Sicilian Bronze Trias from Camarina (about 2425-2435 years ago)
This bronze coin was minted in the Greek colony of Camarina on the southern coast of Sicily during the turbulent period of the Peloponnesian War. As a modest denomination in the city's bronze currency system, the trias would have been used for everyday small transactions in local markets.
Coin Description:
Front side: Gorgon's head (Medusa) facing forward with snakes for hair
Back side: Owl standing right with head facing forward, holding lizard in left claw; Greek letters "KAMA" (abbreviated city name); three pellets (dots) in exergue (bottom section) indicating value
Technical Details:
Bronze composition, weighing 3.64 grams
Trias denomination (worth 1/3 of a unit in the Sicilian Greek bronze system)
References: Grose-2157, Sear-1062 var.
No certification mentioned
Date: 413-405 BCE
Condition: Not specified
Historical Significance:
Camarina was a prosperous Greek colony on Sicily's southern coast that frequently found itself caught between the competing powers of Syracuse, Carthage, and Athens. This coin was struck during the city's final period of independence shortly after the disastrous Athenian expedition to Sicily. The gorgon was a common protective symbol in Greek culture, while the owl with lizard was likely connected to local religious beliefs. The three dots identify this as a trias (third) denomination.
This bronze coin was minted in the Greek colony of Camarina on the southern coast of Sicily during the turbulent period of the Peloponnesian War. As a modest denomination in the city's bronze currency system, the trias would have been used for everyday small transactions in local markets.
Coin Description:
Front side: Gorgon's head (Medusa) facing forward with snakes for hair
Back side: Owl standing right with head facing forward, holding lizard in left claw; Greek letters "KAMA" (abbreviated city name); three pellets (dots) in exergue (bottom section) indicating value
Technical Details:
Bronze composition, weighing 3.64 grams
Trias denomination (worth 1/3 of a unit in the Sicilian Greek bronze system)
References: Grose-2157, Sear-1062 var.
No certification mentioned
Date: 413-405 BCE
Condition: Not specified
Historical Significance:
Camarina was a prosperous Greek colony on Sicily's southern coast that frequently found itself caught between the competing powers of Syracuse, Carthage, and Athens. This coin was struck during the city's final period of independence shortly after the disastrous Athenian expedition to Sicily. The gorgon was a common protective symbol in Greek culture, while the owl with lizard was likely connected to local religious beliefs. The three dots identify this as a trias (third) denomination.
This bronze coin was minted in the Greek colony of Camarina on the southern coast of Sicily during the turbulent period of the Peloponnesian War. As a modest denomination in the city's bronze currency system, the trias would have been used for everyday small transactions in local markets.
Coin Description:
Front side: Gorgon's head (Medusa) facing forward with snakes for hair
Back side: Owl standing right with head facing forward, holding lizard in left claw; Greek letters "KAMA" (abbreviated city name); three pellets (dots) in exergue (bottom section) indicating value
Technical Details:
Bronze composition, weighing 3.64 grams
Trias denomination (worth 1/3 of a unit in the Sicilian Greek bronze system)
References: Grose-2157, Sear-1062 var.
No certification mentioned
Date: 413-405 BCE
Condition: Not specified
Historical Significance:
Camarina was a prosperous Greek colony on Sicily's southern coast that frequently found itself caught between the competing powers of Syracuse, Carthage, and Athens. This coin was struck during the city's final period of independence shortly after the disastrous Athenian expedition to Sicily. The gorgon was a common protective symbol in Greek culture, while the owl with lizard was likely connected to local religious beliefs. The three dots identify this as a trias (third) denomination.
