SICILY. Selinos. Circa 455-440 BC. Didrachm (Silver, 23 mm, 8.71 g, 9 h). Σ-E-ΛI-[N-ONT-IO-Σ] Herakles standing right, holding club overhead in his right hand, preparing to strike the Cretan Bull, leaping right, which he holds by the horn with his left hand.
Rev. HYΨ-AΣ The river god Hypsas standing front, head to left, holding olive branch in his left hand and phiale in his right, from which he pours libation over serpent-entwined altar to left; to right, heron walking right with selinon leaf above. Antike Kunst (1967), 459 (
this coin). HGC 2, 1224. Rizzo pl. XXXI, 15 (
same dies). SNG ANS 707 (
same dies). SNG Lloyd 1247 (
same dies). Lightly toned and of powerful early Classical style. The obverse struck somewhat off center and with a flan fault
, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.
From the collection of Regierungsrat Dr. iur. Hans Krähenbühl, Leu 8, 23 October 2021, 31, privately acquired from Bank Leu on 18 August 1965.