Leukippos - Founder of Metapontion

The obverse of this Nomos depicts Metapontion's founder, Leukippos. The Corinthian helmet and beard are indicative of his role as strategos or military leader, still the highest rank in the Greek army today. The beard is intended to portray the wisdom and venerable nature of the leader (Much like Marcus Aurelius), thus making him the perfect "founding father". Leukippos was from the Magna Graecian city of Sybaris not far from Metapontium to the southwest. Stabo cites the legend of Leukippos winning the site of Metapontion through trickery from its neighbor and subsequent rival Taras (Strabo, Geography 6, 265). I could find no other references to this "trickery". These staters were issued in great numbers toward the end of the fourth century. It is possible that this series is related to the campaign of Alexander the Molossian (uncle of Alexander the great), who was invited by Taras to help defend the local Greek cities from the non-Greek tribes of the interior. What better time to remind the citizens of Metapontion of their roots than while occupied by a foreign force. The reverse of the coin depicts an ear of barley. Metapontion was located on one of the most fertile plains of Italy and its agricultural producst were the source of much of the city's wealth .