Watch List notes:

GREEK COINS
Sicily

Abakainon. Circa 430-420 BC. Litra (Silver, 11mm, 0.51 g 12). ΑΒΑΚ Laureate head of Zeus to right, with a full beard and long hair bound into a bun at the back. Rev. ΑΙ-ΝΙ Boar standing right. De Luynes 836 var. SNG Copenhagen 3 var. Rare. Nicely toned and of very attractive style. Minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From a German collection, formed in the 1990s.qqqqqqThis head of Zeus is remarkably similar to that of Dionysos on a drachm of Naxos dated to c. 460 (i.e., Cahn 55). The litrai of Abakainon were traditionally dated to c. 450-400, but have been relatively recently down-dated to c. 420-400; this coin throws that dating into question. However, a remote site like Abakainon may have used a particularly old-fashioned style for its coins.