SICILY. Mamertinoi. 208-200 BC. Pentonkion (Bronze, 26.5 mm, 12.17 g, 4 h). Laureate head of Ares to left, with features reminiscent of those of Hieron II of Syracuse. Rev. ΜΑ-ΜΕΡΤΙΝΩΝ Nude warrior (one of the Dioiscouri?) standing to left, holding, with his right hand, the reins of a horse standing to left behind him, and holding a transverse spear with his left. Buceti 24. Calciati 25. HGC 2, 849. With an impressive obverse and a mottled green patina. Struck on a slightly irregular flan; reverse struck from a slightly worn die, otherwise, nearly extremely fine/ very fine.

From the Dr. Paul Peter Urone Collection, acquired from F. Kovacs.

The head of Ares on the obverse of this coin is so remarkably individualistic and filled with character that it almost certainly must be meant to portray a living person. It is simply not just a generic head of Ares.