Catalogue information

LastDodo number
7269253
Area
Coins
Title
Himera, Sicily AE16 (6/12th, Hemilitron) 407 BCE
Face value
Year
-407
Variety / overstrike
Head of State
Type
Designer
Series
Theme
Material
Weight
6
Diameter
16
Thickness
Shape
Obverse
Six pellets within laurel wreath
Reverse
IM-E, head of nymph l., wearing stephane, earrings and necklace at l. six pellets, linear border
Edge
Privy mark
Mint mark
Number produced
Krause and Mishler number
Catalogue number
Calciati I pg. 43, 35; SNG ANS 186
Details
Himera (in Italian Imera) was an Ancient Greek city state on the north coast of the island of Sicily (see Magna Graecia), located at the mouth of a similar river, ± 45 km east of Palermo. Himera became 649 BC. founded by colonists from Zancle, with mixed Dorian and Ionian origins. The lyric poet Stesichorus has lived and worked here. When the local tyrant Terillus shortly before 480 BC. was driven by Theron of Akragas, he called for the help of the Carthagers to recapture his throne. These came to him with a great army of forces, but before Himera, Gelo of Syracuse and Theron of Akragas knew to bring them a crushing defeat: that was the so-called Battle of Himera. In 476 BC. Theron directed a massacre under a large part of the bourgeoisie, as a punishment for attempted conspiracy, after which he drew new settlers. During the Athenian expedition to Sicily (415-413 BC, Himera chose the Syracuse side. In 409 BC. the city was again attacked by the Carthagers under the command of Hannibal Mago, and this time completely destroyed. It was rebuilt more westward under the name Thermae.