Lot 3271

Description

Sicily, Himera, (410-400 B.C.), Copper hemilitron, (16.166 grams), obv. facing Gorgon head, rev. six pellets, (S.1105, Weber 1356, SNG Cop. 313, McLean 2305). Dark brown patina, nearly very fine/very fine and rare.

Kraay (The Bronze Coinage of Himera and 'Himera' in Annali dell'Istituto Italiano di Numismatica Supp. to volume 25, Naples 1979), discusses the chronology of this series in conjunction with the similar coinage of Panormus (see example in this sale) and places the issue in the last decade of the 5th century. He lists the weight of 71 examples in public and private collections, probably about 100 examples survive today. One of the world's earliest bronze coins.