Sicily. Segesta. Circa 412-400 BC. Didrachm (Silver, 23.43 mm, 8.40 g). Hound advancing right, on dotted exergue line with head lowered; above, head of Nymph right; border of dots. Rev. [Σ]AΓΕΣZΑΖ[ΙΒ], Head of nymph Aigeste right, wearing choker with pendant; the hair at the back of the head rolled over a band to form a large roll; all within shallow incuse circle. Hurter 165a (V48/R92’, this coin illustrated). SNG München 862 (same dies). BMC Sicily 132, 26 (same obverse die). SNG ANS 639 (same reverse die). Cf. HGC 2, 1142. Wonderful old cabinet tone. An attractive well-struck piece with sharp details. Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, only the third example known from this die pair.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 10, 9 April 1997, lot 123. From the A. Moretti Collection.

The didrachms minted during this period may have been produced to pay the mercenaries that regularly formed the armies of the ancient Sicilian cities. Those were years of constant conflict between Segesta and Selinus, before the cycle of alliances that ultimately destroyed the latter and firmly established Punic power in Western Sicily. Therefore, a sudden surge is observed of numismatic activity in North-West Sicily. Three cities, Segesta, Motya and Panormos minted considerable quantities of didrachms with the same types: a hunting dog on the obverse and a nymph's head on the reverse. The coins of the three cities bear the hand of the same engravers and although used the same types of coins, they all followed their own specific regime. In Segesta, whose production was far greater than that of the other two, we find the city name ΣEΓΕΣTΑΖΙΒ on the reverse, while on the obverse, above the dog, a small nymph's head or a barley grain. The presence of hybrid coins combining dies from these cities suggests a central mint, probably in Segesta. While Jenkins and Hurter propose Panormos, Rutter argues convincingly for Segesta, which, considering the historical circumstances, seems the most plausible location.