SICILY. Morgantina. Circa 340 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 16.87 g, 7 h). Head of Kore-Persephone to left, wearing wreath of grain leaves, triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; below neck, monogram; around, three dolphins. Rev. MOPΓANTINΩN Charioteer driving quadriga galloping to left, holding kentron in his right hand and reins in his left; above, Nike flying right, crowning the charioteer with a wreath. Basel 374 (same dies). Erim Issue 2 and pl. 1, 4 (same dies). HGC 2, 902. Rizzo pl. LX, 6 (same dies). Extremely rare. Beautifully toned and of magnificent late Classical style. Minor marks and faint scratches, otherwise, good very fine.



Morgantina, situated in the interior of Sicily, is first mentioned in our sources in the mid-fifth century BC, when it was captured in 459 BC by the Sikel king Duketios. In 396 BC the city came under the rule of Dionysios of Syracuse, a development also reflected in its very rare silver coinage of the fourth century, which adopts the classical types of Syracuse. In view of the magnificent dies, it may reasonably be assumed that they were produced not locally, but in the east Sicilian metropolis. Whether the coins themselves were also struck at Syracuse or instead locally is difficult to determine. In any case, by virtue of their beauty and great rarity, the tetradrachms of Morgantina now rank among the most sought-after Greek coins of Sicily.