Description
Sicily, Akragas.
Silver Tetradrachm, c. 465-446 BC.
Obverse: Eagle standing left, with closed wings.
Reverse: Crab, within a circular incuse.
(SNG ANS 979).
Good Very Fine. Attractive cabinet tone.
15.44g.
Ex Glendenings (09/06/1982) lot #54.
Akragas’ city’s coinage, like many of the Greek world, consisted of silver Tetradrachms, Didrachms and smaller denominations. Also issued was a short-lived series of exceptionally rare decadrachms. Bronze coins were also issued for use as small change. The crab motif is actually the reverse of the coin, and appears in a shallow concave (or ‘incuse’) circle. Some rare pieces depict a crab with its carapace taking the form of a human face. The local river god may be behind this strange addition to the design. On the obverse an eagle, representing Zeus, the king of the Greek pantheon, takes pride of place.
