Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 124 23 Jun 2021
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Syracuse.
Tetradrachm, work of the Master of the Large Arethusa head circa 485-480, AR 17.00 g. Slow quadriga driven r. by charioteer, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying r. to crown horses. Rev. ΣVR – A[koppa] – OΣI – ON Head of Arethusa r., hair bound with diadem-shaped band, wearing earring and necklace with pendants; dotted neck truncation. Around, four dolphins swimming clockwise. SNG ANS 10 (this obverse die). Gillet 529 (this coin). Kraay-Hirmer pl. 24,75. Boehringer 49.
Very rare. A magnificent portrait of masterly style struck on a very broad
flan with a superb old cabinet tone, obverse from a slightly rusty die,
otherwise about extremely fine / extremely fine
Ex Leu-M&M 28 May1974, Kunstfreund, 59; NAC 9, 1996, 203; NAC 18, 2000, 117; Gemini V, 2009, 341 and NAC 54, 2010, 50 sales. Privately purchased from NAC. From the Charles Gillet and A.D.M. collection.
The slow quadriga had already been introduced as the standard obverse type for Syracusan tetradrachms by the end of the sixth or the beginning of the fifth century BC, but the head of Arethusa only evolved into a full reverse type in the early fifth century BC. Previously, if she was depicted at all, she appeared within a small circular punch in the center of a main incuse square reverse punch. However, once she had developed into a full type, she made a truly dramatic appearance, as can be seen from this stunning piece attributed to the unnamed artist known as the Master of the Large Arethusa Head. The reverse features a large head of Arethusa so perfect in its Archaic style that it seems to have been engraved from an observation of a contemporary Kore statue. The head has been lovingly engraved with fully beaded hair and a distinctive almond-shaped facing eye that still retains its pupil. This coin marks the superlative beginning to the long tradition of depicting Arethusa on the reverse of Syracusan tetradrachms.
Tetradrachm, work of the Master of the Large Arethusa head circa 485-480, AR 17.00 g. Slow quadriga driven r. by charioteer, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying r. to crown horses. Rev. ΣVR – A[koppa] – OΣI – ON Head of Arethusa r., hair bound with diadem-shaped band, wearing earring and necklace with pendants; dotted neck truncation. Around, four dolphins swimming clockwise. SNG ANS 10 (this obverse die). Gillet 529 (this coin). Kraay-Hirmer pl. 24,75. Boehringer 49.
Very rare. A magnificent portrait of masterly style struck on a very broad
flan with a superb old cabinet tone, obverse from a slightly rusty die,
otherwise about extremely fine / extremely fine
Ex Leu-M&M 28 May1974, Kunstfreund, 59; NAC 9, 1996, 203; NAC 18, 2000, 117; Gemini V, 2009, 341 and NAC 54, 2010, 50 sales. Privately purchased from NAC. From the Charles Gillet and A.D.M. collection.
The slow quadriga had already been introduced as the standard obverse type for Syracusan tetradrachms by the end of the sixth or the beginning of the fifth century BC, but the head of Arethusa only evolved into a full reverse type in the early fifth century BC. Previously, if she was depicted at all, she appeared within a small circular punch in the center of a main incuse square reverse punch. However, once she had developed into a full type, she made a truly dramatic appearance, as can be seen from this stunning piece attributed to the unnamed artist known as the Master of the Large Arethusa Head. The reverse features a large head of Arethusa so perfect in its Archaic style that it seems to have been engraved from an observation of a contemporary Kore statue. The head has been lovingly engraved with fully beaded hair and a distinctive almond-shaped facing eye that still retains its pupil. This coin marks the superlative beginning to the long tradition of depicting Arethusa on the reverse of Syracusan tetradrachms.