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“Master of the Leaf” Katane Tetradrachm
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Sicily, Katane, Silver Tetradrachm (17.18 g, 2h). 415-410 BC. Dies engraved by the “Master of the leaf ”.
Charioteer, wearing a long chiton and holding a kentron in his left hand and the reins in both, driving a
quadriga right, Nike flies above to right to crown the horses, an eagle flying to right in the exergue. Rev.
KATANAION, laureate head of Apollo facing left, an olive-spray behind (Rizzo pl. XII, 7 (these dies);
SNG ANS 1255; BMC 24; Jameson 540; Gulbenkian 184). Very light die-flaw on reverse, attractive cabi-
net toning, excellent style. Choice Very Fine.
$12,000
Ex Hess - Leu, Auction 7, Lucerne, 16 April 1957, lot 72
Ex Adolph Hess AG, Auction 19, Lucerne, 12 & 13 April 1962, lot 53 Purchased from Spink & Son Ltd. London, 10 March
1987
Ex Prospero Collection, The New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012, lot 133.
Rizzo used the term the “Master of the Leaf ” to identify the dies engraved by this gifted artist. Rather than placing
his own signature on the dies, this master engraver would mark his work with a leaf beside the head of Apollo. His
engraving was important in the transformation of the designs that appeared on the coins of Katane to more natu-
ralistic interpretations and was an influence on his contemporaries Euainetos, Choirion and Herakleidas.
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Sicily, Leontini. Silver Tetradrachm (17.38 g), 430-420 BC. Laureate head of Apollo l. Rev. LEO - N - TI -
NON, lion head l. around, three barley grains and a laurel leaf. SNG ANS 257 (these dies). SNG Munich
559 (these dies). Excellent style. Small die break on obverse. Thick flan of excellent metal. Light iridescent
tone. Extremely Fine.
$5,000