Sicily, 8 Litrai, 214-212 BC
Morgantina - Silver - AU(55-58) - HGC:2-910
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Head of Demeter (or Korè), veiled and wearing a wreath of wheat ears, left, holly leaf in the right field.
Nike driving a quadriga galloping to the right, holding a kentron in her right hand and the reins in both hands; monogram above and legend in exergue.
A splendid, rare coin in an exceptional state of preservation, featuring an almost round flan and a well-centered strike, all adorned with an attractive patina of golden and gray highlights. The obverse features a superb portrait of Demeter or her daughter Korè (Persephone). Every hair and strand of her face is clearly visible. The two ears of wheat that form her crown are perfectly visible, from the stalks to the beards and leaves. The goddess's veil features marked reliefs and hollows, accentuating its folds and making it more realistic. The die used has a few weaknesses, which can be seen on our specimen, particularly in the area of the goddess's face. The reverse is delicately engraved, with a multitude of details. The horses are magnificent: every hair in their manes, their eyes, the joints of their legs and all the elements of their harness can be seen. The goddess's chiton is finely engraved with delicate lines, and her chignon, represented by a full dot, is also visible. The scene is lively. Its dynamism is further emphasized by the position of the figures: Nikè is leaning slightly forward, showing her concentration, while the fieriness of the horses is illustrated by their raised front legs and the left-turned head of the third equine. The representation of Demeter or Korè, two goddesses associated with cultivation and spring, is linked to the city's wealth based on agriculture and, in particular, vines, one of whose varieties bears its name. Our coin was minted during the Second Punic War, by the League of Siceliotes, when the city of Morgantina supported the Carthaginians. Our type is therefore one of the last to be minted before Sicily definitively became a Roman province. It is all the rarer for the fact that a limited number of coins and variants exist, and are rarely found on sale. A rare attractive coin, featuring brilliantly realized iconography and a witness to the last years before a major historical change for the city. A must-have! SNG ANS 1168; HGC 2, 910 and Burnett, Enna Hoard 10, 110. Faune d'Argent Collection.
ΣΙΚΕΛΙΩΤΑΝ
6.87 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “AU(55-58)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.
