Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 116 1 Oct 2019
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Syracuse
Tetradrachm circa 405-400, AR 16.98 g. Fast quadriga driven l. by charioteer, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying r. to crown him. In exergue, dolphin to l. Rev. ΣYPA – [KOΣ] – I – Ω – N Head of Arethusa l., hair bound with sphendone over which several tresses fly back. Around, four dolphins: two swimming l. downwards and two r., upwards. Boston 443 (these dies). Dewing 860. Tudeer 99. Coins, Artists, and Tyrants 99m (this coin).
Rare and possibly the finest specimen known of this type. Struck on an exceptionally
broad flan and unusually complete. Lovely iridescent tone and good extremely fine
Ex NAC 18, 2000, 129; LHS 102, 2008, 92; NAC 54, 2010, 58 and Roma Numismatics II, 2011, 116 sales. From the Star collection.
This tetradrachm represents what may be the finest known specimen of this remarkable type, which was also struck in the celebrated period of the signing artists at Syracuse. The quadriga now seems to be travelling at a slightly slower rate of speed than on the preceding coin, probably due to the fact that the second horse from the left seems to have slipped its reign and turns its head back. While this makes one wonder initially whether the charioteer will still make it to the end of the race in one piece the presence of Nike immediately removes the uncertainty. The depiction of Arethusa strikes out in a new and dramatic direction. Whereas previously the nymph of Syracuse was commonly shown with her hair bound by a taenia, sphendone, or sakkos or otherwise coiffed to hang, here she is depicted with her hair trailing upwards in curls. This most certainly does not represent the nymph with her hair spiked with some sort of ancient hair gel (she was no Celt after all!), but rather depicts her fully immersed in her watery element with her locks of hair billowing upward in the current. It is a truly triumphant image of Arethusa accompanying the surrounding dolphins beneath the water.
Tetradrachm circa 405-400, AR 16.98 g. Fast quadriga driven l. by charioteer, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying r. to crown him. In exergue, dolphin to l. Rev. ΣYPA – [KOΣ] – I – Ω – N Head of Arethusa l., hair bound with sphendone over which several tresses fly back. Around, four dolphins: two swimming l. downwards and two r., upwards. Boston 443 (these dies). Dewing 860. Tudeer 99. Coins, Artists, and Tyrants 99m (this coin).
Rare and possibly the finest specimen known of this type. Struck on an exceptionally
broad flan and unusually complete. Lovely iridescent tone and good extremely fine
Ex NAC 18, 2000, 129; LHS 102, 2008, 92; NAC 54, 2010, 58 and Roma Numismatics II, 2011, 116 sales. From the Star collection.
This tetradrachm represents what may be the finest known specimen of this remarkable type, which was also struck in the celebrated period of the signing artists at Syracuse. The quadriga now seems to be travelling at a slightly slower rate of speed than on the preceding coin, probably due to the fact that the second horse from the left seems to have slipped its reign and turns its head back. While this makes one wonder initially whether the charioteer will still make it to the end of the race in one piece the presence of Nike immediately removes the uncertainty. The depiction of Arethusa strikes out in a new and dramatic direction. Whereas previously the nymph of Syracuse was commonly shown with her hair bound by a taenia, sphendone, or sakkos or otherwise coiffed to hang, here she is depicted with her hair trailing upwards in curls. This most certainly does not represent the nymph with her hair spiked with some sort of ancient hair gel (she was no Celt after all!), but rather depicts her fully immersed in her watery element with her locks of hair billowing upward in the current. It is a truly triumphant image of Arethusa accompanying the surrounding dolphins beneath the water.