LYDIA. Tripolis. Saloninus, 258-260. Pentassarion (Bronze, 29.5 mm, 12.22 g, 6 h). Π Λ Κ CΑ-ΛΩ-ΝΙΝΟC ΟΥΑΛΕ-ΡΙ/ΑΝΟC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Saloninus to right. Rev. ΤΡΙΠΟΛΕ-ΙΤΩΝ Leto, fully draped and with her veil over her head, hurrying to left, holding, over each arm, the infant twins Artemis and Apollo. GRPC - Lydia 192. SNG Copenhagen 755 (same dies). SNG Hunterian 2022. Very rare and with an unusual reverse type. Bold and attractive. Slightly rough surfaces, otherwise, about extremely fine.
Leto was a nymph, the daughter of the Titans Coeus and Phoebe, who was meant to be both beautiful and shy; nevertheless she managed to catch the eye of Zeus (not difficult apparently) and became pregnant. This enraged Hera who banned her from all the lands of the earth: since at that time Delos seems to have been a floating island, it was there that Leto was able to have her twins Artemis and Apollo. In fact, it seems that Leto can be connected with Lycia: she was probably a local mother-goddess and her earliest known sanctuaries are there; the Letoon at Xanthus is pre-Greek in origin. Since the figure of Leto on this coin seems to be fleeing, it probably refers to the part of the myth in which she was attacked by various monsters: later, when they had grown up, Artemis and Apollo (Artemis was 9-days older) set about destroying their mother's attackers.
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