Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XVIII 29 Sep 2019
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Sicily, Syracuse AV 60 Litrai - Dekadrachm. Time of Hiketas II, circa 279-278 BC. Head of Persephone left, wearing grain wreath, single-pendant earring and pearl necklace; [ΣYPAKOΣ]IΩN before, cornucopiae behind / Nike, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving fast biga right; thunderbolt above, Φ before horses, K below; [E]ΠI IKETA in exergue. Jameson -; Gulbenkian -; Rizzo -; SNG ANS -; BMC -; Buttrey, 'The Morgantina Gold Hoard and the Coinage of Hicetas' in NC 13, 1973, pp. 6-7, Obv. 4/Rev. N = BM Photographic File. 4.27g, 17mm, 7h.
Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, one example cited by Buttrey but otherwise unknown.
From a private European collection, outside of Italy prior to December 1992.
After Agathokles' assassination by Maenon, the latter put the former tyrant's grandson to death and seized command of his army that was then besieging Aitna, directing it instead against Syracuse. Hiketas was entrusted with the command of a sizeable army by the Syracusans to defend the city. Despite later seizing supreme power, Hiketas apparently never styled himself as king, as evidenced on the reverse of this coin. During his reign he defeated Phintias of Akragas and took that city, but when he turned against the Carthaginians he was badly beaten at the river Terias and expelled from Syracuse. This coin was produced to pay for his ill-fated campaign against the Carthaginians in 279. It is interesting that after his defeat the Syracusans continued to issue gold coins of his types but with his name erased in the die.
Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, one example cited by Buttrey but otherwise unknown.
From a private European collection, outside of Italy prior to December 1992.
After Agathokles' assassination by Maenon, the latter put the former tyrant's grandson to death and seized command of his army that was then besieging Aitna, directing it instead against Syracuse. Hiketas was entrusted with the command of a sizeable army by the Syracusans to defend the city. Despite later seizing supreme power, Hiketas apparently never styled himself as king, as evidenced on the reverse of this coin. During his reign he defeated Phintias of Akragas and took that city, but when he turned against the Carthaginians he was badly beaten at the river Terias and expelled from Syracuse. This coin was produced to pay for his ill-fated campaign against the Carthaginians in 279. It is interesting that after his defeat the Syracusans continued to issue gold coins of his types but with his name erased in the die.