Numismatica Genevensis SA
Auction 9 14 December 2015
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Italy. Sicily, Syracuse. Dekadrachm, c. 405 - 400 BC, by Kimon. (Silver, 43.17g., 33.7mm). Quadriga racing to left, driven by a charioteer holding the reins in his left hand and a goad with his right; above, Nike flying right to crown the driver; below ground line, panoply of arms (a shield, a cuirass between two greaves and a helmet) arranged on two steps, the lower inscribed ΑΘΛΑ / ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙ-ΩΝ Head of Arethusa to left, wearing a single pendant earring and a pearl necklace, her hair bound in a net behind and with an ampyx inscribed ΚΙ over her forehead; swimming around her head, four dolphins: two opposed before her face, one below her neck and one behind her head. Jongkees 7 a or j (this coin). PCG pl. 17, 66 (same dies). Rizzo pl. L, 5 (same dies). SNG Lloyd 1410 (same dies).
A splendid example of one of the most beautiful coins ever minted. Clear, well struck, beautifully toned and with an excellent pedigree. Extremely fine.
Provenance: Leu 71, 24 October 1997, 80. Collection of Dr. J. H. Judd, Bank Leu 15, 4 May 1976, 118. Judd List 1966, 243. Deaccessioned from the Berlin Cabinet, probably in the late 1930s or early 1940s. Hirsch XXXII, 14 November 1912, 312 (bought on behalf of the Berlin Cabinet for 5050.- M, with Chapman of Philadelphia as the underbidder – Berlin had previously tried for lot 310, which went to Chapman for 5325.- M).
This coin was struck by order of Dionysios I, the great tyrant of Syracuse (405-367); it formed part of a relatively small issue of dekadrachms struck with dies by Kimon, which came before those of a much larger group by his contemporary Euainetos. As a whole these are very possibly the most impressive and beautiful coins ever made for general circulation. Kimon's first dekadrachm reverse die showed a youthful, innocent-looking Arethusa, but this design seems not to have been approved for further use and was replaced by the much more mature and majestic woman we see here. Whether either of these two 'portraits' are based on real women cannot be known, but the possibility is there. It would be intriguing to suggest that the two heads are based on those of Dionysios' two wives: Doris of Locri and Aristomache of Syracuse, who he married in a double ceremony in 397 (but, alas, the marriage took place too late to have inspired the coins). In fact, despite their beauty, these magnificent coins were doubtless struck as a truly impressive way of paying the mercenaries Dionysios relied on to maintain him in power!
A splendid example of one of the most beautiful coins ever minted. Clear, well struck, beautifully toned and with an excellent pedigree. Extremely fine.
Provenance: Leu 71, 24 October 1997, 80. Collection of Dr. J. H. Judd, Bank Leu 15, 4 May 1976, 118. Judd List 1966, 243. Deaccessioned from the Berlin Cabinet, probably in the late 1930s or early 1940s. Hirsch XXXII, 14 November 1912, 312 (bought on behalf of the Berlin Cabinet for 5050.- M, with Chapman of Philadelphia as the underbidder – Berlin had previously tried for lot 310, which went to Chapman for 5325.- M).
This coin was struck by order of Dionysios I, the great tyrant of Syracuse (405-367); it formed part of a relatively small issue of dekadrachms struck with dies by Kimon, which came before those of a much larger group by his contemporary Euainetos. As a whole these are very possibly the most impressive and beautiful coins ever made for general circulation. Kimon's first dekadrachm reverse die showed a youthful, innocent-looking Arethusa, but this design seems not to have been approved for further use and was replaced by the much more mature and majestic woman we see here. Whether either of these two 'portraits' are based on real women cannot be known, but the possibility is there. It would be intriguing to suggest that the two heads are based on those of Dionysios' two wives: Doris of Locri and Aristomache of Syracuse, who he married in a double ceremony in 397 (but, alas, the marriage took place too late to have inspired the coins). In fact, despite their beauty, these magnificent coins were doubtless struck as a truly impressive way of paying the mercenaries Dionysios relied on to maintain him in power!