Preparing to Face the Carthaginians

Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 32. Estimate $7500.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $9500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Akragas. Circa 406 BC. AV 2 Litrai – Diobol (1.33 g, 3h). Silanos, magistrate. Eagle standing left, snake clasped in its talons, on rock outcropping; AKPA above, two pellets (mark of value) on rocks / Crab; below, ΣIΛA/NOΣ in two lines (the lower retrograde). SNG ANS 998-9; McClean 2039 (same dies); Pozzi 387/385 (same obv./rev. dies). Superb EF. Rare.

The magistrate’s name, Silanos, is found on tetradrachms (SNG ANS 1000) as well as gold diobols with marks of value. As it does so often, gold indicates anticipation of an emergency, and thus this last issue of the city can be dated to the period before its capitulation to the Carthaginians in 406 BC (see C. Boehringer, "Die Finanzpolitik und Münzprägung des Dionysios von Syrakus," Essays Thompson, pp. 15-6). It is thought that this particular gold issue was struck to pay the mercenaries who defended the city against Carthage. It is also the only issue of Akragas to feature a magistrate’s name.