James Bond movies aside, I've really been lost in and loving the cool coins of the island of Sicily. What an amazing history it has. From Greeks to Carthagenians to Romans and on. I recently received a lot that I ordered some time ago from across the pond that came just in time for my birthday today (happy birthday to me)! And my fav of the group is this teeny tiny octopus! In honorary of Sean Connery I've named him Octopushy. Sicily,Tetras,Syracuse SecondDemocracy (466- 405) c. 425 BC, AE (g 1,1"; mm 11; h 4), ΣYPA, head of nymphArethusa r., wearing necklace and hair loosely gathered at the top of her head;at sides, two dolphins. Linear border, Rv. Octopus; around, three pellets. CNS II, n. 1; SNG Copenhagen 653;" SNG ANS 376 ff Please post your Sicily Syracuse coins, octopus or anything else you'd like to.
Yeah sorry.. I'm on my phone and sometimes I'm too lazy to copy and paste it. Sicily, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 B.C. Æ litra (22 mm, 9.72 g, 9 h). Ca. 306/4-289 B.C. ΣΩΤΕΙΡΑ, head of Artemis right, quiver at shoulder / ΑΓΑΘΟΚΛΕΟΣ ΒΑΣΙΛΕΟΣ, winged thunderbolt. BAR issue 33; CNS 142; SNG ANS 708
Happy birthday, Ryro! I have a couple of Syracusian octopodes. The first is one of my favorite little bronze coins Sicily, Syracuse. Dionyisos I, tetras. Nymph / octopus Sicily, Syracuse. AE 13, c. 425 BCE. Nymph (Arethusa?)/hippocamp & octopus
Happy Birthday @Ryro ! Nice looking coin, well done and fortuitous receipt. While I do not name inanimate objects, I do have a couple octopi to toss in here: SYRACUSE 2nd Democr 466-405 BCE Æ Tetras 2.7g 15mm c.425 BCE Arethusa dolphins - Octopus 3 pellets SNG ANS 376 Calciati II.21.1 Sicily Syracuse AE Onkia 12-10mm 1.4g 425-415 BCE Arethusa - Octopus BMC 249
I have beau-coup Syracuse coins and bunches of Sicily coins. Fun to collect, like you said: Greek, Carthaginian, Roman historical influences, and even their native culture too! Here are a couple Syracuse coins: Sicily Syracuse Hieron II compare Butting Bulls Right (rare) and Left Ex: @TIF and ex: @Blake Davis ! Syracuse Sicily Pyrrhos 278-275 BCE AE 24mm 9.2g HeraklesHd - Athena Promachos SG1213 LE584 Syracuse Sicily Pyrrhus Epirus 278-276 BCE AE Litra 11.4g 23.3mm Herakles Nemaean Lion scalp - Athena Promachos thunderbolt shield SNG Cop 813, SNG ANS 852
These are great, I've been on the lookout for a nice Sicilian octopus. My only animal from Sicily is a rabbit. (Should I call this coin Peter?) Messana, Sicily, AR litra, c. 461-396 BCE. Hare leaping right over ivy leaf, gamma in left field//ethnic in wreath. SNG Cop 410 (rare).
LOVE the Pyrrhos coins. He is one of my all time favorites. What an ignominious end. Killed by a little ol lady throwing a roof tile on his head as he entered a city he had just conquered. SMH...or cover it for that matter! lest an old lady be the end of me as well. Here's mine Pyrrhus (278-276 BCE) Sicily, Syracuse, AE 23mm 10.25 gr, head of young Herakles left, wearing lion's skin, rev. Athena Promachos advancing right (SNG ANS 852), attractive smooth green patina, good very fine
Happy Birthday! I really like the octopuses and wish I had one to share. Crabs or other sea creatures anyone? This is the porpoise of my small, hopefully growing Sicily collection. Sicily, Syracuse. AE Litra. 344-336 BC. Sear 1189. 29.6g, 28.65mm Athena l., wearing Corinthian helmet. Two dolphins facing, cuttlefish between.
My Mes has a shell under the hare and plenty of reticulation in the silver. I feel a collection with the above coin should also include this one: https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=260194 You may need to look at a map to get the joke. My octopus AR litra has, as of yet, escaped my desire for upgrade. I have had it for 30 years and prospects are not improving when you see what they bring today. I have always wanted a clear one of this type with full legend and another with clear letters abbreviating ΣΥΡΑ.
One of my favorite recent additions. Sicily, Syracuse. Hieron II. 275-215 BC. Æ (19mm, 6.28g). Head of Zeus left, wearing tainia / Ornate trident head flanked by dolphins. CNS 197; BAR Issue 60; HGC 2, 1550. I hope @Brian Bucklan doesn’t mind me using his photo. This was acquired from www.bargainbinancients.com and I would never be able to improve upon this image.
Happy birthday @Ryro ! Man, I don't have an octopus, but I do have a match with Mr. Black! Hieron II, Syracuse, 275-215 BC O: Poseidon, R: Trident between dolphins, ΙΕΡΩ−ΝΟΣ below, 20 mm, 6.6g, Calciati-197
Those are 2 heavy hitters right there @Johnnie Black and @chrsmat71. Those 2 coins look like they're in the pros and mine isn't even high school jv. Hahaha (though in all fairness mine was 1 of 4 in an $8 lot).
Fun little Sicilian snack, Ryro. I have a similar piece from a group lot of four Syracusan bronzes I picked up a couple of years ago. SICILY, Syracuse, Second Democracy AE Onkia. 1.35g, 12.1mm. SICILY, Syracuse, Second Democracy, circa 466-405 BC. CNS 10. O: ΣVPA, Head of the nymph Arethusa, right; dolphin behind. R: Octopus or cuttlefish; pellet between tentacles. These are the other three coins from that lot. I don't think I've shown them all together before. SICILY, Syracuse, Dionysios I AE Litra. 7.16g, 19.7mm. SICILY, Syracuse, Dionysios I, circa 400-390 BC. CNS 41; SNG ANS 434-446. O: ΣVPA, Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet decorated with wreath; pellet behind. R: Bridled hippocamp left. SICILY, Syracuse, Agathokles AE Trias. 2.57g, 13mm. SICILY, Syracuse, Agathokles, circa AD 317-289 BC. CNS 118. O: Helmeted head of Athena left. R: ΣYPAK-OΣIΩN, winged thunderbolt. SICILY, Syracuse, Hieron II AE18. 4.08g, 17.9mm. SICILY, Syracuse, Hieron II, circa 275-269 BC. CNS 192; HGC 2, 1497; Virzi 1924 (this coin). O: Wreathed head of Kore-Persephone left. R: Bull butting left; club and AP monogram above, IE in exergue.
