Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction X 27 September 2015
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Sicily, Abakainon AR Litra. Circa 430-420 BC. Laureate head of Zeus right / Boar standing right, acorn before; ABAKA-INI around. Bertino 13-14; Campana CNAI PN 95, 10b; HGC 2, 10. 0.71g, 12mm, 12h.
Extremely Fine. Very well preserved for the type.
Abakainon was a city of the native Siculi, and it does not appear to have ever received a Greek colony, though it did adopt the customs and influences of Greek civilization and art. Its territory originally included the site of Tyndaris, which was separated from it by the Syracusan tyrant Dionysios when he founded that city in 396 BC. In that time, Abakainon appears to have been a settlement of some considerable size, but it was quickly eclipsed by Tyndaris and declined in size and prosperity.
The boar and acorn must refer to the great oak forests that still cover the neighbouring mountains. Such forests would have provided pasture to large herds of swine, which it is logical to assume was one of the main sources of Abakainon's wealth.
Extremely Fine. Very well preserved for the type.
Abakainon was a city of the native Siculi, and it does not appear to have ever received a Greek colony, though it did adopt the customs and influences of Greek civilization and art. Its territory originally included the site of Tyndaris, which was separated from it by the Syracusan tyrant Dionysios when he founded that city in 396 BC. In that time, Abakainon appears to have been a settlement of some considerable size, but it was quickly eclipsed by Tyndaris and declined in size and prosperity.
The boar and acorn must refer to the great oak forests that still cover the neighbouring mountains. Such forests would have provided pasture to large herds of swine, which it is logical to assume was one of the main sources of Abakainon's wealth.