Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XV 5 Apr 2018
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Sicily, Panormos (as Ziz) AR Tetradrachm. Circa 340 BC. Charioteer, wearing long chiton and holding kentron in right hand and reins in left, driving galloping quadriga to left; above, Nike flying to right holding wreath, star of eight rays before, ZIZ in Punic script in exergue / Head of Kore-Persephone to left, wearing wreath of wheat leaves, triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; four dolphins around; swastika below chin. Basel 394 (same obverse die); Jenkins, Punic 70 (same obverse die); Rizzo pl. LXVI, 1 (same obverse die); Jameson 691 (same obverse die); SNG Lloyd 1587 (same obverse die). 17.02g, 26mm, 9h.
Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare.
From the collection of C.S., Germany, purchased before 1991.
This type is one of the most fêted examples of Siculo-Punic coinage, having been engraved by a master die-cutter in a style of great artistic merit. The issue, along with certain other contemporaries, was inspired by the famous Syracusan dekadrachms of Euainetos, the principle details of which have been faithfully reproduced here in slightly miniaturised fashion; indeed, Jenkins notes that this reverse die is one of four Siculo-Punic dies inspired directly by Euainetos' masterful Arethusa portraits. Apart from the replacement of the exergual details by the ethnik 'ZIZ', two principal details have been added to the composition. Firstly, the star before the chariot is, as noted again by Jenkins, not a derivation from any type at Syracuse or indeed elsewhere, and appears to be an artistic flourish on the part of the engraver. Secondly, the swastika motif on the obverse is also arguably without parallel in the dekadrachm series; this appears to be a detail added in order to further identify this as a coin of Panormos, which was known to have made quite extensive use of this symbol on both its fractional and tetradrachm coinage.
Good Very Fine. Extremely Rare.
From the collection of C.S., Germany, purchased before 1991.
This type is one of the most fêted examples of Siculo-Punic coinage, having been engraved by a master die-cutter in a style of great artistic merit. The issue, along with certain other contemporaries, was inspired by the famous Syracusan dekadrachms of Euainetos, the principle details of which have been faithfully reproduced here in slightly miniaturised fashion; indeed, Jenkins notes that this reverse die is one of four Siculo-Punic dies inspired directly by Euainetos' masterful Arethusa portraits. Apart from the replacement of the exergual details by the ethnik 'ZIZ', two principal details have been added to the composition. Firstly, the star before the chariot is, as noted again by Jenkins, not a derivation from any type at Syracuse or indeed elsewhere, and appears to be an artistic flourish on the part of the engraver. Secondly, the swastika motif on the obverse is also arguably without parallel in the dekadrachm series; this appears to be a detail added in order to further identify this as a coin of Panormos, which was known to have made quite extensive use of this symbol on both its fractional and tetradrachm coinage.