Lot 5
Sicily, Himera. Silver Drachm (5.19 g), ca. 500 BC. Cock standing right in circular border of dots. Reverse: Hen standing right in shallow circular incuse. Cf. Kraay 160-2 (dies not recorded); de Luynes 971. Boldly struck in high relief on a slightly irregular planchet. Nearly Extremely Fine. Estimated Value $750 - UP
The northern Sicilian city of Himera was founded by colonists from Zankle with the assistance of a group of Syracusan exiles in 648 BC. It was named for its location near the mouth of the Himera river and stood on the border with Punic-dominated western Sicily. The city was well situated for trade with both the Etruscans of Italy and the Carthaginians. The city is reported to have fallen under the domination of Phalaris, the tyrant of nearby Akragas in the second quarter of the sixth century, but the historicity of his power over Himera has been disputed. Himera was ruled by its own tyrants in the late sixth century BC, but the last of these, Terillos, was expelled in the early fifth century BC by Theron, the powerful tyrant of Akragas (c. 489–472 BC). In 480 BC, Terillos attempted to reclaim his city with the support of a large Punic force led by the general Hamilcar, but this was defeated before the walls of Himera. This incredible victory of Sicilian Greeks over a vastly larger Punic army resulted in a comparison with the Greek victory over the Persians at Salamis in the same year and to the later tradition that both battles took place on the very same day. The present drachm was struck while Himera was still ruled by its own native tyrants, but it is unclear whether it could belong to the period of Terillos’ tyranny. It certainly belongs before the conquest of Himera by Theron since it is struck to the Chalkidian standard and features the traditional types of cock and hen. Following the city’s conquest by Theron, the coinage of Himera was struck to the Attic standard preferred at Akragas and the hen reverse was replaced by the crab badge of Akragas.
Ex Saint Ludovico & Firth of Clyde Collection (Stack's, 22 April 2009), 1030.
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| Realized $1,200 |
