Watch List notes:

SICILY. Syracuse. Second Democracy, 466-405 BC. Drachm (Silver, 19 mm, 3.95 g, 4 h), circa 410-405. Head of Arethusa to left, wearing hook earring and pearl necklace and with her hair bound by an ampyx in the front and a sphendone in the back; around, four dolphins. Rev. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Leukaspis, nude but for helmet, advancing right, holding spear in his right hand and shield in his left; at his feet, sword; before, dead lamb lying on its back. Basel 482 (this coin). HGC 2, 1363 (this coin illustrated). Jameson 804 (same dies). Rizzo pl. XLVII, 5 (same dies). Extremely rare. A beautifully toned and well centered example of this very difficult issue. Die break on the reverse, otherwise, very fine.


From the Kleinkunst Collection and from the collection of A. D. Moretti, Numismatica Ars Classica 13, 8 October 1998, 482.

Somewhat surprisingly, the Leukaspis-drachm with Arethusa to the left on the obverse is much rarer than the more famous type with a facing Athena: it is in fact among the great rarities in the late 5th century silver series of Syracuse.