SICILY. Katane (?) or Naxos (?). Circa 415-412 BC. Hexas or Dionkion (Silver, 6 mm, 0.13 g). Bearded head to right (Herakles?). Rev. Two pellets (shields?) separated by a vertical club (?); all within a ivy leaf-shaped incuse. Apparently unpublished, Cf. CNG e514, 2022, 25 for the general shape -but their comparison with HGC 2, 457 should be ignored. Cf. Buceti, Naxos, 35 for a very similar reverse. See above, lot XXXX, for a Hexas attributed to Katane with a very similar reverse. Of great rarity. Clearly struck and with a dark patina. Rough surfaces as found, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, ex Münzen & Medaillen FPL 395, November/December 1977, 12 ( but misdescribed ).

This coin could be ascribed to Katane because of the Katanian hexas in the previous lot, which has an almost exactly similar reverse. This coin was ascribed to Naxos simply because its late owner thought it came from there. But why it should be from Naxos - or from Katane - is actually unclear, especially since Herakles has little to do with either Katane or Naxos (the short-haired and neat-bearded head on the obverse is almost certainly Herakles, especially since what appears to be his club is on the reverse - it is not a thunderbolt). In any case, it is certainly Sicilian.