Sicily, Katane. Tetradrachm

Sicily, Katane; ca. 435-412 BC, Tetradrachm, 16.92g. Obv: Charioteer driving slow biga r, holding kentron and reins; die break between legs. Rx: KATANAI[Ω]Ν (retrograde) Laureate head of Apollo l; die break on neck. There are four other specimens of this type recorded, all from the same reverse die. This poor die evidently went through the ringer throughout the course of the issue. The type was probably discontinued fairly soon after its introduction, since only one rx. die seems to exist. For a full review of its progression, see Rizzo (1946) pl. X.16 (die break on neck; this coin was also published in Ars Classica 1933 and Prow 1904); Minore, "Le monete dell' antica Catana," Rivista Italiana di Numismatica Vol. 30 (1917) p. 207, no.41 (die break on neck); Astarte 23, Oct. 2024, lot 106 (die break on neck carved off, still seen faintly); Bertolami E64, Jan. 2019, lot 183 (two die breaks, second in field before face). This by far the finest specimen of this beleaguered type and its unlucky reverse die.When Rizzo published his book in 1946, only one coin of this type was known. Since then, three more in addition to our coin have appeared on the market. The coin coin is quite rare, probably because the die break at 6 o'clock on the obverse led to the destruction of the die and thus limited striking of the type. When Katane came up with the design, it was normally created with 15 or more different dies of the same type. In this case of this coin, it appears that there were no other dies made, making this the rarest issue of Katane. The other four coins in existence are extremely worn. This by far is the finest known. Virtually MS / Good EF