The coinage of Gela often exhibits a river god. The geographic location of the city undoubtedly tied it closely to the sea trade and the Greeks being polytheistic worshiped many different gods. The gods were most often linked in some way to the chief sources of trade or commerce of that city. Gela was founded in 688 BC by Greek colonists from Rhodes and Crete. As with many port cities it had times of massive upheaval, as well as periods of prosperity. At the time this coin was struck Gela was strong. Many of its important citizens that had departed for Syracuse for a time returned to Gela and it was believed that this was a period of democracy for the city. Unfortunately the city was destroyed in 405 BC by the invading North African Carthaginians. The survivors took refuge in the city of Syracuse only returning some 20 years later to their homes.

Interesting to note is that Gela was the first Italian beach that the Allies arrived at in 1943 during the invasion of Sicily in WWII.