o1)The number of singleton coins. ᵖ | |
Number of reverse diesNumber of reverse dies. (r) | 56 | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | 608 |
Coins per obverse dieNumber of coins per obverse die. (n/o) | 38 | Coins per reverse dieNumber of coins per reverse die. (n/r) | 10.86 |
Reverse per obverse ratioRatio of obverse dies divided by reverse dies. (r/o) | 3.5 | Percentage of singletons (o1)number of coins (n) divided by the number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | % |
Original number of dies (O) (Carter 1983 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to Carter 1983 ᵖ | 15.28 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per dieCoins made if the average productivity for obverses (according to Carter) is 20,000. ᵖ | 305,600 |
Original number of dies (O) (Esty 2011 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to the singleton formula in Esty 2011 ᵖ (O) | 16.43 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per dieSurvival rate if average productivity is 20,000. ᵖ | 0.00199 |
Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula)Esty 1984 - coverage (% of O) ᵖ (o = % of O) | % | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/2,000. ᵖ | 79,581.15 |
Weight of silver (in kg) if 20,000 coins per die (O = Carter formula)Carter 1983 * Median weight * 20000 (*10 if gold or electrum) ᵖ | 2,399 kg <br /> 2,399 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/5,000. ᵖ | 198,952.88 |
Remarks
Most likely one single workstation Likely military
References
- ^ Fischer-Bossert, Wolfgang (1999), Chronologie der Didrachmenprägung von Tarent, 510-280 v. Chr., Berlin, De Gruyter, xvii, 495 p., [84] pl.
- ^ Sear, David R. (1978), Greek coins and their values. Vol. I, Europe, London, xl, 316 p.
- ^ Callataÿ, François de (2003), Recueil quantitatif des émissions monétaires archaïques et classiques, Numismatique Romaine, Wetteren, VII + 267 p.
- ^ Rutter N. Keith et alii (eds.) (2001), Historia Numorum Italy, London, xvi, 223 p., 43 pl.
- ^ Hoover, Oliver D. (2018), The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Volume 1. Handbook of Coins of Italy and Magna Graecia, Sixth to First Centuries BC., Lancaster-London, 2018, lxi, 527 pages, 23 cm