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325-275  BC

Silver Diobol 11mm, 0.90g.

Obverse: Head of Athena right, wearing high-crested Corinthian helmet lifted back atop head.
Reverse: META left; Barley ear with leaf to right; cornucopia above leaf.

RARE ISSUE
Featuring obverse copied from the Corinthian types favored by Greek mercenaries from the western Greek mainland - especially Akarnania and Epeiros - this coinage was struck by Metapontion to support the mercenary armies brought by Alexander the Molossian and Pyrrhos during their great "Italian adventures".
Alexander I of Epirus "the Molossian" or "Alexander of Molossis" was a king of Epirus. As the son of Neoptolemus I and brother of Olympias (mother of Alexander the Great), Alexander I was an uncle of Alexander the Great. He was also an uncle of Pyrrhus of Epirus. Pyrrhus became famous for his "Pyrrhic victory" over the Romans. Pyrrhus was a second cousin of Alexander the Great.

Ref. Johnston F21; SNG ANS 533-9;  Nearly Extremely Fine; This is a very small coin shown greatly enlarged thus Nicer in hand! Excellent for the issue; bright untoned silver, brighter than images suggest (light coins photograph darker and dark coins appear lighter, generally).

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