Sicily. Gela. Didrachm. Circa 490-485 BC (Silver, 19.51 mm, 8.28 g). Naked warrior on horseback right, holding spear and reins; before, ΦΙ. Rev. CE - ΛA, Forepart of a man-headed bull right. Jenkins Gela, Group Ia, 6 (O3'/R3) = British Museum inventory 1958,0506.5. Gela Hoard, IGCH 2066 (Gela, Museo Archeologico Regionale). Lovely grey toning. Boldly struck. Somewhat corroded surface, otherwise, Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, the third recorded example. From a Swiss collection formed before 2005 The initials ΦΙ, added to the obverse die, are, according to Jenkins, presumed to indicate a mint official, though they may alternatively mark the engraver. The form of Φ is characteristic of the Syracusan alphabet (cf. Jenkins, Gela, p. 35, no. 12; L. Jeffrey, The Local Scripts of Archaic Greece, Oxford 1961, p. 262). The dies that struck this coin are finely engraved in an early Classical style, displaying a distinctive artistic contortion: although the rider holds the spear in his right hand, the shaft passes elegantly behind his head."

Lotto n. 188