Arethusa / Hippocamp & Octopus
Syracuse (Sicily) - Tetras (⅓ Litra)
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
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Composition | Bronze |
| Issuer | Syracuse |
| Ruling Authority | Second Democracy (466 BC - 405 BC) |
| Period of Issue | 415 BC - 410 BC |
| Weight | 1.98 g |
| Diameter | 14.5 mm |
| Orientation | ↑↑ 7h |
| Denomination | 1 Tetras |
| Standard | Sicilian Litra |
| References | CNS II #20; HGC 2 #1433; SNG Morcom #681; Holloway, Further #Series 1A |
Provenance
| Location | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 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 States | 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 |