Trivia: Coin that named a city!

Thought you might enjoy seeing a photo of a Silver coin that may be the first commemorative coin bearing a woman on the obverse.

Hieron II, King of Sicily (cir. 274-216 B.C.), was so in love with his wife, Queen Philistis, he did something no ruler had done before. She died during his reign and within months after her death, he had the Royal moneyer strike a Silver 16 Litrae with a diademed veiled head of her on the obverse of the coin. The reverse bears an angel-winged Nike driving a quadriga with the horses in slow funeral pace during the early morn before sun-up (moon crescent above horses) This reverse design depicts the faith of Hieron as he perceives it is his duty to her and to God to turn Philistis' over to the Almighty. Sort of like the song beseeches, "Swing low sweet chariot."

Here's the images, courtesy of Coin Archives:

http://imagedb.coinarchives.com//img/freemansear/mbs15/image00036.jpg

Hope you enjoyed this trivia...

Clinker

 

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Another great post. Thanks

Ben

 

the coin is outstanding. Thanks.

 

very cool

but i need to ask a dumb question, is there a city named Philistis?

 

I very nearly bought one of those 16 Litrae coins on Vcoins a few years ago. They are simply stunning coins.

 

Awesome coin and great history..
Thanks Clinker..

 

Interesting.

So how did the coin name a city?

 

Bonedigger:

Thanks, once again, Ben...

Clinker

 

Drusus

Thanks for reading and commenting...

Clinker

 

Daggerjon

You got me! Right trivia/wrong title...

Clinker

 

scottishmonet

I think the moneyer (A initial to right of horses) took pride in his work....

Ckubjer

 

kidromeo

Your comments are the icing on my cake!

Clinker

 

Hobo

Oops! In trying to submit an error-free trivia article, I applied the title to the next article to this one...

Clinker

 

Excellent coin, great backround story, how much do these coins usually go for?

 

As always, I enjoyed today's class. Thanks.

 

The one I was looking at was about $1600, a couple of years ago. But, there are far more beautiful coins from Syracuse.

I have about 7 coins from Syracuse, this is a close second to my favourite, which is not paged:

http://www.geocities.com/scottishmoney/greece/sirakusa8litrai.jpg

But I like this one just a bit more, the diesinker was a master:

http://www.geocities.com/scottishmoney/greece/sirakusa7.jpg

And then there is this one:

http://www.geocities.com/scottishmoney/greece/sirakusa1.jpg

 

All three are very nice to own...
Thanks for sharing...

Clinker

 

I've seen that first one many times, its a very nice coin, but that three legs thing under the pegasus on the reverse, what exactly is it? I believe I've seen it on Greek shields...
Lastly, what demonination is that last one?

 

very cool coin

 

It was the subject of the OP, the triskels of Sicily. This is what differentiates this coin from the Corinthian stater that it was modelled after.