Arethusa / Wheel of Four Spokes

Syracuse (Sicily) - Hemilitron (½ Litra)
Head of Arethusa right, wearing double loop earring, necklace, ampyx and sphendone; ΣYPA right.
Wheel of four spokes; ΣY-PA in the upper quarters and a pair of opposed dolphins in the lower.

Description

Obverse: Head of Arethusa right, wearing double loop earring, necklace, ampyx and sphendone; ΣYPA right.
Reverse: Wheel of four spokes; ΣY-PA in the upper quarters and a pair of opposed dolphins in the lower.

One of 7 known. Listed in Kreutzer's Syrakusische Drachmen und Kleinsilbermünzen as Hemilitren 4.7. This coin features the most intricate Arethusa on the hemilitra of Syracause. Due to the double loop earring, it may be potentially place alongside the octopus litra that are commpared to Tudeer R23 and/or R24.

Details

CompositionSilver
IssuerSyracuse
Ruling AuthoritySecond Democracy (466 BC - 405 BC)
Period of Issue415 BC - 405 BC
Weight0.29 g
Diameter9 mm
Orientation
↑↑
7h
Denomination1 Hemilitron
StandardSicilian Litra
ReferencesKreutzer Kleinsilbermünzen #Hemilitren 4 (4.7, this coin)

Numista Reference

Provenance

LocationDescriptionDate
GermanyGorny & Mosch, Auction 229 - Lot 1101Mar 9, 2015
GermanyUnknown G&M 310 Consignor (fellow Syracusan fractional fan)-
GermanyGorny & Mosch, Auction 310 - Lot 82Mar 2, 2025
United StatesLelouch CollectionCurrent