Nomos 1

SICILY, Selinos. Circa 540-515 BC. Didrachm (Silver, 9.10 g). Wild parsley leaf Rev. Incuse square divided diagonally into ten raised and lowered sections. Arnold-Biucchi 2. Selinus Hoard 20. SNG ANS 670 var. Beautifully struck in high relief on a broad flan. Tiny flan crack, otherwise, good extremely fine.

The city of Selinus used a leaf of wild parsley, selinon in Greek, as its badge - a typical example of the way Greek states used what are known as punning types to identify themselves on their coinages. Another example is the seal, Phoke, on the coinage of Phokaia.