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SICILY, Leontini. Circa 455-425 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 17.60 g, 9h). Laureate head of Apollo right / Head of roaring lion right; four barley grains around. Maltese Period III, 68 (D21/R57); HGC 2, 667; SNG ANS 225 (same dies); SNG Lockett 797 = Pozzi 1064 (same dies); Rizzo pl. XXIII, 3–4 (same dies). Toned, slightly off center, minor scuff at edge on reverse. EF.
From the G. Savonarola Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 46 (24 June 1998), lot 84.
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 CNG Feature Auction 129 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 13-14 May 2025. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 13 May at 9 AM ET.
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