Nomos 25

SICILY. Selinos. Circa 455-409 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 28 mm, 17.40 g, 1 h). ΣΕΛΙΝΟΝΤΙΟΣ (retrograde) Apollo and Artemis standing left in a quadriga moving slowly to left; Artemis holding the reins and Apollo drawing his bow. Rev. ΣΕΛΙΝΟΣ The river-god Selinos, horned and nude, holding laurel branch in his left hand and a phiale in his right, from which he pours a libation over a garlanded altar to left; to left, rooster standing left; to right, selinon leaf over a bull standing left on a base. Cf. Rizzo pl. XXXI, 14. Schwabacher 4 (Q1/S4). SNG Ashmolean 1892 (same dies). SNG Lloyd 1222 (same dies). Attractively toned and very well-centered. Somewhat lightly struck and with minor marks, otherwise, extremely fine.

From a European collection, ex Giessener Münzhandlung 33, 3 June 1986, 37.

The scene on the obverse, with Artemis driving a quadriga moving along at a walking pace and Apollo preparing to fire an arrow from his bow, must show a scene from the gods battle with the giants. This one took place at the very end, with the clean-up operations: presumably the two siblings are moving along, dispatching their wounded enemies!