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36
Sicily, Morgantina. The Sikeliotes. Silver 8 Litrai (6.78 g), ca. 214/3-213/2 BC. Veiled head of Persephone
left, wreathed grain ears; behind, leaf. Rev.
S
IKE
L
I
W
TAN, Nike, holding kentron and reins, driving gal-
loping quadriga right; above, monogram. Sjöqvist 2; Enna 110; SNG ANS 1168. Slightly double-struck
from finely detailed dies. Beautifully toned. Superb Extremely Fine.
$3,000
From the Dionysus Collection.
Ex Hess-Divo 307 (2007), lot 1101
Ex P. Arnaud Collection (MMAG List 496 (1987), lot 2.
In 263 BC, Morgantina was included in the Sicilian kingdom granted by the Romans to Hieron II of Syracuse, but
the city chafed under Syracusan rule and the Roman garrison installed at the outbreak of the Second Punic War (218-
201 BC). When the Morgantinans betrayed their city to Himilco, a Carthaginian commander, in 214 BC, Morgan-
tina became a center for rallying the Greek cities of Sicily against Rome. As a means of promoting alliance with Carthage
against Rome, a rare gold and silver coinage in the name of the Sikileotes, i.e. the united Greek Sicilians was struck - a lit-
tle ironic since most attempts at unifying the Greek cities in Sicily since the early fifth century hinged on resisting the ad-
vance of Carthage. The types imitate those used for Syracusan coins struck in the name of Hieron’s wife, Queen Philistis.
37
Sicily, Morgantina. The Sikeliotes. Silver 8 Litrai (6.90 g), ca. 214/3-213/2 BC. Veiled head of Persephone
left, wreathed grain ears; behind, leaf. Rev.
S
IKE
L
I
W
TAN, Nike, holding kentron and reins, driving
galloping biga left; above, monogram. Sjöqvist 2; Enna 110; SNG ANS 1168. Well struck and lustrous.
Nearly Mint State.
$2,500