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Bertolami Fine Art
Auction 12  29-30 October 2014
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Lot 117

Estimate: 4600 EUR
Lot unsold
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Sicily, Tetradrachm, Himera, Before 405 BC; AR (g 17,17; mm 23; h 3); Charioteer driving fast quadriga r.; above flying Nike, holding tablet inscribed MAI, in ex., hippocamp, Rv. [IMEPAION], the nymph Himera standing facing, wearing a long kiton and peplos, holding patera on altar; at r., satyr bathing in fountain, water emaneting by spour in the shape of a lion's head. Kraay-Hirmer tav. 22, n.71; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG ANS -.
Extremely rare, cabinet tone. About extremely fine.

From the Charles E. Weber Collection. Ex Classical Numismatic Group, Mail Bid 63, lot. 86; Ex Classical Numismatic Group 42 (29-30 May 1997), lot 114; Muñoz Collection, Part 3 (Superior Galleries, June 1981), lot 1521; J. Hewitt Judd Collection (Leu 15, 4-5 May 1976), lot 68 (Judd was the author of the standard reference on U.S. pattern coinage); Hess-Leu 1957, lot 81.

The polis was founded in 648 BC by Euklides, Simon and Sakon, and it soon grew in size and wealth thanks to the economic contacts. The greek control of the western coast of Sicily caused the Carthaginian invasion. The final battle between the Greeks and Punics happened in 480 BC right near Himera, turning in favor of the former. Excluding this important period, the city of Himera was excluded from major historical events in Sicily until its destruction in 409 BC with the advent of Hannibal, grandson of Hamilcar general, who fell at the Battle of Himera in 480 BC.
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