Rhegion AR Hemilitron (7mm, 0.31g), Rare denomination, Ex-Clain-Stefanelli Collection & “Fractional” (RBN 1987) plate coin (No. 2)
Greek (Classical). Bruttium, Rhegion AR Hemilitron (7mm, 0.31g, 12h). Struck c. 445-435 BCE.
Obv: Facing scalp of lion (or lion mask) within dotted border.
Rev: RECI within laurel wreath. Control letters/symbols above (K?) & below (I or sideways H?).
Published: Clain-Stefanelli “Fractional” (1987, RBN) p. 57 & Pl. XII, Fig. 32-33, No. 2 (this coin illustrated).
Refs & Comparanda: Herzfelder Pl. IV, C = Slg. Prinz Waldek, Münzhandlung Basel 4 (10 Jan 1935), 391 = ANS 654 (Newell Bequest) = HN Italy 2486 (same obv. die, diff. rev. controls). Only three others in ACSearch: Nomos e-23, 132; M&M (DE) e-49, 32 (same dies as ANS); Bertolami e-32, 137 = e-64, 115 (diff. rev. die).
Provenance: Ex-Elvira Clain-Stefanelli (1914-2001) Collection (formerly “Demarete Collection,” cataloged by Stack’s); Naville 38 (10 Mar 2018), Lot 41 (unsold). Published in E. Clain-Stefanelli’s (1987), “On Some Fractional Silver Coinages of Sicily and Magna Graecia during the Fifth Century,” RBN 133: p. 39-64, Pl. 8-13.
Notes: Very rare denomination (the “larger” AR Litra less so), apparently unique control symbols. All known examples share one obv. die.