Sicily. Segesta. Circa 412-400 BC. Didrachm (Silver, 23.44 mm, 8.32 g). Hound advancing right, on dotted exergue line with head lowered; above, head of Nymph right; border of dots. Rev. [ΣAΓΕΣZΑΖΙΒ], Head of nymph Aigeste right, the hair is tied with a ribbon up on the head, with a tail of hair that falls on the nape of the neck; all within a shallow circular incuse. Hurter 167a (V48/R94, this coin). BMC Sicily 132, 26 (same dies). SNG München 862 (same obverse die). Rizzo pl. LXI, 17 (same reverse die). Buceti 50 = HGC 2, 1143 (same). Attractively toned with slight iridescence. Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare, only the third example known from this die pair.

Ex Astarte XVII, 8 May 2005, lot 48.

This piece is part of the group of didrachms minted by the three cities of Segesta, Motya, and Panormos 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, 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.