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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Sicily| ▸ |Gela||View Options:   | | | Gela, named after the river Gela, was founded by colonists from Rhodos and Crete around 688 B.C. In 424 B.C., the Congress of Gela established a "Sicily for the Sicilians" platform and formed a league that pushed back the Athenian attempt to conquer the island. The city had a history of internal strife between its plebs and aristocrats. When the Carthaginians arrived in 311 B.C., they easily captured the Gela with the help of its elites. In 282 B.C., Phintias of Agrigento ruthlessly destroyed Gela to crush its power forever. In Roman times it was only a small settlement. |
The obverse of commemorates the tyrant Gelon's victory in the chariot race at the Olympic Games of 488 B.C. Three years later, Gelon seized Syracuse and charioteer type was adopted there. For many years the same charioteer motif was used at many Sicilian cities even after its initial significance may have been forgotten. -- "Coinage of Olympic Proportions" by David R. Sear, published in NumismatistSH86310. Silver tetradrachm, Jenkins Gela, Group VIII, 476 (O92/R186); SNG ANS 95 (same dies); SNG Lockett 770 (same obv. die); Pozzi 440 (same), VF, superb reverse of the finest style, typical compact flan and obverse die wear, some roughness, weight 16.202 g, maximum diameter 25.8 mm, die axis 270o, Gela mint, 420 - 415 B.C.; obverse quadriga walking right guided by charioteer in long chiton, far horse with head high and rump visible, Nike above flying left to crown charioteer, bird right (swan?) flapping wings in exergue (off flan); reverse forepart of man-faced bull (river god) right, large face with intense expression, beard rendered in elaborate curls, wavy folds continuous from back of neck to bottom of dewlap, left leg forward almost touching beard, right leg bent with hoof forward of truncation, ΓΕΛAΣ above, within shallow incuse circle; SOLD
Gela, Sicily, 490 - 475 B.C.
In 485, Gelo, the tyrant of Gela, took advantage of an appeal by the descendants of the first colonist of Syracuse, the Gamoroi, who had held power until they were expelled by the Killichiroi, the lower class of the city, and made himself master of that city. He left his brother Hieron in control of Gela.SH96810. Silver didrachm, Jenkins Gela, group I, 100 (O30/255); HGC 2 363 (S); SNG ANS IV/2 19; SNG Cop 257; BMC Sicily p. 67, 19, VF, attractive man faced bull, well centered, light corrosion, struck with a worn obverse die, small edge split, weight 8.377 g, maximum diameter 21.39 mm, die axis 90o, Gela mint, 490 - 475 B.C.; obverse horseman galloping right, nude, wearing pileus, brandishing spear overhead in right hand; reverse forepart of man-faced bull (river god) swimming right, long beard, dotted truncation, CEΛAΣ below, all within a round incuse; from the CEB Collection; ex Numismatic Fine Arts, Fall 1988 (12 October), lot 98; ex Dr. George Brauer Collection; upon request we will include the NFA Fall 1988 catalog with this coin - use checkout comments to request the catalog; scarce; SOLD
Gela, Sicily, 490 - 475 B.C.
SH08968. Silver didrachm, SNG ANS 4/II 21, VF/EF, weight 8.63 g, maximum diameter 21.3 mm, die axis 135o, Gela mint, 490 - 475 B.C.; obverse naked horseman galloping right, brandishing spear; reverse ΓΕΛAΣ, forepart of man-faced bull right; obverse poorly struck with a worn die; SOLD
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