Arethusa / Hippocamp & Octopus

Syracuse (Sicily) - Tetras (¼ Litra)
Head of Arethusa right, wearing ampyx and sphendone; four Xs around; within circular line border.
Hippocamp right; octopus upside-down below; three pellets around

Description

Obverse: Head of Arethusa right, wearing ampyx and sphendone; four Xs around; within circular line border.
Reverse: Hippocamp right; octopus upside-down below; three pellets around

A great example of a great type, with both the octopus and hippocamp being extremely detailed. It is uncertain whether the right-side up should be the octopus or the hippocamp but since I love octopus more I depict it with the octopus. I am bit worried about this being fake as it was sold by Bertolami twice, but since it went through John Morcom (one of the most respected numismatists for Western Greek Bronzes) and CNG, we should be able to trust it.

Details

CompositionBronze
IssuerSyracuse
Ruling AuthoritySecond Democracy (466 BC - 405 BC)
Period of Issue415 BC - 410 BC
Weight1.98 g
Diameter14.5 mm
Orientation
↑↑
7h
DenominationTetras (¼ Litra)
StandardSicilian Litra
ReferencesCNS II #30; SNG ANS #1382; HGC 2 #1433; SNG Morcom #681; Holloway, Further #Series 1A, fig. 3

Numista Reference

Provenance

LocationDescriptionDate
Germany
Art Coins Roma (now Bertolami Fine Arts), Auction 12 - Lot 147
Oct 30, 2014
United Kingdom
Bertolami Fine Arts, E-Auction 60 - Lot 147
Jul 10, 2018
United Kingdom
John Morcom Collection of Western Greek Bronzes
-
United States
Classical Numismatic Group, Electronic Auction 573 - Lot 90
Oct 23, 2024
United States
Lelouch Collection
Current