Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3041 Sess. 4 13 August 2015
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Ancients
SICILY. Syracuse. Time of Agathocles (317-289 BC). AV decadrachm, third-stater or tetrobol (13mm, 12.83 gm, 12h). Struck ca. 317-310 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left / No legend, charioteer driving racing biga right, holding kentron and reins; triskeles below, monogram in exergue. Bérend pl. 9, 11. BAR Issue 30. HGC 2, --, cf. 1286 variant (hemidrachm of 2.15 grams, Φ in exergue). SNG ANS 706 var. (Φ in exergue). Gulbenkian 337. An extremely rare denomination. NGC Choice AU★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Ex James A. Ferrendelli Collection (Triton VII, 13 January 2004), lot 110.The wealthiest of all Greek city-states, Syracuse issued an extensive coinage in gold and used it to recruit mercenaries from all over the Mediterranean to secure its dominance over Sicily. This recruitment reached its peak during the reign of Agathocles, 317-289 BC, who waged nearly continuous war against Carthage. His gold coin designs were patterned on the ubiquitous gold staters of Philip II of Macedon, although the weight standard differed from that of Macedon and there was a wider range of denominations issued, often rather confusing. This piece, weighing 2.83 grams, has been variously described as a gold decadrachm, tetrobol, third-stater, and two-thirds drachm. A search of auction records indicates this is the only coin of this denomination to have been offered in auction for the past 15 years.
Estimate: 8000-10000 USD
SICILY. Syracuse. Time of Agathocles (317-289 BC). AV decadrachm, third-stater or tetrobol (13mm, 12.83 gm, 12h). Struck ca. 317-310 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left / No legend, charioteer driving racing biga right, holding kentron and reins; triskeles below, monogram in exergue. Bérend pl. 9, 11. BAR Issue 30. HGC 2, --, cf. 1286 variant (hemidrachm of 2.15 grams, Φ in exergue). SNG ANS 706 var. (Φ in exergue). Gulbenkian 337. An extremely rare denomination. NGC Choice AU★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Ex James A. Ferrendelli Collection (Triton VII, 13 January 2004), lot 110.The wealthiest of all Greek city-states, Syracuse issued an extensive coinage in gold and used it to recruit mercenaries from all over the Mediterranean to secure its dominance over Sicily. This recruitment reached its peak during the reign of Agathocles, 317-289 BC, who waged nearly continuous war against Carthage. His gold coin designs were patterned on the ubiquitous gold staters of Philip II of Macedon, although the weight standard differed from that of Macedon and there was a wider range of denominations issued, often rather confusing. This piece, weighing 2.83 grams, has been variously described as a gold decadrachm, tetrobol, third-stater, and two-thirds drachm. A search of auction records indicates this is the only coin of this denomination to have been offered in auction for the past 15 years.
Estimate: 8000-10000 USD