By Chris Chatigny, Numismatist & Cataloger – Stacks Bowers ……
The Stack’s Bowers Galleries New York International Auction is rapidly growing, as rarities from around the globe and the ancient world are consigned. Today’s preview coin is a tetradrachm from the Magna Graecia colony named Leontini. The colony is located near the eastern coast of Sicily, this is one of the few colonies not located on the coast, but about six miles inland.
Similar to Catane and the regional powerhouse Syracuse, Leontini also enjoyed a flourishing of numismatic artistry at the end of the fifth century BCE.
The obverse design prominently features the youthful visage of the sun deity Apollo facing left, a laurel crown atop his head. This example displays lovely golden apricot tone around the portrait, reinforcing Apollo’s connection with the radiant sun.
The reverse presents a fearsome lion’s head facing left, mouth open with a snarl (or grin). Four leaves surround the lion’s head, a laurel leaf at three o’clock, with barley corns at six, nine and 12 o’clock. The ethnic “LEONTINON” can be found clockwise around the lion’s head beginning at 10 o’clock. This crisply struck piece is evidence of the numismatic treasures emanating from the island of Sicily.
While we are no longer taking consignments for our January 2018 New York International Auction, we are taking consignments of world and ancient coins as well as world paper money for the May 2018 Collector’s Choice Online. We are also accepting consignments of Chinese and other Asian coins and currency for our April 2018 Hong Kong Showcase Auction. If you are interested in consigning your coins and paper currency (whether a whole collection or a single rarity) be sure to contact one of our consignment directors.
