Sicily, Gela (c. 440 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 16.78 gms., die axis 90°, slow quadriga driven right by charioteer, Nike flying above crowning horses, /KCELOION/k (retrograde) in exergue, rev. forepart of the man-headed bull Gelas right, about to be crowned with a wreath by the nymph Sosipolis, /K[SOSIPOLIS]/k (retrograde) above (Jenkins, op. cit., 371 (obv. 74/rev. 150), same dies; SNG ANS 70, same dies; SNG Lloyd 970, same dies; ACGC 825, same dies), cleaned, otherwise fine to very fine and rare

Details

Sicily, Gela (c. 440 BC), Silver Tetradrachm, 16.78 gms., die axis 90°, slow quadriga driven right by charioteer, Nike flying above crowning horses, /KCELOION/k (retrograde) in exergue, rev. forepart of the man-headed bull Gelas right, about to be crowned with a wreath by the nymph Sosipolis, /K[SOSIPOLIS]/k (retrograde) above (Jenkins, op. cit., 371 (obv. 74/rev. 150), same dies; SNG ANS 70, same dies; SNG Lloyd 970, same dies; ACGC 825, same dies), cleaned, otherwise fine to very fine and rare

Provenance

Purchased from Dr. Jacob Hirsch in 1946 for $270

Further details

Only one pair of dies was cut for this issue. Kraay has suggested that it may have been produced in celebration of the Sicilian Greeks' final victory over the forces of the formidable native leader Ducetius.