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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;zumbly, post: 2033887, member: 57495&quot;]I picked up this Gela tetras at the same time as the Himera tetras I posted yesterday, and coincidentally both were struck around the same time, in the late 5th century BC.&nbsp; I&#039;m glad to not be terribly fond of the popular man-bull tetradrachms of Gela, because a nice one would burn a very big hole in my pocket.&nbsp; On the other hand, this bronze came in at just abit above barrel-scraping price, so I&#039;ll chalk it up as a decent purchase in spite of the handful of faults it has.&nbsp; </p><p><br /></p><p>On the obverse is the horned head of the young river god Gelas, personification of the river, looking nothing like his grizzled man-bull persona on the silver coins.&nbsp; These portraits come in a few different styles, some with wild Guy Fieri-type hair and others with a slightly crazed look in the eye.&nbsp; On this coin, Gelas has swept-back hair and a calm, contemplative look... quite a pleasing portrait, unfortunately marred by a couple of deep gashes.&nbsp; I find the bull on the reverse also quite nicely styled, and with the olive branch and barley grain thrown in, it all adds up to a coin I am liking alot <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie1" alt=":)" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />. </p><p><br /></p><p><b>Feel free to post your coins of Gela, or with portrait heads of river gods.&nbsp; &nbsp; </b></p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]370425[/ATTACH] </p><p><b>SICILY, Gela</b></p><p>AE Tetras</p><p>3.8g, 17mm</p><p>Circa 420 - 405 BC</p><p>Jenkins 527</p><p>O: Head of young river-god Gelas right; ΓEΛAΣ before; grain ear behind.&nbsp; </p><p>R: Bull standing right; olive branch above, three pellets (mark of value) in exergue.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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