Leontinoi / Leontini – now Lentini

Leontinoi was founded by colonists from Naxos in 729 BC on a site originally held by the Sicels

In 494 BC, the city was reduced to subject status by Hippocrates of Gela, who made his ally Aenesidemus its tyrant.

In 476 BC, Hieron of Syracuse moved the inhabitants from Catana and Naxos to Leontini.

 

In Roman times Leontonoi seems to have been of small importance, and the Saracens destroyed the city in 847 AD. In 1693 Leontinoi was almost completely ruined by the devastating earthquake.

 

Roma Nusmatics: Sicily, Leontinoi AR Tetradrachm. Circa 455-440 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Lion's head to right, with open jaws and tongue protruding; four barley grains and LEONTINON around. Boehringer, Studies Price, pl. 11, 35 (same obv. die, rev. die not listed); SNG ANS 220-221 (same obv. die, rev. die not listed); Rizzo pl. XXIII, 2 (same obv. die); Gulbenkian 215 (same obv. die); Boston MFA 76 (same obv. die) & 77 (same rev. die); HGC 2, 667. 17.37g, 25mm, 4h. Good Extremely Fine; sharply struck. A rarely seen reverse die. This coin published in H.B. Andersen, Apollo to Apollo: The Hunt for the Divine and Eternal Beauty (2019); Ex Ancient Miniature Art Collection; Ex Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung, Auction 129, 8 March 2004, lot 41.

 

Silver tetradrachm: Head of Apollo / lion's head.
Leontinoi, 445-435 B.C.
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.