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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Plumbata, post: 3268600, member: 96864&quot;]I recently obtained a rare (to me) coin that I had never seen before, from an island I didn&#039;t know existed and depicting a god I wasn&#039;t aware was ever portrayed on a coin. It is from the small island of Lipara (Lipari), off the northern coast of Sicily, and at 14 square miles is the the largest of the little Aeolian Islands. Its modern residents mine and export the volcanic pumice of the island, and import thousands of tourists during the Summer.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]861582[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I&#039;ve only come across 3 essentially matching coins for this die pair, though all are considerably lighter at 3.55g-4.30g, and on narrower flans:</p><p>[ATTACH=full]861583[/ATTACH] </p><p>From <a href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=278202" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=278202" rel="nofollow">https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=278202</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]861585[/ATTACH] </p><p>From <a href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=285693" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=285693" rel="nofollow">https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=285693</a></p><p>[ATTACH=full]861586[/ATTACH] </p><p>From <a href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=210983" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=210983" rel="nofollow">https://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=210983</a></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>The information provided wasn&#039;t exactly comprehensive and I have no relevant hard-copy references, but here goes:</p><p><br /></p><p>Lipara, Sicily. Æ Hemilitron ~350 (or 412-408, or late 3rd C. <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie98" alt=":wacky:" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" />) BC. 5.43 g, 19mm. Hephaestus seated right on legged bench, holding kantharos in his outstretched left hand, pick-like hammer in his lowered right hand; in field, pellet. Rev. (I presume the &quot;M&quot; is some sort of strange ligature for ΛΙ?) ΛΙΠΑΡΑΙΩΝ around six pellets in two rows. Calciati I, 15, 20. SNG Evelpidis 720.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]861593[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]861594[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>It has old dirt and encrustation remaining on the edges and within the cracks, though appears to have never needed much cleaning to begin with. The surfaces, detail and centering on a big flan are all superb which makes me suspicious if nor no other reason than it being nicer than the 3 auctioned examples and rather higher-tier than I usually handle, but since no records of Lipara fakes of this general style of hemilitron let alone this die pair were found I really hope it&#039;s legit.</p><p><br /></p><p>The <i>exceptionally </i>bold ethnic along with the 6 prominent denomination pellets make the reverse truly awesome to behold, and the obverse depiction of poor lame Hephaestus seated holding his hammer, and in-hand displaying his pectorals as well as rib cage, face, and subtle delineation between his separate thighs makes it such a cool coin, especially since I dabble in blacksmithing and metal-casting and appreciate a fellow smith, even if he sits-down on the job! <img src="styles/default/xenforo/clear.png" class="mceSmilieSprite mceSmilie8" alt=":D" unselectable="on" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>I suppose the young volcanic nature of the island didn&#039;t go unnoticed by the Greek inhabitants, so depicting him on some of their coins was a sensible albeit uncommon choice.</p><p><br /></p><p>A fun bonus that shared Hephaestus&#039; journey to me was a little silver that wasn&#039;t properly identified (presumably) and is apparently a rather rare Litra from Himera:</p><p><br /></p><p>Himera, Sicily AR Litra ~420-410 BC. 0.50g, 11mm. HIMEPAIΩN at right, head of Herakles right wearing leontè. Rev. Facing Athena, holding shield and spear.</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]861624[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=full]861625[/ATTACH] </p><p><br /></p><p>I think I&#039;ll be focusing much more on Sicilian coins, the more I get the more I love &#039;em!</p><p><br /></p><p>Please feel free to share any related coins, or insights/information even if it&#039;s bad news.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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