Lucania. Velia Silver Didrachm 334-300BC

Lucania. Velia Silver Didrachm 334-300BC
20x22mm, 7.50g

Velia (Roman name) was an ancient city of Magna Graecia on the coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea (part of the Mediterranean off the west coast of Italy), and founded by Greeks around 538–535 BC, then known as Hyele, later Ele and Elea. It lies in the area of ancient Lucania. The modern village of Velia lies close to the ruins of the ancient city.

Coin obverse depicts the helmeted head of Athena ornamented with a griffon, and the reverse a lion standing left.