SICILY, Leontini. Circa 430-425 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.82 g, 1h). Choice EF.

CNG Feature Auction 124
Lot: 51. Estimated: $ 6 000

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 6 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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SICILY, Leontini. Circa 430-425 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 17.82 g, 1h). Head of Apollo left, wearing laurel wreath / Head of roaring lion right; LE-O-N-TI-N-ON around; three barley grains above, to left, and below; leaf behind. Boehringer, Münzgeschichte 55 (same dies); HGC 2, 671 (same dies as illustration); SNG ANS 257 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1063 (same obv. die); Basel 353 (same dies); Rizzo pl. XXIV, 4 (same dies). Wonderful cabinet tone. Choice EF. Well centered and struck on a broad flan.

Ex Harald Salvesen Collection, purchased from Classical Numismatic Group, 1990s.

This attractive tetradrachm was probably struck about two decades after the initial introduction of the Apollo / Lion type. While early heads of Apollo were rendered in a highly stylized manner, here he appears as an idealized human. 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 was the emblem of Apollo but probably also 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 CNG Feature Auction 124 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 19-20 September 2023. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 19 September at 9 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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