Nomos 14

SICILY, Selinos. Circa 540-515 BC. Didrachm (Silver, 22mm, 8.81 g). Wild parsley leaf Rev. Incuse square divided diagonally into ten raised and lowered sections. Arnold-Biucchi 2. Selinus Hoard 20. SNG ANS 676. A sharp and beautifully toned example. Some striking flatness on the obverse, and traces of deposits on the reverse; otherwise, extremely fine.

From the Stoecklin Collection.

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.