Nomos 3

SICILY, Katane. Circa 410-405 BC. Ddrachm (Silver, 3.68 g 7). Head of Silenos facing, with full beard, pointed ears and bald head. Rev. ΚΑΤΑΝΑΙΩΝ Head of the river god Amenanos to left, his hair bound with a taenia and with a tiny horn on his forehead. . Franke/Marathaki 133, Kraay-Hirmer 46 var. Rizzo pl. XIV, 5 (same dies). SNG ANS 1262. SNG Lloyd 909 (same dies). Extremely rare. Surfaces covered with an attractive, greyish-purple toning as found, but most attractive and of splendid style. Extremely fine.

From the Spina collection, ex Numismatica Ars Classica 25, 25 June 2003, 67, from the collection of A. D. Moretti, Numismatica Ars Classica 9, 16 April 1996, 144 and ex Sternberg XX, 20 April 1988, 267.

This is one of the incredible masterpieces that late 5th century engravers were capable of producing. The coin is unsigned but the quality of the facing head of Silenos makes it one of the very finest facing heads ever to appear on a Greek coin. Katana had a close connection to Silenos because of the vines around the city; as for Amenanos, he was the god of the local river, which flowed in and around the ancient city until the great eruption of Etna of 1669. It was then covered over and, in part, flows under the modern city, being tapped for the famous fountain of Amenano in the Piazza Duomo (built from Carrara marble in 1837 - the actual river flows about 2 meters below the fountain).