SICILY. Leontini. Circa 450-440 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 17.31 g, 7 h). Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. 𐤋E-O-NTI-NO-N Head of a lion with open jaws to right; around, four barley grains. Boehringer, Münzgeschichte, 35 (same obverse die). HGC 2, 667. Rizzo pl. XXIII, 5 (same obverse die) and 6 (same reverse die). SNG ANS 221 (same dies). Lightly toned and with a wonderful head of Apollo of fine style. Minor areas of weakness, otherwise, about extremely fine.

As one of the few Greek cities in Sicily not located by the sea, Leontini holds a unique place in the island’s ancient geography. Originally a Sicel settlement, it was captured and colonized by settlers from Naxos as early as 729 BC. This was due to its strategic position on a hill, which commanded the fertile plain to the north - one of the few such areas on the island. Owing to its proximity to Syracuse, the history of Leontini is inextricably linked to that of Sicily’s most powerful city. Periods of independence alternated with phases of Syracusan dominance. The city's emblem was the lion (gr. λέων), from which its name was derived. In keeping with Greek tradition, the king of beasts was also featured on the city's magnificent coins, which rank among the most striking in Sicily. This is exemplified by our remarkable tetradrachm, minted around the mid-5th century BC, showcasing the finest early Classical style