Female Figure / Man-headed Bull

Entella (Sicily) - Litra
Female figure standing left, sacrificing from phiale over altar and holding filleted temple key
Man-headed bull standing right; fish right in exergue; above ΕΝΤΕΛΛΑ retrograde

Description

Obverse: Female figure standing left, sacrificing from phiale over altar and holding filleted temple key
Reverse: Man-headed bull standing right; fish right in exergue; above ΕΝΤΕΛΛΑ retrograde

This is a rare issue from Entella with distinctive iconography featuring a female figure with temple key and man-headed bull reverse. It is completely uncertain who this woman may be, with it likely not being a local nymph often found on the other coins of Sicily, as this woman is sacrificing from a phiale over an alter.

Details

CompositionSilver
IssuerEntella
Ruling AuthorityUnknown
Period of Issue440 BC - 430 BC
Weight0.73 g
Diameter12.17 mm
Orientation
6h
Denomination1 Litra
StandardSicilian Litra
ReferencesHGC 2 #235; SNG ANS 3 #1339; Buceti #1a; Winterthur 1 #628

Numista Reference

Provenance

LocationDescriptionDate
SwitzerlandAstarte, Web Auction 10 - Lot 62Jul 20, 2025
United StatesLelouch CollectionCurrent