SICILY. Leontini. Ca. 450-420 BC. AR tetradrachm (26mm, 17.46 gm, 2h). NGC AU 4/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Laureate head of Apollo left / LE-O-N-TI-N-ON, head of lion left with open jaws and protruding tongue; bay leaf behind, three barley corns around. Boehringer, Leontinoi 55. Rizzo pl. XXIV, 4. SNG ANS 257. Obverse with deep cabinet toning. Lustrous reverse with flashes of red orange toning. From the Paramount Collection The silver tetradrachms of Leontini show a notable progress of artistic styles throughout the fifth century, beginning with archaic depictions of a walking quadriga similar to issues of Sicily, to a highly stylized Apollo head of a "mannerist" style, to the final evolution seen with this beautiful issue of circa 435-430 BC, depicting Apollo in a highly refined and naturalistic form. Leontini's reliance on agriculture instead of sea trade is reflected on the barley corns surrounding the central lion on the reverse.

HID09801242017

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