Greek coinage of Italy and Sicily

Greek coinage of Italy and Sicily originated from local Italiotes and Siceliotes who formed numerous city states.

A common theme in the Italiote coinage was to include portraits of gods or other mythological figures.

The city of Posidonia (Paestum) had received its name from Greek god Poseidon whose portrait they struck in their coinage.

It was originally known as Lindii after their home town Lindos, but the city was renamed after the river Gelas.

[2] Some tyrants in Magna Graecia advertised their victories in the Olympic Games by striking coinage that referred to these specific achievements.

[6] The region of Magna Graecia included originally Greek cities such as Cumae, Herakleia, Kaulonia, Kroton, Lokroi, Neapolis, Metapontum, Sybaris, Taras, Thurii and Rhegion.

It can be deduced that the influence of Taras may have been responsible for the spread of shielded cavalry to other Greek polities.

This downward evolution was significantly affected by the financial strain caused by warfare for the Greek polities.

For instance, countering the expansion of Rome caused considerable pressure for the Italiote city states.

The city grew rich from producing wine, and it honoured the god Dionysos on their first coinage.

Katana, founded in 730 BC by colonists moving out of the city of Naxos, was known for its masterful engravers whose work resulted in very fine coinage.

[12] Nacona was a small Greek town in Sicily the existence of which, at an unknown location, is confirmed by coins bearing the legend "NAKONAION", or "ΝΑΚΩΝΑΙΩΝ”.

In the 5th century a strong government and widely militarized society ruled by tyrants left behind abundant coinage.