The New York Sale
Auction 30 9 January 2013
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
ANCIENT COINS. GREEK. Sicily, Syracuse, Dionysios I (c.405-367 B.C.), Silver Tetradrachm, 17.15g, 12h. Signed on both the obverse and reverse by the artist Kimon, struck c.405-400 B.C. Head of Arethusa facing, inclined slightly to the left, wearing an ampyx in her hair upon which is the signature K[IMΩ]N (partially visible), and wearing an earring and a necklace, her flowing in long curls and from it emerge four dolphins, ΣΩ on left, outside of the dotted border above can be seen small traces of APEΘOΣA at the edge of the flan. Rev. ΣYPAKOΣIΩ[N] (in the exergue), charioteer, wearing a long chiton and holding a kentron and the reins, driving a fast quadriga left, Nike flies above to right to crown the charioteer, the signature KIMΩN on the exergual line, an ear of barley in the exergue (Tudeer 80c (V29/R53) (this coin); Jameson 822 (this coin); Rizzo, pl. XLVIII, 11 (this obverse die), 10 (this reverse die); Boehringer, 'Rekonstruktion des Schatzfundes von Ognina 1923', SNR 57, 1978, pl. 37, 297 (these dies); H. Cahn, 'Arethusa Soteira', in Essays Carson-Jenkins, 1b (these dies); de Luynes 1226 (these dies); Boston 417 (these dies); Kraay – Hirmer, pl. 45, 123 (this obverse die), pl. 44, 122 (this reverse die)). Struck from dies of the greatest beauty engraved by a celebrated master artist of the late 5th Century B.C. Of the highest classical beauty, with a very attractive cabinet tone, very fine to good very fine. Extremely rare and one of the most famous of all ancient Greek coins.
This coin published:
'Die Tetradrachmenprägung von Syrakus in der Periode der signierenden Künstler', L. Tudeer (ZfN, Berlin, 1913), p. 57, 80c.
'Syracuse, ses monnaies d'argent et d'or au point de vue artistique', Comte A. Duchastel (London, 1898), 89.
'Collection R. Jameson, Monnaies Grècques Antiques' (Paris, 1913-1932), 822, illustrated on pl. XLI.
'Wealth of the Ancient World' (Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, 1983), 82.
Ex F.S. Benson Collection, Sotheby's, 8 February 1909, lot 347
Ex R. Jameson Collection, 822
Ex S. Weintraub Collection
Ex Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection, Sotheby's, New York, 19 June 1990, lot 82
This sublime coin displays the very finest talent of the master artist Kimon and this pair of dies is without doubt one of his greatest achievements. The head of Arethusa, brought here to the obverse of the coin and set in stunning facing majesty, is both arresting and at the same time serene. Her eyes stare longingly out from the composition, providing the viewer with a genuine sense of the divine and other-worldly. Then, outside of this peaceful gaze, the viewer is overwhelmed by a surprising amount of activity. Her hair flows wildly out behind her and down towards her shoulders and, from this busy arrangement, we can see dolphins emerging into view. These creatures seem almost to be playfully moving to and fro between the locks of her hair. The reverse of the coin is full of animation and energy, with the quadriga viewed in three-quarter perspective. The horses are rearing and tossing their heads in the heat of the moment as they speed towards their point of victory. This issue is without doubt one of the most important of the late 5th Century B.C.
Estimate: $100,000
This coin published:
'Die Tetradrachmenprägung von Syrakus in der Periode der signierenden Künstler', L. Tudeer (ZfN, Berlin, 1913), p. 57, 80c.
'Syracuse, ses monnaies d'argent et d'or au point de vue artistique', Comte A. Duchastel (London, 1898), 89.
'Collection R. Jameson, Monnaies Grècques Antiques' (Paris, 1913-1932), 822, illustrated on pl. XLI.
'Wealth of the Ancient World' (Kimbell Art Museum, Fort Worth, 1983), 82.
Ex F.S. Benson Collection, Sotheby's, 8 February 1909, lot 347
Ex R. Jameson Collection, 822
Ex S. Weintraub Collection
Ex Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection, Sotheby's, New York, 19 June 1990, lot 82
This sublime coin displays the very finest talent of the master artist Kimon and this pair of dies is without doubt one of his greatest achievements. The head of Arethusa, brought here to the obverse of the coin and set in stunning facing majesty, is both arresting and at the same time serene. Her eyes stare longingly out from the composition, providing the viewer with a genuine sense of the divine and other-worldly. Then, outside of this peaceful gaze, the viewer is overwhelmed by a surprising amount of activity. Her hair flows wildly out behind her and down towards her shoulders and, from this busy arrangement, we can see dolphins emerging into view. These creatures seem almost to be playfully moving to and fro between the locks of her hair. The reverse of the coin is full of animation and energy, with the quadriga viewed in three-quarter perspective. The horses are rearing and tossing their heads in the heat of the moment as they speed towards their point of victory. This issue is without doubt one of the most important of the late 5th Century B.C.
Estimate: $100,000