Arethusa / Wheel of Four Spokes

Syracuse (Sicily) - Hemilitron (½ Litra)
Head of Arethusa right, wearing helix 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 helix 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 Syracuse. Due to the helix earring, it may be potentially place alongside the octopus litra that are commpared to Tudeer R58.

Details

CompositionSilver
IssuerSyracuse
Ruling AuthorityDionysios I (405 BC - 367 BC)
Period of Issue405 BC - 400 BC
Weight0.29 g
Diameter9 mm
Orientation
↑↑
7h
DenominationHemilitron (½ Litra)
StandardSicilian Litra
ReferencesKreutzer Kleinsilbermünzen #Hemilitren 4 (4.7, this coin)

Numista Reference

Provenance

LocationDescriptionDate
Germany
Gorny & Mosch, Auction 229 - Lot 1101
Mar 10, 2015
Germany
Unknown G&M 310 Consignor (fellow Syracusan fractional fan)
-
Germany
Gorny & Mosch, Auction 310 - Lot 82
Mar 3, 2025
United States
Lelouch Collection
Current