SICILY. Tauromenion. Circa 339/8-336 BC. Hemilitron

SICILY. Tauromenion. Circa 339/8-336 BC. Hemilitron (Bronze, 26.5 mm, 18.41 g, 1 h). ΑΡΧΑΓΕΤΑΣ Laureate head of Apollo Archagetas to left; below neck truncation, broken bar alpha. Rev. TAYPOM-[E]NITA[N] Man-headed bull standing to left, the river god of Tauromenion; below left, bunch of grapes. Buceti 1b (this coin). Calciati 4. Campana 1b. Castrizio Series III, 1β. HGC 2, 1577. Rare. With an attractive dark green patina. Good very fine.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 21, 17 May 2001, 131.

Apollo Archagetas, Apollo the Founder, was originally worshipped at Naxos, where he had a famous and important altar. Dionysios I, the ruler of Syracuse, destroyed Naxos in 403 and drove its inhabitants into exile. As a replacement the Siculi formed a new settlement on Mount Tauros - Tauromenion, modern Taormina - in which, in 358 BC, the Naxian exiles were resettled, bringing Apollo Archagetas with them.