Arethusa / Octopus

Syracuse (Sicily) - Litra
Head of Arethusa right, wearing pendant earring, beaded pearl taenia, and beaded pearl necklace; hair looped up under taenia
Octopus

Description

Obverse: Head of Arethusa right, wearing pendant earring, beaded pearl taenia, and beaded pearl necklace; hair looped up under taenia
Reverse: Octopus

A spectacular little litra, certainly one of the finest known of this type. I really love the detail on this octopus, the self intersecting tentacles and membrane are incredibly detailed.

Details

CompositionSilver
IssuerSyracuse
Ruling AuthoritySecond Democracy (466 BC - 405 BC)
Period of Issue466 BC - 460 BC
Weight0.8 g
Diameter12 mm
Orientation
↑↑
3h
DenominationLitra
StandardSicilian Litra
ReferencesBoehringer #415-422; SNG ANS 5 #129

Numista Reference

Provenance

LocationDescriptionDate
Germany
Münzen & Medaillen, Fixed Price List 494 - Lot 23
Nov 1, 1986
United Kingdom
European Connoisseur Collection (formed before 2002)
2002
United Kingdom
Morton & Eden, Auction 124 - Lot 131
Sep 26, 2023
United States
Josh Zachman ("Kazuma78" on CoinTalk and NumisForums) Collection
-
United States
Heritage, ANA Signature Sale 3118 - Lot 34013
Aug 16, 2024
United States
Lelouch Collection
Current