I am pleased to have finally added a tetradrachm of this difficult city to the collection. This coin had been listed by ArtAncient of London on their site and on VCoins for several months. I made an offer and they accepted it. Kamarina, Sicily, AR tetradrachm, 425-405 BC, 26 mm, 17.40 g. OBV: Athena driving galloping quadriga left, holding reins in both hands; Nike flying above and placing open wreath on Athena's head, heron flying left in exergue / REV: KAMAPINA-ION (retrograde), bearded head of Herakles left, wearing lion's skin headdress. Westermark and Jenkins, 138 (O3/R8b - this coin listed as specimen 21 = Private collection Y); SNG Lloyd 864-865; Gulbenkian 172 (all from the same dies); Dewing 578 (same obverse die); BMC 2.10; Sear GC 758. From the William N. Rudman collection. Ex: Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger, Auction 378, April 28, 2004, lot 38. Ex: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. Triton V, January 16, 2002, lot 1175. Ex: Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction H, April 30, 1998, lot 1142. Tetradrachms were struck in Kamarina only for the 20 year period from c 425 BC, when the city was at the height of its political power, until 405 BC, when Kamarina, as well as several other Sicilian cities, were destroyed by the Carthaginians. The city was eventually re-settled, but thereafter only rare silver drachms and bronze issues were produced. Kamarina stopped striking coins in its name c 300 BC. This example was struck fairly early in the series. It is from obverse die 3 (of 13) and reverse die 8 (of 21) and might be more accurately dated to c 420-415 BC. As was common at the time, the obverse die was paired with two reverse dies, then was re-cut and used with this and one other reverse die. The quadriga was a common obverse image on Greek coins of this period, especially in Sicily. Syracuse struck a huge number of tetradrachms with the device from c 510-278 BC. It also appears on the coins of Gela, Himera, Katane, Leontini, and many other cities. However, the quadriga on Kamarina tetradrachms in unusual in one respect. On the coins of other cities, the driver is usually an anonymous figure. On coins of Kamarina, the quadriga is driven by Athena, the goddess of the city. She wears an Attic helmet, usually crested, but on three dies, including the obverse of this coin, the helmet is crowned with a tall feather. Unfortunately, it is off the flan on this example. Although perhaps not as sophisticated in style as others of the type, I find the head of Herakles on the reverse to be curiously appealing. Westermark and Jenkins (page 52) describe it as “…of a vigorous style. The beard is untidy and the ear of a simplified shape. The nose is broad with a swelling tip…the eye is set under a curved frowning eyebrow which gives the head an energetic, intense look.” Post your coins of Kamarina! SOURCES: Ulla Westermark and Kenneth Jenkins, The Coinage of Kamarina, London, 1980; Hoover, Oliver D., Handbook of Coins of Sicily, 2012. Special thanks to TIF for improving the photo!
Well this is for certain not a common man's coin. This is special in just about everyway. Personally I love the pre- Alexander bearded Herakles. That is fabulous.
What a fantastic coin, and thanks for the great background! I only have some common bronzes of Kamarina, purchased primarily because I like lizards SICILY, Kamarina. 420-405 BCE. AE tetras, 3.11 gm. Head of Athena right, wearing winged Phrygian helmet; dotted border. KAMA (legend from top to bottom), with owl standing left, lizard in talons; three dots in exergue. Westermark / Jenkins 202, SNG ANS -., Calciati III No. 39. SICILY, Kamarina. 420-405 BCE. AE tetras, 3.34 gm. Large head of Athena left, wearing crested helmet with wings. Owl standing left, with lizard in talon; KAMA (retrograde) upward in right field; three dots in exergue. Westermark / Jenkins 198 (see FIG. Pl. 35 / 198.24), SNG ANS 1230 Calciati III no. 28/4 (dotted-border type).
OUTSTANDING!!!!! Hard to say anything else. Congratulations. SICILY, KAMARINA Æ Tetras OBV: Helmeted head of Athena left REV: KAMA, owl standing left, head facing, grasping lizard; three pellets in exergue Struck at Kamarina, Sicily, 420-405 BC 2.9g; 15.2 mm Calciati 33; BMC 40; SNG ANS 1229; SNG Cop 169
Congratulations for finally crossing that one off your list! I know you've been searching for it for a while. It's also nice to know that ArtAncient can be negotiated with - I've never tried because some of their prices have made me scoff but I should do another pass through their inventory at some point. Here's my Kamarina tetradrachm, the result of an upgrade at the most recent NAC sale:
Thanks for posting your SPECTACULAR example, AncientJoe! Two other collectors have expressed surprise that ArtAncient would accept lesser offers. My offer was 17% below their asking price and I expected a counter-offer, but they accepted it. Perhaps they were tired of looking at the coin, something that I won't experience for quite some time...
I, too, have negotiated and bought from ArtAncient in the past. Rather pleasant and fair to deal with. Although I have only a few dealings. @ancientnut you have a Gorgeous coin, and congrats finding it afer a long search! I regret I have none...
That's an outstanding coin, ancientnut, congrats! Only one I have is this little bronze. SICILY, Kamarina AE Tetras or Trionkion. SICILY, Kamarina, circa 420-405 BC. 3.39g, 14.8mm. Westermark & Jenkins Period 3, 204; CNS 40; HGC 2, 550. O: Helmeted head of Athena left; olive spray to left. R: [K-A-]MA, Owl standing facing, wings spread, grasping lizard; three pellets (mark of value) in exergue.
Wow ancientnut, that OP-example (and sweet new avatar) are absolutely awesome!! (congrats ... I am very jealous of that coin-type) => oh, and the cool Heron in exergue is merely extra bonus-points!! (great addition) Sadly, unlike the few of you coin friends that have posted great Kamarina examples, I am not lucky enough to own one myself ... *sigh* Ummm, but I just can't help posting one of my favourite coins that has a fairly similar obverse (Herakles, wearing lion's skin headdress) ... I hope this is okay? Thessaly, Skotoussa 350-300 BC Herakles with Lion headdress & Horse forepart Oh, and I must post your sweet new example next to my humble example ... => oh my ... they do make wonderful bookends, eh? ancientnut => thanks for allowing me to fantasize (your new coin is fabulous!!)
@ancientnut your tetradrachm is outstanding! Here's an archaic fraction from Kamarina...but I just realized I photographed it backwards (the image on the left is the reverse, and the image on the right is the obverse) Sicily, Kamarina 460-450 BC AR litra .45gm. - 13 mm Obv: KAMAPINA Athena standing left, holding spear, shield in front. Rev: Nike flying left, swan at her feet before; all within olive wreath Ref: SNG ANS 1211ff.
Is it just me or does it kind of look like the lion is biting his head, rather than him wearing a lion skin? You have a beautiful coin there. It could easily be a centerpiece of any collection. Congratulations.
WOW!!! Ancient nut and joe have stole the show!!! Simply gorgeous examples of fine art---Just fantastic!!!!
I am absolutely astounded at the speed with which this coin arrived. It was shipped from London last Thursday and arrived today...in FOUR DAYS, and one of those days was a Sunday!
How was it shipped? Next time I buy anything from Roma I'll have them use that carrier. Registered Royal Mail takes 2-3 weeks to reach me.
ArtAncient used a carrier known as Parcelforce Worldwide: http://www.parcelforce.com/ My first coin shipped from Europe took 31 days to get here from Zurich, so this was an unexpected delight! BTW the coin is even more attractive in hand than in the photo.
