Roma Numismatics Ltd
E-Sale 37 24 Jun 2017
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Sicily, Kamarina AV Diobol. Emergency issue, circa 406/5 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet decorated with winged hippocamp / KA surrounded by olive sprig with two berries. Westermark & Jenkins 206; HGC 2, 518; SNG ANS 1209; Rizzo VII, 17; Weber 1248. 1.18g, 11mm, 5h.
Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare.
This coin, like the contemporary issues at Gela, Stiela, Akragas and Syracuse (see lot 114), was struck to finance a defence against the great Carthaginian expedition which was at that time ravaging the Greek cities of Sicily. Akragas had been sacked and razed in 406, Gela in 405. Having suffered a defeat against the Carthaginian army at Gela, the Syracusan tyrant Dionysios chose not to offer battle again, but rather to evacuate the population. Retreating to Kamarina, it appears that Dionysios immediately ordered the complete evacuation of the city, and so Kamarina in its turn was also left to the advancing Carthaginians. The people fled toward Syracuse, chased by the fear of the Carthaginians, though not by the Carthaginians themselves; the rumour among the Greeks was that Dionysios had betrayed their cause and made a deal with the enemy to cement his power over Syracuse. With this issue, the high period of coinage at Kamarina came to an abrupt end.
Near Extremely Fine. Very Rare.
This coin, like the contemporary issues at Gela, Stiela, Akragas and Syracuse (see lot 114), was struck to finance a defence against the great Carthaginian expedition which was at that time ravaging the Greek cities of Sicily. Akragas had been sacked and razed in 406, Gela in 405. Having suffered a defeat against the Carthaginian army at Gela, the Syracusan tyrant Dionysios chose not to offer battle again, but rather to evacuate the population. Retreating to Kamarina, it appears that Dionysios immediately ordered the complete evacuation of the city, and so Kamarina in its turn was also left to the advancing Carthaginians. The people fled toward Syracuse, chased by the fear of the Carthaginians, though not by the Carthaginians themselves; the rumour among the Greeks was that Dionysios had betrayed their cause and made a deal with the enemy to cement his power over Syracuse. With this issue, the high period of coinage at Kamarina came to an abrupt end.