Arethusa / Octopus
Syracuse (Sicily) - Litra
Description
Obverse: Head of Arethusa left, wearing earring, necklace, ampyx and sphendone on which, ΦPY; beneath chin, dolphin and in right field, ear of barley.
Reverse: Octopus
One of 20 known. Listed in Kreutzer's Syrakusische Drachmen und Kleinsilbermünzen as Litra 7.5. These dies are signed by the engraver Phrygillos who can be attributed via the signature ΦPY. This litra is distinguished espescially by it's reverse, which is a bit simpler as there are no entangling tentacles. The more common octopus design in Syracuse has the front two tentacles entangled.
Details
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Composition | Silver |
| Issuer | Syracuse |
| Ruling Authority | Second Democracy (466 BC - 405 BC) |
| Period of Issue | 410 BC - 400 BC |
| Weight | 0.78 g |
| Diameter | 13 mm |
| Orientation | ↑↑ 12h |
| Denomination | Litra |
| Standard | Sicilian Litra |
| References | SNG ANS 5 #277; Kreutzer Kleinsilbermünzen #Litra 7 (7.5, this coin) |
Provenance
| Location | Description | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Giessener Münzhandlung Dieter Gorny Munich, Auction 79 - Lot 76 | 1996 |
| Germany | Mar 7, 2016 | |
| Germany | Unknown G&M 310 Consignor (fellow Syracusan fractional fan) | - |
| Germany | Mar 3, 2025 | |
| United States | Lelouch Collection | Current |