Lot 2413

Description

Sicily, Motya, (415/410-397 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (17.386 grams), obv. head of Tanit or Arethusa to left wearing a sphendone, a triple pendant earring and a necklace, her hair in a net behind, around four dolphins, rev. crab, (S.869, Jenkins, SNR 50, 47 [same dies, O6/R9], Jameson 667 [same dies], SNG Cop. 481 [same obverse die], Weber 1452 [same obverse die], SNG Ash. 836 [same obverse die]). Nearly extremely fine and very rare.

Ex Harlan J. Berk Ltd, Buy or Bid Sale 112, (lot 136). The obverse of this type is copied from the Arethusa head by Kimon on Syracusan decadrachms and the reverse from the coinage of Acragas. The type is very rare known from only two obverse dies (the other die with head to right) and three reverse dies (all crabs). In all Jenkins lists 22 coins most of which are in public collections. A recent hoard has resulted in several more examples of the this coinage coming onto the market, but it is believed that the total surviving number of this type of Motya tetradrachms is still no greater than forty coins.