Very Rare Himera Drachm

Sale: CNG 76, Lot: 122. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 12 September 2007.  Sold For $1150. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Himera. Circa 480-470 BC. AR Drachm (4.02 g, 2h). Cock standing left / Crab in concave incuse. Westermark, Himera 115 (O1/R8); SNG ANS 153-4; SNG Manchester 404 (same dies). VF, toned, minor porosity. Very rare.

From Collection C.G. Ex Triton II (1 December 1998), lot 161.

This reverse type was adopted at Himera around 480 BC, shortly after the city came under the domination of the tyrant Theron of Akragas. In 472 BC he was succeeded by his son, Thrasydaios, whose death has often been thought to be the ending date of these issues. However, it is uncertain when Thrasydaios died; some sources quote the same year as his succession, but more recent evidence suggests a date around 468/7 BC. Westermark (citing W.S. Barrett and current hoard evidence), though, thinks the terminal date for this coinage was early in 470 BC, when Hieron of Syracuse defeated Thrasydaios in battle.