Nomos AG
Auction 18 5 May 2019
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SICILY. Syracuse. Dionysios I, 405-367 BC. Hemilitron (Bronze, 16 mm, 3.33 g), struck circa 405-400. Head of the nymph Arethusa to left, wearing earring and necklace, hair bound in ampyx and sphendone; to right, behind Arethusa's neck, olive sprig. Rev. ΣΥΡΑ Dolphin swimming to right above shell. CNS 24. SNG ANS 420. Well-struck and attractive, with a green patina. With the remains of the original casting spur and with some striking flatness on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.
The appearance of the original casting spur on the edge of this coin is most unusual, albeit certainly not unknown: normally it would have been trimmed away after the flans were cast, but before they were struck. The only explanation for its appearance here must be that, when this coin was struck, the mint was in a desperate hurry to produce small change for Dionysos I's soldiers. Another spurred example, from what must be a closely contemporary issue of the same types, recently appeared as Heritage 3067, 2018, 30012: it was described as unique, given an estimate of $800-1200, and sold for a somewhat supernatural $1700. The present example is better.
The appearance of the original casting spur on the edge of this coin is most unusual, albeit certainly not unknown: normally it would have been trimmed away after the flans were cast, but before they were struck. The only explanation for its appearance here must be that, when this coin was struck, the mint was in a desperate hurry to produce small change for Dionysos I's soldiers. Another spurred example, from what must be a closely contemporary issue of the same types, recently appeared as Heritage 3067, 2018, 30012: it was described as unique, given an estimate of $800-1200, and sold for a somewhat supernatural $1700. The present example is better.