Gela Monster

[Etcherdude]

I love the coins of Sicily and think the man-bulls of Gela are especially striking. Here's the well-worn example I'm lucky enough to have temporary custody of.

Gela. Ca. 490-475 BC. AR didrachm (21mm, 8.42 gm, 12h).  Horseman, nude save for pileus, on horse galloping right, brandishing spear in his upraised right hand; dotted border / CΕ-ΛΑ, forepart of man-faced bull running right; all in circular incuse. Jenkins 24. 

I've seen examples (online) showing earlier iterations of the obverse die break .

[TheTrachyEnjoyer]

I love it!! 

[Theodosius]

Even with the die break and maybe flan lamination, that is an unusually detailed and nice obverse for this series. A very attractive coin.

 

John

[Alegandron]

Nice @Etcherdude! Great coin....

I have a baby version from Gela with a MFB:

Sicily Gela
AR Litra Horse-Achelous
0.63g 13mm
465-450 BCE
HGC 2 p 373

[Etcherdude]

Thanks @Alegandron, and that’s a sweet litra you’ve got.

[Alegandron]

3 minutes ago, Etcherdude said:

Thanks @Alegandron, and that’s a sweet litra you’ve got.

I always liked the DiDrachm size / denom!  Just a great coin... I like the "lamination" on yours, too.  Cool

And an MFB?  Always a cool critter!

Edited May 25, 2022 by Alegandron

[Jeremy]

Fantastic example! This type has been on my wish list for a while.

[Zimm]

That's an amazing example. Even if worn, it still looks great

[Etcherdude]

23 hours ago, Etcherdude said:

I love the coins of Sicily and think the man-bulls of Gela are especially striking. Here's the well-worn example I'm lucky enough to have temporary custody of.

Gela. Ca. 490-475 BC. AR didrachm (21mm, 8.42 gm, 12h).  Horseman, nude save for pileus, on horse galloping right, brandishing spear in his upraised right hand; dotted border / CΕ-ΛΑ, forepart of man-faced bull running right; all in circular incuse. Jenkins 24. 

I've seen examples (online) showing earlier iterations of the obverse die break .

 

 

At left is another example with an even larger die break. 

This coin, representing Jenkins 24, is shown at https://manfacedbullsar.wordpress.com/gela/ , where the anomaly is identified as a large die break--- Grosser Stempelbruch auf Av. 

 

Edited May 26, 2022 by Etcherdude