Sicily, Tetradrachm, ca. 440-400 BC
Himera - Silver - AU(50-53)
PLEASE NOTE: this collector's item is unique. We therefore cannot guarantee its availability over time and recommend that you do not delay too long in completing your purchase if you are interested.
Charioteer driving quadriga at pace to right, holding kentron in reight hand and reins in left; above, Nike flying left, holding a wreath for the charioteer.
The nymph Himera standing facing slightly to the left, her head turned left, holding a phiale in her right hand over a lighted altar to pour a libation over it; to the right, a satyr (Silenus?) standing, showering in a fountain under a stream of water emerging from a lion's head; at the top right, a grain of cereal (wheat?).
Extremely rare tetradrachm with a very interesting type on the reverse. On the obverse, we have a classic Sicilian type, with the quadriga and Nike flying above, crowning the charioteer instead of the horses. We simply note that the ethnic is clearly mentioned in the exergue to indicate the provenance of the coin. The reverse has a very rich and unique composition. The main element in the center of the composition is this female figure, interpreted as the nymph Himera (or Himeraia). The city of Himera was endowed with hot springs, and the nymph is said to have brought them out to honour Herakles and allow him to rest when he was passing through this region. Depicted draped and pouring a libation over an altar, the religious nature of the scene is evident. Although it is difficult to interpret this part, it is not impossible that it refers to a cult which honoured her for this gift of the hot springs. Behind her is a grain of cereal, a reference to the wealth of the city's chôra (its countryside), which was extremely rich in agriculture, particularly wheat production. It attracted a considerable amount of covetousness from its neighbours, such as Carthage, which tried to conquer the city in 480 BC during its invasion of Sicily, but was crushed by the forces of Gelon I of Syracuse. Finally, behind the nymph we find a satyr (a silenus) showering in a fountain from which water streams through a lion's head (perhaps itself a reference to Herakles through the Nemean lion). This part of the composition is yet another reminder of the city's wealth of thermal springs, whose waters would have flowed through lion's mouths into fountains freely accessible to all. It is worth noting that archaeology has uncovered lion-headed gargoyles in one of the city's best-preserved temples, the ‘Temple of Victory’, which closely match the depiction on the coin. The result is a coin bearing a rich iconography, highlighting the city's wealth of qualities and its numerous ancestral benefits, dating back to mythological times. A true numismatic masterpiece that can be found in the greatest collections of Sicilian Greek coins. Gutmann/Schwabacher MBNG XLVII (1929) 19; McClean 2298 (same dies); De Nanteuil 290 (same dies) and Egger 1909, Lestranges Collection, 157 (same dies). Same dies as following exemples, auctionned at Ars Classica - Naville VI (Bement Collection), lot 389; XII, lot 734; XVI (Spencer-Churchill Collection), lot 532 and XVII, lot 157. Ex Vinchon, 20 November 1992, lot 43. Faune d'Argent Collection.
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16.75 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(50-53)” 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(50-53)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has circulated well from hand to hand and pocket to pocket but the impact on its wear remains limited: the coins displays sharp detailing and little sign of being circulated. The number (50-53) indicates that at least half of the original luster remains. Closer examination with the naked eye reveals minor scratches or nicks.
You might be wondering why there are different ranges of numbers behind the same abbreviation. Well, we’ll explain:
The numbers are subdivisions within a category, showing that the state of conversation is the same but coins may be at the higher or lower end of the scale. In the case of AU, the range (55-58) indicates that the luster is better preserved in than a similar coin described as (50-53).
