| Author |
 Replies: 15 / Views: 1,912 |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
2480 Posts |
It's been a while since I've posted new coins. Not that I've slowed down buying, I've just been remiss about posting :)  Chock-full of artistic devices... checkGorgeous iridescent toning... checkCool provenance... check    Yep, it was a splurge. Good think I hadn't won those other expensive coins in Triton. I love this little thing! It's smaller than my thumbnail, a mere wafer of silver. How on earth did the engraver accomplish those incredible details? The MFB... look at the realistic rendering! The great detail on his face! Wow. Other than compositing the two sides and fixing the background, these images are unadulterated. SICILY, Selinos.
c, 410 BCEAR litra, 11mm, 0.76 g, 1h Obv: nymph seated left on rock, right hand raised above her head, extending her left hand to touch coiled serpent before her; selinon leaf above Rev: man-faced bull standing right; ΣEΛINONTIOΣ above; in exergue, fish right Ref: HGC 2, 1229; SNG ANS 711â€"2 var. (ethnic); SNG Ashmolean 1904â€"5; SNG Lloyd 1270 var. (same); Basel â€"; Dewing â€"; Rizzo pl. XXXIII, 6. Good VF, dark iridescent tone, some porosity. Rare. ex MoneyMuseum, Zurich; ex Leu 79 (31 October 2000), lot 404.The coin is fascinating and trying to find more information about the devices is leading to more questions, more research, more rabbit holes. At the moment I have more questions than answers. What is the nymph doing with the serpent? Charming it? Worshiping it? Communing? Could the serpent be Zeus Meilichius? Does this man-faced bull have a name? Is it a local river god? Since I can't tell you any hard facts about the devices, here's some information about Selinos.  Founded in the mid seventh century BCE, Selinos began as an oligarchy. It was supposedly named for the abundant wild parsley found in the area (σÎλινον, selinon). As is the case with most ancient (and modern!) city/states, Selinos went through a variety of rules and modes of rule. There were the usual cycles of hostilities and reconciliations with neighboring cities over the next three centuries. In 409 BCE the city was sacked and partly destroyed by Hannibal. Through treaties with Dionsius, then Timoleon, and then Agathokes Selinos was under the dominion of Carthage from 407 to ~278 BCE, when Selinites and other Sicilian cities asked Greek general Pyrrhus to assist them with driving out the Carthaginians. In 250 BCE Carthaginians destroyed Selinos. RIP Selinos. You sure managed to produce some lovely coins in your brief existence.... Post your coins of Selinos :). Or if you don't have any, something from Sicily. |
|
|
|
Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Congrats - very beautiful coin. Here a small coin from Syracuse and while a couple decades earlier might still have been around as change when yours was in circulation:   AE Trias from Syracuse, minted from 440 BC to 425 BC - Sear#1184 Obverse: Head of Arethusa right, hair in Korymbos, dolphins before and behind SYRA at right Reverse: Cuttlefish, three pellets around |
|
Moderator
 United States
16679 Posts |
Man-faced bull..crazy.
I also have an AE Trias/octopus - Syracuse in Sicily.
I'll have to post it.
swcoin.ecrater.com
|
|
Valued Member
Canada
266 Posts |
Nice,
I think The bull is the river god Gelas
Edited by arnoldoe
01/31/2015 7:53 pm
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
3486 Posts |
ThisIsFun,
I enjoyed this post. As I do not collect ancients I appreciate the background that you were able to give.
And I just LOVE the bull with a man's face.
Yes, the tiny coin holds a LOT of appeal.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
 United States
2480 Posts |
Nice cuttlefish, Medieval! Vermontensium, please do post yours :)
arnoldoe, it's not Gelas. Gelas is the MFB on coins of Gela. Actually, even that is in question. Nick Molinari has been studying these for quite a while and has a book due out, hopefully by the end of the year (this litra will be a plate coin :D ). He goes into some detail about the possible identities of various issuers' MFBs on a few threads in Forvm.
@MatthewV, thanks!!
|
|
Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Quote:
As I do not collect ancients Shame on you! Perhaps coins like the one in the op might tempt you yet. But then, perhaps better not - no need for extra competition.  Here 'ThisIsFun' is another Litra, minted during Timeleon's time in Syracuse:   AE Litra minted ~344BC-366BC in Syracuse - Sear#1189 Obverse: Head of Athena left, wearing Coritnhian helmet, SYRA in front. Reverse: Starfish between two dolphins. Unfortunately thick coins do not scan that well, but the reverse design came out okay. Quite a decent piece of metal, have another very worn one which I use as paper weight. |
|
Moderator
United States
23731 Posts |
You find the most interesting coins. Very nice.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
4970 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
Netherlands
1204 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
870 Posts |
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
7066 Posts |
It's a beauty, ThisIsFun - and not just based on the imagery and sharpness...the irridescent toning is fantastic.
|
|
Pillar of the Community
United States
5155 Posts |
Nice Litra. I have a Bronze of Syracuse.  |
|
Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
At the risk of sounding monotonous, I love your coin, TIF, and the patina is great. My most recent 'arrival' is this coin. All I know is the seller's description of "Sicily, Syracuse, Kore, Persephone, Bull, Taurus, 3.74 g 15 mm Perhaps someone would be good enough to give me some more information about it?   |
|
Pillar of the Community
3772 Posts |
Quote:
Perhaps someone would be good enough to give me some more information about it? This general type was used in Syracuse for some time, you should find examples of it on Wildwinds, especially from the reigns of Agothokles and Hieron II. I can see some faint trace of 'writing' above the bull and there might be something hidden below the dirt under the bull, you will need to determine those details to get a clear attribution - otherwise you might have to settle for "Syracuse, most likely 4th or 3rd century BC". |
|
Pillar of the Community
1121 Posts |
Thanks, Med. I appreciate the input. The coin literally turned up in the last mail, so I haven't had much of a chance to 'look' for it. I will follow your lead though. TIF:- I also have a 'blue' coin. Although not as impressive as yours, I like it.   |
| |
Replies: 15 / Views: 1,912 |
|
Posted 01/31/2015 7:49 pm
