Very Rare Fifth Democracy 8 Litrai

Sale: CNG 82, Lot: 314. Estimate $3000.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 September 2009.  Sold For $4250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Syracuse. Fifth Democracy. 214-212 BC. AR 8 Litrai (6.87 g, 7h). Struck circa 213-212 BC. Wreathed head of Kore left; behind, owl standing left, head facing / Nike driving fast quadriga right; monogram above, AI below, small ΛY on exergue line. Burnett, Enna 52 (same dies); BAR issue 88; SNG ANS -; BMC 658 (same dies); Jameson 894 (same dies). EF, lightly toned. Very rare.

From the J. Olphin Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 40 [with Numismatica Ars Classica], 4 December 1996), lot 929.

The two small letters on the exergual line, ΛY, are the signature of the artist ΛYCIΔ. His full signature can be found on another die of this same type, cf. Basel 541.