Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3056 3 Aug 2017
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SICILY. Syracuse. Time of Dionysius I (405-370 BC). AR decadrachm (38mm, 41.24 gm, 6h). NGC (photo certificate) Choice AU 5/5 - 2/5, repaired. Struck ca. 400-390 BC. Unsigned dies by the "shell engraver" in the style of Euainetos. Charioteer, in flowing chiton and holding goad and reins, driving racing quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, about to crown charioteer with wreath; in exergue, panoply of arms: cuirass between two greaves, with Phrygian helmet to right; all within a border of dots / Head of Arethusa left, wearing wreath of reeds, triple-pendant earring, and necklace; ΣΥ-ΡΑ-Κ-Ο-ΣΙΩΝ above, scallop shell behind nape of neck chin, four dolphins swimming around. Gallatin R.XI/E.I. (citing 12 examples). Jameson Collection 829 (same dies). Weber Collection 686 (same dies). Minor repair of reverse delamination on horse's head, with an associated discoloration in left field, otherwise a simply spectacular decadrachm, struck on an immense flan from dies of phenomenal style, with virtually no die rust and terrific eye-appeal.
From The Northern California Collection. Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group, March 2001.
One of the largest silver denominations minted in classical antiquity, the decadrachm of Syracuse remains one of the most alluring and celebrated coins in all history. The immense size of this 10 drachm denomination offered the engravers of Syracuse the scope to fully display their mastery of the medium. After a brief "trial run" in the 460s BC, the decadrachm in was reintroduced in Syracuse by the tyrant Dionysius following his assumption to power in 405 BC, testament to his grandiose vision to make Syracuse the foremost city in the Greek world. Two of the greatest local numismatic artists, Kimon and Euainetos, produced dies for the new series, each bringing their own distinctive style to the already iconic emblems of Syracuse: A racing four-horse chariot (quadriga) backed with a head of the beautiful Arethusa, nymph of the spring of Ortygia, surrounded by frolicking dolphins. Both engravers took great pride in their designs and signed their dies, much in the manner of a modern artist; both decadrachm types also include dies that have symbols (in this case a scallop shell behid the head) instead of a signature, perhaps indicating they were engraved by apprentices working under the masters, closely copying their work. This decadrachm in particular is both beautifully engraved and decisively struck on an exceptionally broad 38mm flan. A minor inclusion of cuprite metal on the reverse on the head of the rearmost horse resulted in a small delamination which has been expertly stabilized through use of a silver amalgam; otherwise the coin boasts remarkably smooth and satiny surfaces unhindered by the die rust, corrosion, and surface marks that often mar Syracuse decadrachms (the NGC surface rating of 2/5 and the "repaired" designation give undue weight, in our view, to a minor bit of conservation). In short we have a truly impressive and worthy example of one of the classic coins of antiquity.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 70000-80000 USD
SICILY. Syracuse. Time of Dionysius I (405-370 BC). AR decadrachm (38mm, 41.24 gm, 6h). NGC (photo certificate) Choice AU 5/5 - 2/5, repaired. Struck ca. 400-390 BC. Unsigned dies by the "shell engraver" in the style of Euainetos. Charioteer, in flowing chiton and holding goad and reins, driving racing quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, about to crown charioteer with wreath; in exergue, panoply of arms: cuirass between two greaves, with Phrygian helmet to right; all within a border of dots / Head of Arethusa left, wearing wreath of reeds, triple-pendant earring, and necklace; ΣΥ-ΡΑ-Κ-Ο-ΣΙΩΝ above, scallop shell behind nape of neck chin, four dolphins swimming around. Gallatin R.XI/E.I. (citing 12 examples). Jameson Collection 829 (same dies). Weber Collection 686 (same dies). Minor repair of reverse delamination on horse's head, with an associated discoloration in left field, otherwise a simply spectacular decadrachm, struck on an immense flan from dies of phenomenal style, with virtually no die rust and terrific eye-appeal.
From The Northern California Collection. Acquired from Classical Numismatic Group, March 2001.
One of the largest silver denominations minted in classical antiquity, the decadrachm of Syracuse remains one of the most alluring and celebrated coins in all history. The immense size of this 10 drachm denomination offered the engravers of Syracuse the scope to fully display their mastery of the medium. After a brief "trial run" in the 460s BC, the decadrachm in was reintroduced in Syracuse by the tyrant Dionysius following his assumption to power in 405 BC, testament to his grandiose vision to make Syracuse the foremost city in the Greek world. Two of the greatest local numismatic artists, Kimon and Euainetos, produced dies for the new series, each bringing their own distinctive style to the already iconic emblems of Syracuse: A racing four-horse chariot (quadriga) backed with a head of the beautiful Arethusa, nymph of the spring of Ortygia, surrounded by frolicking dolphins. Both engravers took great pride in their designs and signed their dies, much in the manner of a modern artist; both decadrachm types also include dies that have symbols (in this case a scallop shell behid the head) instead of a signature, perhaps indicating they were engraved by apprentices working under the masters, closely copying their work. This decadrachm in particular is both beautifully engraved and decisively struck on an exceptionally broad 38mm flan. A minor inclusion of cuprite metal on the reverse on the head of the rearmost horse resulted in a small delamination which has been expertly stabilized through use of a silver amalgam; otherwise the coin boasts remarkably smooth and satiny surfaces unhindered by the die rust, corrosion, and surface marks that often mar Syracuse decadrachms (the NGC surface rating of 2/5 and the "repaired" designation give undue weight, in our view, to a minor bit of conservation). In short we have a truly impressive and worthy example of one of the classic coins of antiquity.
HID02901242017
Estimate: 70000-80000 USD