Lot 24
Sicily. Selinus. 450-440 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.36g, 2h). Gulbenkian 243 (same obverse die); Schwabacher 4. Very rare. Lightly toned. Struck on a full flan and unusually complete. Usual die wear. A remarkable and elaborate depiction of a cult act at Selinus. Choice extremely fine. From a private collection; Giessener Münzhandlung 1986 (33) lot 37
The reverse is a dramatic and symbolic representation of a cult act in honour of the local river-god. He stands holding a branch and bowl, with which he is about to make an offering at the altar. This composition recalls some Greek vase painting. The bull on pedestal suggests that the artist had a real object in mind, as also seems likely in the case of the depiction of the river-god, whose archaic style suggests an actual cult statue. The badge of the city, the selinon or parsley leaf, has been relegated to a small symbol behind the god
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