Lucania. Metapontum. Circa 540-510 BC. Stater (Silver, 28 mm, 8.23 g, 12 h). ΜΕΤ Ear of barley with eight grains; around, border of dots within two concentric linear circles. Rev. Ear of barley with eight grains, all incuse; rayed border. HN III 1459. Noe 3. SNG ANS 160. Very attractively toned, a splendid example of one of the very first coins issued by Metapontum. Nearly extremely fine. From the Ravenel Collection, USA, and from the Prospero Collection, New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012, 51, privately purchased from Spink's in London, 22 April 1986. This powerful and impressive coin must have been one of the very first coins to have been struck in Magna Graecia, probably just around 540 BC. The rather plump barley ear differs from taller and more slender examples that were struck slightly later during the 6th century.