Nomos 26

SICILY. Motya. Circa 415/10-405 BC. Litra (Silver, 12.5 mm, 0.63 g, 3 h). Head of the nymph Motya to right, her hair bound in a bun at the back; around, laurel wreath. Rev. AM (in Punic) Nymph standing to right, wearing long robes; raising her right hand to her face and an myrtle (?) branch in her left; in the field to right, altar; in the field to left, cockle shell. Buceti 12 (same dies). Campana, Motya, 11. De Luynes 1049 and pl. XXXVIII, 1049 = HN p. 158 = Imhoof-Blumer, Zur Münzkunde Grossgriechenlands, 6 and pl. VII, 5 (same dies). HGC 2, 935. Jenkins, Punic, Minor Issues 2 and pl. 23, 2. Extremely rare, apparently one of a very few examples known. Well-centered and toned, and with masterfully engraved types. Some scratches and metal faults, otherwise, very fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions.

For a very extensive article on this type, see V. Perin and A. Campana, Motya: Litra con testa di ninfa e offerente, MA 77 September/October 2014, pp. 3-27. In general, Motya, like other Punic mints in Sicily, derived its coin types from a variety of sources - primarily from the Greek cities on the island (as, for example, on the coins of Panormos, below lots 163-168).