SICILY. Katane. Circa 415/3-404 BC. Litra (Silver, 13.5 mm, 0.86 g, 8 h). Head of Silenos to left, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. ΚΑΤΑΝΑΙΩΝ Winged thunderbolt between two round shields. Boehringer, Kataneische Li 6-7. Rizzo pl. XIV, 18 var. SNG ANS 1266. An exceptional piece: of the finest Classical style, very well-struck, and lacking the usual corrosion that plagues these issues. Reverse slightly double-struck, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of a Nobleman who died in 1940.

The superlative quality of the die engraving for this coin has impelled some cataloguers to attribute it to a known engraver like Euainetos (or Kimon, why not?). In any case, it is yet another example of how the minters of the Sicilian cities lavished great care on even the smallest silver pieces. This coin was surely issued as a donative to the city, paid by a wealthy citizen out of civic pride and a desire to enhance his own prestige, so that his fellow citizens could have a coin for daily use, made with superlative artistry.

An artistic miniature