Previously Unknown Alliance

Triton XXI, Lot: 330. Estimate $1500. Sold for $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BRUTTIUM and SICILY, Rhegion and Akragas. Joint issue, circa 480-474 or 463/2-462/1 BC. AR Litra(?) (9mm, 0.52 g, 9h). Eagle standing right on basis; AKR-A around; all within dotted border / REC within dotted border. Unpublished, but see Caltabiano 114 for this reverse die used on a standard litra of Rhegion. Good VF, toned, light porosity, die break on reverse.

The historical record notes various alliances by each of these cities, but not with each other. The types here date the coinage to the early or mid 5th century, and although the history of each city is well known for that period, there is no common event that involved each of them. As such, this coin presently represents the only historical evidence of any sort of alliance between these two significant cities. The dates of issue are based on Caltabiano for this reverse die.