Arethusa / Octopus
Syracuse (Sicily) - Tetras (¼ Litra)
Description
Obverse: Head of Arethusa right, wearing ampyx and sphendone and a simple necklace; ΣVPA
Reverse: Octopus with three pellets around
A cute little octopus, it is actually the smallest octopus coin issued by Syracuse. Suprisingly not my smallest octopus though as this Syracusan trionkion is 8.5mm, while my hemiobol from Dikaia is 7.5mm. Though it is my lightest octopus being 0.21 grams, vs the Dikaian hemiobol at 0.22 grams. Since I have acquired this trionkion, I acquired #85 which is technically liter at 0.18g but it is chipped, and has a larger diamater of 9.64mm.
Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Composition | Silver |
| Issuer | Syracuse |
| Ruling Authority | Second Democracy (465 BC - 405 BC) |
| Period of Issue | 415 BC - 405 BC |
| Weight | 0.21 g |
| Diameter | 8.5 mm |
| Orientation | ↑↑ 3h |
| Denomination | Tetras (¼ Litra) |
| Standard | Sicilian Litra |
| References | SNG ANS 5 #1375,1376; HGC 2 #1396; Buceti #403; Kreutzer Kleinsilbermünzen #Trionkion 1 |
Provenance
| Location | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Purchased from Ancient Numsimatic Enterprise (ANE) | Mar 9, 2018 |
| Canada | Mar 10, 2018 | |
| United States | Privately purchased from the Savuto Collection | Jan 27, 2025 |
| United States | Lelouch Collection | Current |