SICILY. Gela. Circa 465-450 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 17.16 g, 4 h). Charioteer, holding reins in his right hand and kentron in his left, driving slow quadriga to right; in background, column with Ionic capital set on plinth of two steps. Rev. CEΛAΣ Forepart of the river-god Gelas, in the form of a man-headed bull, to right. Jenkins 228 (O61/R120). SNG Lockett 752 (same dies). Boldly struck and attractive, and with a wonderful reverse. Minor scratches, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.



Many rivers served as the primary lifeline for the communities living along their banks, while also possessing the potential for great destruction through flooding. Consequently, rivers were both respected and revered throughout the ancient world. In Greek art, a popular motif was to depict rivers as man-headed bulls, symbolizing the river's unbridled power while also humanizing it. The Gelas River, from which the city of Gela derived its name, was named after the Siceliote word for rime (possibly related to the Latin word for frost, 'gelidus'). Ideally located near both sea and river, Gela became one of the great cities of Greek Sicily, and fittingly honored its local river on its magnificent coinage.