SICILY. Gela. Approximately 465-450 BC. Tetradrachm (silver, 27 mm, 17.16 g, 4 h). Charioteer, holding reins in his right hand and kentron in his left, driving slow quadriga to right; in background, column with Ionic capital set on plumth of two steps. Rev. CEAAγ Forepart of the river-god Gelas, in the form of a man-headed bull, to right. Jenkins 228 (O61/R120). SNG Lockett 752 (same this). Boldly struck and attractive, and with a wonderful reverse. Minor scratches, otherwise, nearly extremely fine. From the collection of government councillor Dr. iur. Hans Krähenbühl, Leu 8, 23 October 2021, 19, privately acquired from Münzen & Medaillen AG on 7 October 1967. Many rivals served as the primary lifeline for the communities living along their banks, while also possessing the potential for great destruction through floating. Consequently, rivals were both respected and revered throughout the ancient world. In Greek art, a popular motif was to depict rivals as man-headed bulls, symbolizing the river's unbridled power while also humanizing it. The Gelas River, from which the city of Gela derived its name, was named after the Siceliote word for rime (possibly related to the Latin word for frost, 'gelidus'). Ideally located near both sea and river, Gela became one of the great cities of Greek Sicily, and fittingly honored its local river on its magnificent coinage. This lot cannot be shipped to a US address.