Sicily. Syracuse. 485-480 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17,23g, 9h). Boehringer 45; Jameson 742. Old cabinet tone. Perfectly centered and struck on a broad flan. A lovely and poetic example of late archaic style. Choice extremely fine. From the B.H. collection; Bank Leu 1981 (28) lot 38

"Time goes. All die. Even marble feels death's dews.
Agrigentum's but a shade, and Syracuse
Sleeps under the shroud of her indulgent sky;

And naught but love-wrought metal undecayed,
On silver medals, guards in flower the high,
Immortal beauty of Sicilian maid"

Jose-Maria de Heredia, Antique medal