Live auction - bgr_411372 - SICILY - AKRAGAS Litra

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Estimate :	750 €
Price :	450 €
Maximum bid :	560 €
End of the sale :	13 December 2016 14:02:31
bidders :	1 bidder

Type : Litra

Date: c. 450/446 - 439 AC.

Mint name / Town : Agrigente, Sicile

Metal : silver

Diameter : 9 mm

Orientation dies : 5 h.

Weight : 0,63 g.

Rarity : R2

Coments on the condition:

Exemplaire sur un tout petit flan ovale parfaitement centré des deux côtés. Très bel aigle. Revers finement détaillé. Très belle patine de médaillier avec des reflets mordorés et bleutés irisés

Catalogue references :

ANS.989 - MIAMG.3832 (750€) - P.- - Jameson- - Cop.- - Delepierre- - HGCS. 2/121 (R1) - BMC.50 - GC.746

Obverse

Obverse legend : LÉGENDE PARTIELLEMENT RÉTROGRADE.

Obverse description : Aigle debout à gauche sur un chapiteau de colonne (dorique ou ionique).

Obverse legend : AK/AG.

Obverse translation : (d’Agrigente).

Reverse

Reverse legend : ANÉPIGRAPHE.

Reverse description : Crabe vu de dessus.

Reverse legend : L.

Commentary

Sur des petites monnaies divisionnaires, il est parfois très difficile d’établir une liaison de coin pertinente. Au revers la lettre grecque lambda est pour litra. Sur cet exemplaire, seul le lambda est visible et le iota ne semble pas avoir été gravé.

Historical background

SICILY - AKRAGAS

(472-413 BC)

Agrigento was founded in the 6th century BC by settlers from Gela. The coinage seems to begin around 550 BC. Theron, tyrant of Agrigento, seized Himera in 482 BC. The latter and Gelon of Syracuse won a brilliant victory over the Carthaginians at Himera in 480 before J. - C. which made release the vice which Carthage made weigh on the island. After Theron's death in 472 BC, Democracy was restored. In 413, Agrigento, was rather favorable to the Athenians against the Syracusans. The city was destroyed during the Carthaginian invasion of 406 BC. It was nevertheless rebuilt, but did not regain its former glory. The Romans captured Agrigento in 210 BC, during the conquest of Sicily.