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⅙ Stater
| Issuer | Metapontion |
|---|---|
| Year | 334 BC - 322 BC |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | ⅙ Gold Stater (10⁄3) |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
| Weight | Log in to see details |
| Diameter | Log in to see details |
| Thickness | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Log in to see details |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Greek |
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| Reverse description | A full barley ear — the principal civic emblem of Metapontion — depicted upright and rendered with fine detail, its six prominent grains arranged symmetrically along the stalk. A curved leaf extends to the right of the stem, and the ethnic legend META appears in Greek characters along the left field, identifying the issuing city. The bold, naturalistic treatment of the grain ear reflects the high artistic standard of Metapontine coinage in the late 4th century BC. |
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| Additional information |
Metapontion's gold issues of this period coincide with Alexander the Great's Asian campaign, which disrupted Greek bullion markets significantly — Macedonian military demand for gold coinage pulled metal eastward, making western Greek gold issues of the 330s and 320s BC both financially pressured and historically bracketed by one of antiquity's most consequential military mobilizations. The city's alliance with Alexander likely influenced its willingness to strike fractional gold at all.