Coins, Tokens and Historical Medals

ITALY, Giovanni Meli, c. 1815, a bronze medal by F. Stuckhart, laureate bust left, rev. head of Arethusa left surrounded by dolphins (after the Syracusan Tetradrachms of Eukleidas), 45mm (Ricciardi 109). Very fine and very rare £80-£100

Giovanni Meli (1740-1815) was born in Palermo. He was Professor of Chemistry at the University but is best known for his poems and verses in the Sicilian dialect, so much so that a marble statue of him was erected during his lifetime