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Aitna, Sicily210-150 BC (Roman rule)
AE Hexas (16.5mm, 3.89g)
O: Head of Persephone right, wreathed in grain.
R: Filleted cornucopia; two pellets in upper right, AITNAI−ΩN upward to left.
HGC 2, 70; Calciati III, 152, 11; SNG ANS 1165; SNG München 26; Sear 1019v (pellets to left); BMC 5, 8
ex Forvm Ancient Coins
Demeter and Persephone
"…As Queen of Death, that worship which is Fear,
Henceforth, as having risen from out the dead,
Shalt ever send thy life along with mine…"
~Alfred Lord TennysonEnodia
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Akragas, Sicily275-240 BC
AE22 (21.8mm, 6.945g, 315o)
O: Laureate head of Zeus Hellanios right; symbols before and behind.
R: Two eagles standing left, devouring hare upon which they stand, nearer head up and wings closed, farther head down and wings open, caduceus above wings.
HGC 2, 159; Calciati p. 212, 125; SNG ANS 1128; Sear 1030; BMC 2, 131
ex Forvm Ancient Coins
Enodia
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Alaisa, Sicilycirca 340 BC
AE22 (22mm, 9.06g)
O: Griffin springing left.
R: Horse prancing left; [KAINON] in ex.(?)
HGC 2, 509 (as Kainon); SNG ANS 1169; Hunter 165,1; Sear 1048; BMC 2 29,6
ex Jack H. Beymer
My first ancient coin.Enodia
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Enna, Sicily450-440 BC
AR Litra (13mm, 0.69g)
O: Demeter driving slow biga right, holding grain ears (torch?).
R: Demeter standing facing, holding lighted torch over altar to left; [HE]NNAI[ON] to right.
HGC 2, 391; Sear 777
Very scarce
ex Aegean Numismatics
Enna, known in antiquity as ‘The Navel of Sicily’, was located in the geographic center of Sicily on a high plateau which served as a natural fortress. It is said that one could see all three Sicilian coasts from the city’s heights.
Perhaps more important than its strategic location however was Enna’s religious significance, for it was here that Persephone was abducted by Hades and here that the cult of Her mother Demeter thrived.
"In the interior [of Sicily] is Enna, where is the temple of Demeter, with only a few inhabitants; it is situated on a hill, and is wholly surrounded by broad plateaus that are tillable."
~ Strabo, Geography 6.2.6Enodia
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Katane, Sicilyafter 217 BC (Roman rule)
AE Hexas (16mm, 3.16g)
O: Laureate head of Apollo right.
R: Isis standing right, holding bird in right hand.
SNG ANS 1278; SNG Cop 198; Sear 1074v
Scarce
ex Alex Malloy Enodia
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Menainon, Sicily (under Roman Rule)After 212 BC
AE Tetras (17mm, 2.96g)
O: Veiled bust of Demeter right wreathed in grain, within dotted border.
R: Crossed torches; MENA / INΩN to either side, Δ below.
Calciati III 185, 5; HGC 2, 760; SNG ANS 290; SNG München 620; Sear 1129; BMC 98, 7
ex Forvm Ancient Coins
"Come, my daughter; for far-seeing Zeus the loud-thunderer calls you to join the families of the gods, and has promised to give you what rights you please among the deathless gods, and has agreed that for a third part of the circling year your daughter shall go down to darkness and gloom, but for the two parts shall be with you and the other deathless gods: so has he declared it shall be and has bowed his head in token. But come, my child, obey, and be not too angry unrelentingly with the dark-clouded Son of Cronos; but rather increase forthwith for men the fruit that gives them life."
~ Hymn to Demeter (Evelyn-White translation)
Enodia
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Messana (under the Mamertini)288-278 BC
AE Tetras (16mm, 2.93g)
O: Laureate head of Ares right.
R: Bull butting right; MAMEPTINΩN in ex., spear head below.
HGC 2, 878; Calciati 8; Sarstrom 62; Mini' 11; Sear 1138v (bull left)
Rare
ex M&R Coins
"Even brave sailors fear rock-caved Charybdis,
Who drinks the waves, vomits them out again,
And Skylla with her barking dogs around her
Churning the waves that circle Sicily"
~ OvidEnodia
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