(Abakainon-Nakona)
Collection L - Reasonable Offers Welcome
1907 Thomas Virzi Provenance
ABAKAINONADRANON
11840. SICILY, ADRANON, 354/3-345/4 BC. AE Hemilitron (25mm, 15.29 g, 3h). Laureate head of Apollo left / Kithara. Castrizio Series II, 1 (D1/R1); Campana 3; CNS 3; HGC 2, 37 (same obv. die as illustration). Near VF, green patina, small area of red on reverse. Scarce. Provenance: The Continental Collection. 
AGYRION
8532. SICILY, AGYRION, 343-300 BC. AE31 Litra, Leu 5/73 #54, ANS_, SNG Cop_, BMC_. Head young Herakles r. wearing lionskin/Forepart river god r. as bull with bearded human head. VF/AEF. Excessively rare and missing from most major collections. A choice example. SOLD.
4935. ITALY/SICILY, AGYRIUM?, AE13. Hd. r./Hound stg. l. hd. lowered on the scent. BMC 53 (Segesta, p. 136) describes a hound left, with a weasel in the exergue. There is definitely something beneath the hound on this coin, you can see what could be an oval body of the weasel. However, that coin, a Hexas, has a dot above and a dot below and there is no image in BMC. But a similar coin in Arslan (no. 637 shows a hound standing left, head right). Under Agyrium (BMC page 26, no. 8) there is a coin described as "hound right on the scent" but with Apollo, laureate, on the obv. with a strung bow behind his shoulder. The image of this coin in Arslan (no 151) has the hound also "on the scent" but also to right. So this coin appears to be from Agyrium, likely a BMC 8 var; Arslan 151 var. VF. Rare. Somewhat similar also to issues from Segesta but not in Copenhagen there. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. The attribution is not certain however as the head on this coin appears to be female rather than Apollo. However the outline of the blob which represents the image in Arslan seems to be the same - he calls the person Apollo. I suppose he calls any person who cannot be identified, Apollo. (The pdf from his website has a photocopy but the image turns out quite poorly.) - The stance of the hound suggests Agyrium, as the Segesta one is definitely standing in the normal fashion whereas this is head down on the scent as are others from Agyrium. Also reasons this may be Agyrium with Apollo are a) the formal curls at his neck and b) what appears to be the small bow behind the head. If it is a bow then again it would tie in with the BMC 8 "with strung bow behind shoulder". Unless it's perhaps Artemis?
AITNA
3922. SICILY, AITNA UNDER THE CAMPANI, 344-339 BC. AE Litra, Sear 1066. Bull butting l., monogram abv./Star of sixteen rays. AVF. The Campani were Campanian mercenaries in Sicily. Rare. Choice example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
AKRAGAS
7882. SICILY, AKRAGAS, 450-430 BC. AE cast Onkia. Eagle’s hd. l./Crabclaw l. Choice EF example of this normally vague devices on this coin.
11841. SICILY, AKRAGAS, Circa 420-406 BC. AR Hemidrachm (15mm, 1.97 g, 11h). Eagle standing right on, and tearing at, hare; barley grain to left / Crab; below, ketos left with fish in its mouth. HGC 2, 105; SNG ANS 1010-3. Near VF, lightly toned, a hint of porosity. Provenance: The Continental Collection. 
7884. SICILY, AKRAGAS, 5th century BC. AE26 Hemilitron. Hd. young rivergod l./Eagle stg. l. on Ionic capital, crab to l., 6 pellets to r. Choice EF example of this beautiful coin. A masterpiece of Greek numismatic art.
10868. SICILY, AKRAGAS, 425-406 BC. AE26 Hemilitron. Obv: Eagle, with head raised, standing right on hare. Rev: Crab, Triton right below blowing a conch; six pellets around. Calciati 32; SNG ANS -; SNG Copenhagen 71. Condition: Very fine. Weight: 21.2 gm. Diameter: AE27 mm. $850.
8533. SICILY, AKRAGAS, 425-406 BC. AE26 Hemilitron, SNG Copenhagen 68v. Eagle on hare r./Large crab, prawn below, grape leaf between crab' claws, 6 pellets. VF/EF. Rare. A superb example of this classic and highly desirable Sicilian Greek bronze. One rarely finds a better example (the obverse is nearly always extremely worn) and far superior to the Copenhagen plate coins. Choice patina.
8534. SICILY, AKRAGAS, 425-406 BC, AE27 Hemilitron, SNG Copenhagen 72. Eagle, with head thrown back, on tunny fish/Large crab, murex shell and octopus below, 6 pellets. VF+. Rare. One of the finest and most desirable Greek bronzes. A choice example with excellent patina and much superior to the Copenhagen plate coin. ALAISA
6491. SICILY, ALAISA, ca. 340 BC. AE Litra, Copenhagen.132. Head Apollo l./Lighted torch with barley stalks both sides. F+. Small flan flake. Struck over a litra of Syracuse as usual with traces of the undertype visible. An excessively rare coin & one of the key coins for any collection of Sicilian Greek coins. This coin is considered of such significance that die stamped metal copies of its obverse and reverse graced the covers of the two volumes of Rizzo's 1946 classic 'Monete Greche Della Sicilia'. (We have one copy of this book in stock by the way).
3920. SICILY, ALAISA, ca. 340 BC. AE24, Copenhagen 134. Griffin springing l., locust below/Horse prancing l., star abv. EF. Superb sharp example, especially the griffin. Extremely rare this nice. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
11842. SICILY, ENTELLA, Punic issues. Circa 345/38-320/15 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 16.94 g, 7h). Wreathed head of Arethousa right; thymiaterion to right / Horse advancing left; palm tree in background; to left, Nike flying right, crowning horse above kerykeion; Punic B-H flanking foreleg below. Jenkins, Punic 99 (O33/R90); HGC 2, 274; SNG Lockett 1042 (same dies). Good VF, lightly toned, minor obverse die wear. Rare. Provenance: The Continental Collection. 
4920. SICILY, ENTELLA. 425-404 B.C. Calciati, vol. I, pag.317, n°1., AE15. Female hd. l./Male hd. r. EF. Of the finest style. Rare. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
ERYX
4923. ITALY/SICILY, UNATTRIBUTED (ERYX?), AE22. Hd. l./Apollo std with lyre?. VF. Possibly Eryx as some coins of this mint have similar spiky headed obverses. Definite attribution appreciated. Rare. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
GELA
11843. SICILY, GELA, Circa 480/75-475/70 BC. AR Tetradrachm (m24mm, 17.03 g, 11h). Charioteet, holding kentron and reins, driving slow biga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses / Forepart of man-headed bull right. Jenkins, Gela Group II, 168 (O46/R103); SNG ANS 36-8 (same obv. die); HGC 2, 338. Near VF, toned with partial find patina. Provenance: The Continental Collection.
11844. SICILY, GELA, Circa 450-440 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 17.28 g, 9h). Charioteet, holding kentron and reins, driving slow biga right; Ionic column in background / Forepart of man-headed bull right. Jenkins, Gela Group IV, 340.1 (O65/R131') = SNG ANS 62 (same dies); HGC 2, 342. VF, toned. Provenance: The Continental Collection. HERBESSOS
HIMERA
11845. SICILY, HIMERA, Circa 483/2-472/1 BC. AR Didrachm (21mm, 8.42 g, 1h). Cockerel left / Crab within incuse square. Westermark, Himera 61 (O11/R52); HGC 2, 438. Good VF, toned. Provenance: The Continental Collection.
3934. SICILY, HIMERA, 450-420 BC. AE25 Hemilitron, Sear 1105. Gorgon hd. facing/6 pellets. VF. Excellent example of this very rare thick heavy coin. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
10275. SICILY, HIMERA, Ca. 420-407 B.C. AE Hemilitron. Nude youth riding goat right, holding forth conch shell which he is about to blow, club and lion's skin over shoulder; below, grasshopper right. Rv. Nike advancing left, holding open wreath and hem of skirt; in left field, six pellets. 5.43 grams. C. M. Kraay, "The bronze coinage of Himera and 'Himera'," AIIN suppl. 25 (1979), group b, 2a. CNS I p. 42, 28. SNG ANS 184. Brown patina. Choice Very Fine. Ex. Stacks, Coin Galleries.
RARE CHOICE VARIANT 7888. SICILY, HIMERA, before 407 BC. AE Hemilitron. Hd. nymph l., six pellets before. /Six pellets within wreath, the lower r. pellet represented as a small facing head. EF. Unpublished? Unique? In any case extremely rare.
HIPANA
4939. SICILY, UNATTRIBUTED (HIPANA?), AE22. Forepart butting bull l., corn grain abv./Horse prancing l. VF. Rare. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. CNG (Auction 327 Lot 434) states only two issues were struck at Hipana. The only one I've seen has an almost identical obverse but with an astralagos on the reverse so I suspect this one may be the other one struck at Hipana though I haven't been able to confirm that in any reference.
KALACTE
KAMARINA
11846. SICILY, KAMARINA, Circa 425-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 17.24 g, 2h). Athena driving galloping quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, placing wreath tied with fillet on Athena's head; in exergue, heron flying left / Bearded head of Herakles left, wearing lion skin. Westermark & Jenkins 138 (O3/R8); HGC 2, 520; SNG Lloyd 864-5 (same dies); Gulbenkian 172 (same dies). VF, toned, edge splits, die break on obverse, flan flaws on reverse. Provenance: The Continental Collection. 
3943. SICILY, KAMARINA, 413-405 BC. AE15 Trias, Sear 1063. Hd. Athena l./Owl stg. l. holding lizard in claw, KAMA behind, three pellets in ex. FDC. Superb example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
3945. SICILY, KAMARINA, time of Timoleon, ca. 339 BC. AE17, Sear 1065. Hd. Athena l., KAMARINAIWN before/Horse prancing l. EF. Rare. Choice example much better than photo. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
KATANA
8129. UNIQUE GREEK BRONZE APPLICAE WITH INSCRIPTION OF KATANA, c. 4th-3rd century BC. The floral form applicae with 9 segments each inscribed with one letter of the Sicilian Greek city KATANAION, famous for its numismatic art. 30 mm. Extremely rare and interesting considering this would have certainly been engraved by the hand of an inhabitant of ancient Katana.
11847. SICILY, KATANA, Circa 450-445 BC. AR Tetradrachm (24mm, 16.66 g, 5h). Charioteer driving slow quadriga right / Laureate head of Apollo right. Mirone 34 (same dies); HGC 2, 566. Good Fine, toned, roughness. Provenance: The Continental Collection. 
11848. SICILY, KATANA, Circa 435-412 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 16.62 g, 1h). Reverse die signed by the "Maestro della foglia". Charioteer driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses / Laureate head of Apollo right; laurel leaf and berries to right. Mirone 51; HGC 2, 569 (same dies as illustration). Good Fine, toned, porous. Provenance: The Continental Collection. This coin was struck with a reverse die engraved by an artist who was identified as "the Leaf Master" by Rizzo because of his use of leaves (laurel, plane and others) as a form of signature.
3946. SICILY, KATANA, 413-404 BC. AE Trias, Sear 1067. AMENANOS, horned hd. of young river god Amenanos l./Winged thunderbolt dividing small KA. AEF. Small flan chip. Rare. Beautiful style and choice grape green patina. A little gem. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
KENTORIPAI
8535. SICILY, KENTORIPAI, ca. 340 BC. AE31 Litra, Sear 1080. Head Persephone wreathed with corn l., 4 dolphins around/Panther with raised paw l. VF+. Extremely rare and desirable large Sicilian bronze. Excellent example.
6493. SICILY, KENTURIPAI, c. 344-336 BC. AE Dekonkion. Hd. Zeus r./Winged thunderbolt. EF. Choice example.
3956. SICILY, KENTORIPAI, after 241 BC. AE19 Trias, Sear 1083. Diad. bust Artemis r., bow and quiver at shoulder/Tripod-lebes, three pellets to l. VF. Rare. Of very fine style. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
KEPHALOIDION
LAMPEDUSA
MELITA
10423. SICILY, ISLANDS, MELITA (MALTA), 218-175 BC. AE 28. Obverse: Veiled and diademed female head right. Reverse: Mummy of Osiris standing facing between winged figures of Isis and Nephtys; Punic 'NN above. CNS 2; SNG Copenhagen (Vol. 8) 458-9. VG-F. Extremely rare. Just about the only Greek coin featuring such a classical Egyptian reverse. 
LATOS
LEONTINI
9382. SICILY, LEONTINI, 466-422 BC. AR Tetradrachm, Copenhagen 351. Hd. Apollo r./Hd. Lion r., 3 corn-ears, sturgeon below. VF+. From an old collection, not one of the new ones out of Sicily. 
11849. SICILY, LEONTINI, Circa 440-430 BC. AR Tetradrachm (22mm, 17.19 g, 1h). Laureate head of Apollo left / Head of roaring lion left; four barley grains around. Boehringer, Mźnzgeschichte 51 var. (same obv. die, different orientation of ethnic); HGC 2, 668 (same obv. die as illustration). VF, toned, light roughness, struck with a worn obverse die, minor die break on reverse. Provenance: The Continental Collection. 
3964. SICILY, LEONTINI, after 210 BC. AE21, Copenhagen 363. Laur. hd. Apollo r./Demeter stg. l. holding two ears of corn, plow below, LEONTINWN to r. VF. Extremely rare. Excellent depiction of the classic Greek agricultural myth. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
LILYBAION
LIPARA
11860. ISLANDS OFF SICILY, LIPARA, Circa 440-420 BC. AE Hexas or Dionkion (26mm, 13.77 g, 10h). Bearded head of Hephaistos right, wearing pilos / ΛIΠ between two pellets (mark of value). CNS 6; HGC 2, 1763. VF, green patina, light cleaning marks. Provenance: The Continental Collection. 
4071. ISLANDS OFF SICILY, LIPARA, ca. 288 BC. AE21 Triante, Copenhagen 1097. Laur. hd. Ares l./Ornamented trident, LIPARAWN to r. and l. EF. Extremely rare. Choice example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
MAMERTINI
8536. SICILY, THE MAMERTINI, 288-278 BC. AE28. AREOS, laureate head young Ares r./ MAMERTINWN, eagle stg. on thunderbolt. EF. Rare. The Mamertini were Italian mercenaries in Sicily. A beautiful sharp example of the finest style with a superb deep green patina and a rare example of a Greek coin with the god's name spelled out on the flan.
3967. SICILY, THE MAMERTINI, after 288 BC. AE26 Quadruple, Copenhagen 428. Laur. hd. Ares r./Bull butting l. VF. Nice example with excellent olive patina. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
3974. SICILY, THE MAMERTINI, after 288 BC. AE27 Pentonkion, Copenhagen 458v. Laur. hd. Zeus r., club behind/Naked warrior with helmet, spear and shield adv. r. EF. Great detail. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
3978. SICILY, THE MAMERTINI, 270-220 BC. AE23 Hexas, Sear 1142. Laur. hd. Ares r., AREOS before, two pellets behind/Athena in defensive pose r. holding spear and resting hand on shield. EF. Rare. Choice example with wonderful chestnut patina. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
MESSANA
11850. SICILY, MESSANA, 478-476 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.10 g, 1h). Charioteer driving slow biga of mules right; laurel leaf in exergue / Hare springing right. Caltabiano Series IIB, 71 (D39Ő/R37); HGC 2, 779; Randazzo 96 (same dies). VF, lightly toned, small obverse die break. Well centered. Prpvenance: The Continental Collection. 
MORGANTINA
3982. SICILY, MORGANTINA, ca. 340 BC. AE25, Sear 1148. Hd. of Athena r. wearing richly ornamented triple-crested helmet/Lion r. tearing at stag's hd. on the ground. EF. Very rare. Choice specimen of this very desirable issue, much superior to eg. the Triton III example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
MOTYA
MYTISTRATOS
3987. SICILY, MYTISTRATOS, ca. 340 BC. AE Hemilitron, Sear 1152. Head Hephaistos l. wearing pilos/YM, 6 pellets in olive wreath. F+. Extremely rare and highly sought after large Sicilian bronze. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. 
NAKONA
