Silver Didrachm of Ancient Taras — The Legendary Dolphin Rider

Own One of the Most Iconic Coins of Ancient Greece

A real Greek silver didrachm struck at the ancient city of Taras, featuring one of the most celebrated and recognizable designs in all of Greek coinage.

Grade: Choice About Uncirculated (Ch AU)
NGC Strike: 3/5
NGC Surface: 4/5

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🏛 Struck in southern Italy over 2,200 years ago
🐬 Features the legendary founder Taras riding a dolphin
🐎 Displays the famous horseman design that made Tarentine coinage renowned throughout the Greek world

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

This remarkable silver didrachm was struck at Taras, one of the greatest Greek cities of Magna Graecia in southern Italy. Founded by Spartan colonists, Taras became a prosperous center of trade, culture, and military power, producing some of the most admired coinage of the ancient world.

The coin celebrates the two symbols that made Tarentine coinage famous throughout antiquity.

One side depicts Taras, the city's legendary founder, riding a dolphin across the sea. According to Greek tradition, Taras survived a shipwreck when a dolphin sent by Poseidon, god of the sea, carried him safely to shore. That miraculous rescue became the defining legend of the city and appeared on its coinage for centuries.

The other side features a mounted horseman, reflecting Taras' renowned cavalry tradition. The city's aristocratic horsemen were famous throughout the Greek world, and no other ancient mint produced such a rich variety of equestrian designs. Each new issue celebrated the military skill, prestige, and identity of one of Magna Graecia's most powerful city-states.

This coin was struck during the Hellenistic Age, when Greek culture flourished across the Mediterranean in the generations following Alexander the Great. At the same time, Rome was expanding into southern Italy, placing Taras at the center of one of the ancient world's great political and military transformations.

Today, Tarentine didrachms remain among the most sought-after coins of ancient Greece. Their combination of mythology, military tradition, and exceptional artistry has made them enduring favorites of collectors for generations.

Perfect For

• Ancient Greek coin collectors
• Collectors of Magna Graecia coinage
• Greek mythology enthusiasts
• Horse and cavalry history lovers
• Anyone seeking a premium ancient silver coin

Coin Details

• The exact silver didrachm pictured
• Civilization: Ancient Greece (Magna Graecia)
• City: Taras (Modern Taranto, Italy)
• Century: 3rd Century BC
• Date: c. 280–240 BC
• Denomination: Silver Didrachm
• Grade: Choice About Uncirculated (Ch AU)
• NGC Strike: 3/5
• NGC Surface: 4/5
• Guaranteed authentic

Continue the Story

Taras produced some of the finest silver coinage of the Greek world, where mythology, military tradition, and artistic excellence came together in remarkable detail.

Explore our other Greek silver coins to discover the gods, heroes, and great city-states that shaped the ancient Mediterranean.

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• Guaranteed authentic ancient coin
• Professionally authenticated and graded
• 30-day return policy
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