Description
Sicily. Leontinoi. AR-Tetradrachm (24.0 mm, 17.33 g, 1h). Circa 430-425 BC.
Obverse: Head of Apollo left, with flowing hair, wearing laurel wreath, dotted border //
Reverse: Lion's head left, with open jaws and tongue protruding; three barley grains and, behind, laurel leaf. LEO – N – TI – NON around.
Rizzo pl. XXIIII, 4 (these dies). SNG ANS 229 (these dies). AMB 353 (these dies). Boehringer, Studies Price, pl.12, 55 (these dies).
A magnificent specimen of excellent classical style with an elegant portrait. Boldly struck with a lovely light iridescent tone. Some minor scuffs under the tone, otherwise superb EF.
NGC graded Ch AU Strike: 5/5 Surface: 3/5 - scuffs.
Provenance Details
Ex NAC Auction 146, 2024, Lot 2079.
From an exceptional collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s.
Comment
Leontinoi was founded in 729 BC by Chalcidian settlers from the town of Naxos. Leontinoi was situated on a wide, fertile plain. Exports of grain to Greece and other Sicilian cities brought Leontinoi wealth. Leontinoi was repeatedly under the rule of the tyrants of Syracuse. Between 466 BC and 422 BC it was temporarily freed from Syracuse and the democracy was restored. This was reflected in the coinage, in which new coin types were developed. Apollo was chosen as the new motif for the obverse. Apollo was the patron god of the city of Leontinoi, as his oracle in Delphi revealed the location of the new city. This Tetradrachm was minted towards the end of this short period.
The reverse shows the influence that Syracuse continued to have on Leontinoi. Instead of the Arethusa head, a lion's head was used and the dolphins are replaced by barley grains. The barley grains are a reference to the exceptional fertility of the area, while the lion is an allusion to the name of the city. In fact, the Greek Leon means lion.
This coin is the work of an artist termed, after Rizzo, the “maestro della foglia“ (master of the leaf), because of his use of leaves as a form of signature. He was an exceptionally talented and skilled master-engraver.
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