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Sicily, Acragas, Litra

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Sicily, Acragas, Litra (obverse) Sicily, Acragas, Litra (reverse)

The crab was the symbol of the ancient Sicilian city of Acragas. In combination with an eagle, it was depicted on the city's very first coins already. The eagle as the king of the skies and the crab – it is demonstrably a fresh water species – symbolize the site of the city between heaven and earth. For Acragas (nowadays Agrigent) was built on an elevated plain surrounded by rivers and hence literally drifted between water and sky.

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Signet Sunflower Foundation