* Greek Coins Sicily, Gela

Tetradrachm circa 475-465, AR 25 mm, 17.34 g. Naked, bearded rider wearing conical helmet, on horse prancing r., spear in r. hand, l. holding reins. Rev. Bearded, man-faced bull (the river-god Gelas) kneeling to r.; beneath, CΕΛΑΣ. A.J. Evans, Contribution to Sicilian Numismatics, NC 1894, 207, 8 and pl. 7, 6 (this coin). Traité I, 2315 and pl. 77, 22 (this coin). Jameson 579 (this coin). Rizzo pl. XVII, 1 (this coin). Jenkins 103.1 (this coin illustrated).
Of the highest rarity, only three specimens known. An issue of tremendous importance and fascination. Light iridescent tone, minor traces of overstriking on reverse, otherwise about extremely fine

Ex NAC 13, 1998, formerly exhibited at the Antikenmuseum Basel, 281 and NAC 106, 2018, 173 sales. From the Evans, Jameson, Athos and Dina Moretti and Harald Salvesen collections and the Villabate hoard of 1893 (IGCH 2082).
Founded by colonists from Rhodes and Crete in 689 B.C., Gela grew to become the most influential city of Greek Sicily in the early fifth century B.C. In 505 B.C., the oligarchic constitution of the city was subverted by a certain Kleander, who set himself up as the first tyrant of Gela. He was assassinated in 498 B.C. in the hope that a democratic constitution would be established, but instead, Kleander's son, Hippokrates, succeeded in the tyranny. Under Hippokrates, Gela expanded its territory and power, conquering neighboring cities like Kallipolis, Leontini, Naxos, and Zankle, and forcing Syracuse to cede the former territory of Kamarina. Much of this success was thanks to Gelon, Hippokrates' skilled cavalry commander. When Hippokrates was killed fighting against the native Sicels in 491 B.C., Gelon posed as the defender of his sons against a populace desirous of returning to constitutional government, but then used the support of the army to install himself as tyrant. He went on to capture Syracuse and establish his tyranny there, making the city his new capital in 485 B.C. These rare coins represent the very first tetradrachms struck by Gela, probably at the beginning of Gelon's tyranny. Unlike all subsequent tetradrachm issues of the city, the obverse does not feature a victorious charioteer, but rather an armed horseman on the charge. This militaristic type may perhaps reflect Gelon's origins as a cavalry commander. The later replacement of the horseman with a charioteer seems to be a conscious attempt to move away from an image underlining Gelon's use of force to seize power in favour of a popular type emphasizing aristocratic ideals and the intense spirit of competition that was always at work between cities and between tyrants in fifth-century Sicily. The reverse type depicts a playfully leaping man-faced bull who represents the local river Gelas. These early tetradrachms represent the first time that this important patron of the city was depicted on coins and one of the only times that he appears as a full figure. With the exception of these early coins and a tetradrachm issue struck ca. 415-405 B.C. (Jenkins, group IX, 485), only the forepart of Gelas is ever depicted on coins of Gela.