Nomos 27

SICILY. Gela. Circa 465-450 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 28 mm, 15.58 g, 7 h). Charioteer, holding the reins in his right hand and a goad in his left, driving a quadriga walking to right; behind, turning post in the form of an Ionic column; in the exergue, grain ear. Rev. CΕΛΑΣ Forepart of a man-headed bull to right, the river-god Gelas. A. J. Evans, Villabate, NC 1894 pl. 7, 3 (this coin). HGC 339 (this coin). Jenkins, Gela 206.4 (this coin). A wonderfully toned coin of fine very early Classical style, nicely centered on a broad flan. Nearly extremely fine.

Ex Elsen 99, 28 March 2009, 1206, Numismatica Ars Classica 18, 29 March 2000, 8, Bank Leu 30, 28 April 1982, 24 and Münzhandlung Basel 4, 1 October 1935, 438, from the collection of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Schlessinger 13, 4 February 1935, 255, and from the collection of Sir Arthur Evans - "Archaeologist and Traveller" - , Sotheby, Wilkinson & Hodge, 20 January 1898, 51 and from the Villabate Hoard of 1893 (IGCH 2082).

The difference in style between the forepart of the river-god Gelas on this coin and those on the preceding and following lots is dramatic. The earlier piece, perhaps some 15-20 years earlier, shows us a rather stiff and almost expressionless late Archaic god. Here we have a rather more civilised, humorous looking fellow who looks as if he might be a companion of the Dionysos who appears on the early tetradrachm of Naxos. But on the piece in the following lot, which was struck some 30 years later, Gelas reverts to a more artistically developed, but rougher character. He is neither expressionless nor approachable, but like the river he represents, he has a latent wild and primitive power; he is not someone to be taken for granted!