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CICF Signature Sale 3040 9-10 April 2015
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SICILY. Syracuse. Time of Dionysius I (406-367 BC). AR decadrachm (34mm, 42.99 gm, 9h). Reverse die signed by Kimon, ca. 405-400 BC. Charioteer driving racing quadriga left in three-quarter view, third horse with head lowered; the charioteer holds reins and kentron (goad); Nike flying right above to crown charioteer with laurel wreath; in exergue, military arms, including aspis (shield), greaves, cuirass, and crested Phrygian helmet, all joined by horizontal spear, ΑΘΛΑ ("prizes") below / [ΣΥΡΑ]ΚΟΣΙ-ΩΝ, head of Arethusa left, wearing pendant earring and pearl necklace, curly hair confined by ampyx and net sphendone, die engraver's signature KI on ampyx, four dolphins around. Jongkees 7 (B/ζ). SNG Lloyd 1410 (same dies). McClean 2733 (same dies). Obverse flan flaw affecting nearest horse; reverse slightly double-struck, minor scrape on neck and "dimple" on cheek, otherwise deeply struck in exceptionally sound metal from dies of exquisite style. A fine representation of one of the ancient world's greatest numismatic masterpieces, with a distinguished pedigree. NGC (photo certificate) AU 4/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, flan flaw. From the Frederick J. Woodbridge Collection; ex R. de St. Marceaux Collection (Ars Classica-Naville XVI, 3 July 1933), lot 766; Roberto Allatini Collection (Ars Classica-Naville XIII, 27 June 1928), lot 335. Syracuse had been striking its own coins for about a century when, circa 405 BC, it began issuing the stunning series of silver decadrachms by Kimon and Euainetos. These huge, impressive coins were struck in considerable numbers, probably to pay the Greek mercenary soldiers who flooded Sicily to fight the expanding power of Carthage. They stand at the pinnacle of Greek numismatic achievement and served as a paradigm for Hellenistic art in the ages to follow. Kimon's decadrachm design, as exemplified by this impressive piece, features a highly individualized and "ethnic" looking head of Arethusa, clearly modeled on a real-life Greco-Sicilian woman. Her hair is bound in an elaborate jeweled net and a wide hairband, or ampyx, that carries his abbreviated signature (KI). On the obverse, Kimon's four-horse chariot races to the left at breakneck speed while the goddess Nike flies serenely above, reaching out with a laurel wreath to crown the victorious charioteer. Below this scene, in the exergue beneath the ground line, are arrayed the prize trophies – a military cuirass, greaves and a helmet, labeled ΑΘΛΑ ("athla" or prizes, from which the term athlete derives), rendered with unusual detail here due to the fresh die state. This coin has been issued a photo-certificate by NGC. It may be sent in for encapsulation after the auction at the request of the buyer, free of charge. Please e-mail SamS@HA.com if you would like to utilize this option.
Estimate: 30000-40000 USD
SICILY. Syracuse. Time of Dionysius I (406-367 BC). AR decadrachm (34mm, 42.99 gm, 9h). Reverse die signed by Kimon, ca. 405-400 BC. Charioteer driving racing quadriga left in three-quarter view, third horse with head lowered; the charioteer holds reins and kentron (goad); Nike flying right above to crown charioteer with laurel wreath; in exergue, military arms, including aspis (shield), greaves, cuirass, and crested Phrygian helmet, all joined by horizontal spear, ΑΘΛΑ ("prizes") below / [ΣΥΡΑ]ΚΟΣΙ-ΩΝ, head of Arethusa left, wearing pendant earring and pearl necklace, curly hair confined by ampyx and net sphendone, die engraver's signature KI on ampyx, four dolphins around. Jongkees 7 (B/ζ). SNG Lloyd 1410 (same dies). McClean 2733 (same dies). Obverse flan flaw affecting nearest horse; reverse slightly double-struck, minor scrape on neck and "dimple" on cheek, otherwise deeply struck in exceptionally sound metal from dies of exquisite style. A fine representation of one of the ancient world's greatest numismatic masterpieces, with a distinguished pedigree. NGC (photo certificate) AU 4/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, flan flaw. From the Frederick J. Woodbridge Collection; ex R. de St. Marceaux Collection (Ars Classica-Naville XVI, 3 July 1933), lot 766; Roberto Allatini Collection (Ars Classica-Naville XIII, 27 June 1928), lot 335. Syracuse had been striking its own coins for about a century when, circa 405 BC, it began issuing the stunning series of silver decadrachms by Kimon and Euainetos. These huge, impressive coins were struck in considerable numbers, probably to pay the Greek mercenary soldiers who flooded Sicily to fight the expanding power of Carthage. They stand at the pinnacle of Greek numismatic achievement and served as a paradigm for Hellenistic art in the ages to follow. Kimon's decadrachm design, as exemplified by this impressive piece, features a highly individualized and "ethnic" looking head of Arethusa, clearly modeled on a real-life Greco-Sicilian woman. Her hair is bound in an elaborate jeweled net and a wide hairband, or ampyx, that carries his abbreviated signature (KI). On the obverse, Kimon's four-horse chariot races to the left at breakneck speed while the goddess Nike flies serenely above, reaching out with a laurel wreath to crown the victorious charioteer. Below this scene, in the exergue beneath the ground line, are arrayed the prize trophies – a military cuirass, greaves and a helmet, labeled ΑΘΛΑ ("athla" or prizes, from which the term athlete derives), rendered with unusual detail here due to the fresh die state. This coin has been issued a photo-certificate by NGC. It may be sent in for encapsulation after the auction at the request of the buyer, free of charge. Please e-mail SamS@HA.com if you would like to utilize this option.
Estimate: 30000-40000 USD