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SICILY, Leontini. Circa 450-440 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24.5mm, 17.37 g, 10h). Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath / Head of roaring lion right; L-EO-NT-I-NO-[N] and four barley grains around. Maltese Period III, 55d (D18/R47 – this coin); Boehringer, Münzgeschichte 35 (same obv. die); HGC 2, 667; SNG Ashmolean 1782 (same dies); Dewing 625 (same dies); Rizzo pl. XXIII, 5 (same obv. die). Toned, trace deposits, a little die wear. Near EF. Click here for a video presentation on this collection.
From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection. Ex Patrick H. C. Tan Collection (Gemini VII, 9 January 2011), lot 121.
Leontini was founded in 729 BC by settlers from Naxos, the first Greek colony in Sicily, which itself had been established just a few years earlier. In the first decade of the 5th century the city was captured by the tyrant Hippocrates of Gela whose successor, Gelon, transferred his seat of government to Syracuse in 485. Thereafter, Leontini usually remained within the Syracusan sphere of influence, though its 5th century coinage was on a considerable scale attesting the independent wealth of the community. A major political change took place in the late 460s — the expulsion of the tyrants and the restoration of democracy. This was reflected on the Leontine coinage by the introduction of new types featuring the head of Apollo on obverse and a lion’s head on reverse. Apollo was especially revered at Leontini, as he was at the mother city of Naxos where there was a famous sanctuary of Apollo Archegetes. The lion apparently represents a punning allusion to the city name. The surrounding barley-grains are indicative of the exceptional fertility of the Leontine territory and doubtless refer to the local worship of Demeter, the goddess of agriculture.
The final winners of all Triton XXVIII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 14-15 January 2025.
Triton XXVIII – Session One – Lot 1–287 will be held Tuesday morning, 14 January 2025 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.
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