Description
Sicily. Morgantina. 8 Litrai 214-212 BC. Silver 6.87 g.; 20.7 mm.
Obverse: Head of Demeter (or Korè), veiled and wearing a wreath of wheat ears, left, holly leaf in the right field //
Reverse: Nike driving a quadriga galloping to the right, holding a kentron in her right hand and the reins in both hands; monogram above and legend in exergue. Reverse caption: ΣΙΚΕΛΙΩΤΑΝ
SNG ANS 1168; HGC 2, 910 and Burnett, Enna Hoard 10, 110.
A splendid, rare coin in an exceptional state of preservation, featuring an almost round flan and a well-centered strike, all adorned with an attractive patina of golden and gray highlights. A limited number of coins and variants exist, and are rarely found on sale. A rare attractive coin, featuring brilliantly realized iconography and a witness to the last years before a major historical change for the city. A must-have!
Almost uncirculated AU 55-58
Provenance Details
Ex Faune d'Argent Collection.
Comment
The obverse features a superb portrait of Demeter or her daughter Korè (Persephone). Every hair and strand of her face is clearly visible. The two ears of wheat that form her crown are perfectly visible, from the stalks to the beards and leaves. The goddess's veil features marked reliefs and hollows, accentuating its folds and making it more realistic. The die used has a few weaknesses, which can be seen on our specimen, particularly in the area of the goddess's face.
The reverse is delicately engraved, with a multitude of details. The horses are magnificent: every hair in their manes, their eyes, the joints of their legs and all the elements of their harness can be seen. The goddess's chiton is finely engraved with delicate lines, and her chignon, represented by a full dot, is also visible. The scene is lively. Its dynamism is further emphasized by the position of the figures: Nikè is leaning slightly forward, showing her concentration, while the fieriness of the horses is illustrated by their raised front legs and the left-turned head of the third equine. The representation of Demeter or Korè, two goddesses associated with cultivation and spring, is linked to the city's wealth based on agriculture and, in particular, vines, one of whose varieties bears its name.
Our coin was minted during the Second Punic War, by the League of Siceliotes, when the city of Morgantina supported the Carthaginians. Our type is therefore one of the last to be minted before Sicily definitively became a Roman province.
Payment
Bankwire acceptedPaypal accepted