‡ Sicily, Kamarina, didrachm, c. 492-485 BC, Corinthian helmet left on circular shield, rev., ΚΑΜΑ-ΡΙ (retrograde), three fan-shaped branches of a dwarf palm tree between two greaves, 8.53g, die axis 3.00 (Westermark-Jenkins 8,1 = C.C. Vermeule, ‘Greek Coins in the Elizabeth Washburn King Collection at Bryn Mawr College’, NC, 1956, p. 24, pl. 4, 9, this piece; SNG Lloyd 872, same dies; Kraay-Hirmer 146 = Rizzo pl. 4, 5, same dies; AMB 310), fine toning, about extremely fine and very rare Provenance: Otto Helbing, 8 November 1928, lot 3522; A. Cahn 75, 30 May 1932, lot 165; Jacob Hirsch; Elizabeth Washburn King, 1945 ($828); Bryn Mawr College, 1951; Christie’s, New York, 11 December 1992, 629; L. von Hoffman collection, Sotheby’s, 5 July 1995, lot 11; European Connoisseur collection (formed before 2002).Note: Founded, according to Thucydides’s chronology, in 599 BC as a colony of Syracuse, the first century and a half of the city’s existence was violent: destroyed, rebuilt, destroyed, and rebuilt again. This coin, from the city’s first issue, was struck during its first rebuilding and recolonisation under Hippokrates of Gela in 495 BC and shortly before its second destruction by Gelon of Syracuse a decade later. The reason why these types, elegant in their simplicity, were adopted remains elusive and they have been variously interpreted as punning, as dedicatory offerings, or prizes for some unknown event.

Estimate: GBP 12000-15000