Arethusa / Octopus
Syracuse (Sicily) - Trionkion (¼ Litra)
Description
Obverse: Head of Arethusa right, wearing a sphendone and a simple necklace; ΣYPA
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. I used the Kreutzer date of 415-405 but honestly I think it is more likely to be related to Boehringer #729-733 litra (dated to 420-415) based on both the obverse and reverse style. Both Arethusa and the Octopus more closely match it as the design is not the prim Arethusa of Eukleidas or Phyrillogs, and the octopus does not have it's front tentacles entangled.
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 | 1 Trionkion |
| 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 8, 2018 |
| Canada | Savuto Collection | Mar 9, 2018 |
| United States | Privately purchased from the Savuto Collection | Jan 26, 2025 |
| United States | Lelouch Collection | Current |