‡ Sicily, Himera, didrachm, c. 450-440 BC, ΙΜΕΡ[ΑΙΟΝ] (retrograde), naked youth vaulting from horse galloping left, rev., nymph Himera, wearing long chiton standing left, holding patera over altar; above left, barley grain; to right, filleted caduceus; in ex., ΣΟΤΕΡ (retrograde), 8.35g, die axis 1.00 (Gutman-Schwabacher 117, 3, pl. 10, same dies; AMB 303, same dies; Jameson 610, same dies), light toning, extremely fine and very rare Provenance: Münzen und Medaillen 61, 7 October 1981, lot 40 (enlarged pl. 74); Nelson Bunker Hunt collection, part II, Sotheby’s, New York, 21 June 1990, lot 232; Dr. Peter Suter collection, Münzen und Medaillen 89, 14 June 2000, lot 35 (colour pl. E); European Connoisseur collection (formed before 2002). Note: Located on the north coast of Sicily, Himera, was primarily settled by Chaldicidians from Zancle and exiles from Syracuse (Thucydides vi.1.5). Around 480 BC it came under the rule of the Akragantine tyrant Theron who installed his son, Thrasyboulos as ruler in 476/5 (Diodoros xi 48.6-8). The Himerians sought relief from Syracuse and the tyranny of Akragas came to an end around 470, although a date of 466 has also been proposed (Barrett, pp. 23-35). A remarkably well preserved example of a very rare type; it has been suggested that the obverse may depict the kalpè, a horse race in which the rider jumped off his mount and ran the last lap on foot.

Estimate: GBP 10000-15000