Sicily, Gela. AE Trias, circa 420–405 BC.

Sicily, Gela. AE Trias, circa 420–405 BC. Obv. Bull walking left, three pellets in exergue, border of dots. Rev. Head of the river god Gelas right, unbearded, diademed and horned, grain of barley behind, border of dots. 17 mm, 3.38 g, 5 h. Laffaille 144; MIAMG 4217 (R); HGC 2, 1095; BMC 71; ANS 106. Ideal centring on both sides, the bull sharply detailed and the river god with an attractive, expressive portrait. Dark patina. About extremely fine. Struck in the later fifth century BC, this neat bronze trias belongs to the rich civic series of Gela, whose bronze coinage echoed in miniature the celebrated silver issues of the city. The obverse bull recalls the famous man headed bull of the river Gelas, here reduced to a pure animal type and serving as a direct symbol of the fertile plain nourished by the river. On the reverse, the horned and diademed head of Gelas appears in a refined late classical style, framed by a grain ear that underlines the agricultural prosperity of the territory. The fine style, excellent centring and pleasing dark patina make this a particularly attractive example of Gela’s small bronze, encapsulating in compact format the civic and religious imagery that defines the mint.