Ancients: Gela. Ca. 415-405 BC. AR tetradrachm (17.22 gm). ...

Description

Gela. Ca. 415-405 BC. AR tetradrachm (17.22 gm). Quadriga racing left in three-quarter view, third horse with head turned back, eagle flying left above, grain ear left in exergue / ΓEΛAΣ, man-faced bull standing left, two barley plants before him, barley grain in exergue. Jenkins 485 (O97/R194). Rizzo pl. xix, 4 (same dies). Gulbenkian 202 (same dies). Antikenmuseum Basel 291 (same dies). SNG ANS 101-102 (same dies). SNG Lloyd 988 (same dies). Among the finest known examples of this unique reverse type, represented by only a single die. Beautifully toned. Good very fine.

Ex Gemini V (6 January 2009, lot 331). Ex American Numismatic Society collection (inv. #1997.9.5). From the estate of John D. Leggett, Jr.

More Information: This remarkable die paring represents the first time the famous river god Gelon, a man-faced bull, appears in his entirety. The latant power evident in the bull's stocky torso, the inclusion of the naturally rendered foliage and the way the entire composition creates a sense of depth by overlapping the ground line all point to the work of a master die enrgaver. The obverse is also unique in the Gela series, depicting a horse-driven quadriga in full career rather than the usual biga of mules. Jenkins notes that the lovely obverse die is quite likely an unsigned work by the die engraver Kimon, whose Syracusan dekadrachms are highly prized.