Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 125 23-24 Jun 2021
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Syracuse.
Tetradrachm signed by Euth... and Phrygillos circa 413-399, AR 17.30 g. Fast quadriga driven r. by winged young god, holding reins with both hands; above, Nike flying l. to crown the driver. In exergue, ΕΥΘ, dolphin, Scylla to r., holding trident in l. hand over l. shoulder and pursuing a fish with her outstretched r. Rev. ΣΥ – ΡΑΚ – ΟΣ – Ι – ΟΝ Persephone or Demeter (or Arethusa with the features of Persephone or Demeter) l., wearing barley wreath, earring and necklace with single pendant; below neck truncation, ΦΡΥΓΙΛΛ / ΟΣ. In l. field, two dolphins swimming snout to snout and in r. field, two dolphins swimming downwards. Rizzo pl. XLIII, 12 (these dies). Gulbenkian 280 (these dies). SNG ANS 274 (these dies). Kraay-Hirmer pl. 37, 107 (these dies). Tudeer 47. Coins, Artists and Tyrants 47.
Rare. An attractive portrait struck on fresh metal and with
a light iridescent tone. About extremely fine
Ex Stack's 11 January 2010, 60 and Stack's, Bowers & Ponterio 17 January 2020, 20008 sales.
The signed tetradrachms of Syracuse are easily one of the most celebrated coinages of the fifth-century Sicilian series. Struck during the Second Democracy (ca. 466-405 BC), these coins represent the pinnacle of classical numismatic art in Sicily. Most contemporary (and later) Greek dies are anonymous, leaving no indication as to the artists who engraved them, but the Syracusan engravers of this period seem to have been well aware of the extreme beauty of their miniature artworks and were justifiably proud. They therefore added their names (in full or abbreviated) to their dies.
This particular tetradrachm is signed by Euth... (probably to be completed as Euthydemos) on the obverse and by Phrygillos on the reverse. One can fully understand the pride of these engravers in their exemplary work. The treatment of Euth[ydemos]' quadriga is reminiscent of the horses found on the very best of Classical Greek architectural monuments, like the Parthenon of Athens. It is also worth pointing out that it is driven not by a mortal charioteer or by Nike (often the driver on Syracusan tetradrachms of the period), but by an uncertain winged male deity - possibly Agon, the personification of competition. Nike flies above to crown him while the sea monster, Skylla, swims in the exergue. According to Greek tradition, she inhabited the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily opposite the home of the equally monstrous Charybdis. Between the two of them they ground to splinters many a ship passing through, sending their cargo and crews to the watery depths.
Likewise, Phrygillos' treatment of the head of Persephone on the reverse reflects the highest level of Classical idealism. This grain goddess - here probably assimilated with Arethusa, the patron nymph of Syracuse, as indicated by the surrounding dolphins - symbolized the importance of Syracuse (and indeed all of Sicily) as an important grain producer and exporter to the rest of the Greek world.
This tetradrachm series may have been struck during the struggle of Syracuse against the Athenians in 415-413 BC or in the years that followed the resounding victory of the Syracusans over the Athenian fleet at the Assinaro River (413 BC). The cost of defending Syracuse and the wars against the neighboring Chalkidian cities that followed the withdrawal of the Athenians required money to fund them. Likewise, the victory at the Assinaro River must have put plunder into the hands of the Syracusans that would have been most useful melted down and restruck as Syracusan coin.
Tetradrachm signed by Euth... and Phrygillos circa 413-399, AR 17.30 g. Fast quadriga driven r. by winged young god, holding reins with both hands; above, Nike flying l. to crown the driver. In exergue, ΕΥΘ, dolphin, Scylla to r., holding trident in l. hand over l. shoulder and pursuing a fish with her outstretched r. Rev. ΣΥ – ΡΑΚ – ΟΣ – Ι – ΟΝ Persephone or Demeter (or Arethusa with the features of Persephone or Demeter) l., wearing barley wreath, earring and necklace with single pendant; below neck truncation, ΦΡΥΓΙΛΛ / ΟΣ. In l. field, two dolphins swimming snout to snout and in r. field, two dolphins swimming downwards. Rizzo pl. XLIII, 12 (these dies). Gulbenkian 280 (these dies). SNG ANS 274 (these dies). Kraay-Hirmer pl. 37, 107 (these dies). Tudeer 47. Coins, Artists and Tyrants 47.
Rare. An attractive portrait struck on fresh metal and with
a light iridescent tone. About extremely fine
Ex Stack's 11 January 2010, 60 and Stack's, Bowers & Ponterio 17 January 2020, 20008 sales.
The signed tetradrachms of Syracuse are easily one of the most celebrated coinages of the fifth-century Sicilian series. Struck during the Second Democracy (ca. 466-405 BC), these coins represent the pinnacle of classical numismatic art in Sicily. Most contemporary (and later) Greek dies are anonymous, leaving no indication as to the artists who engraved them, but the Syracusan engravers of this period seem to have been well aware of the extreme beauty of their miniature artworks and were justifiably proud. They therefore added their names (in full or abbreviated) to their dies.
This particular tetradrachm is signed by Euth... (probably to be completed as Euthydemos) on the obverse and by Phrygillos on the reverse. One can fully understand the pride of these engravers in their exemplary work. The treatment of Euth[ydemos]' quadriga is reminiscent of the horses found on the very best of Classical Greek architectural monuments, like the Parthenon of Athens. It is also worth pointing out that it is driven not by a mortal charioteer or by Nike (often the driver on Syracusan tetradrachms of the period), but by an uncertain winged male deity - possibly Agon, the personification of competition. Nike flies above to crown him while the sea monster, Skylla, swims in the exergue. According to Greek tradition, she inhabited the Strait of Messina between Italy and Sicily opposite the home of the equally monstrous Charybdis. Between the two of them they ground to splinters many a ship passing through, sending their cargo and crews to the watery depths.
Likewise, Phrygillos' treatment of the head of Persephone on the reverse reflects the highest level of Classical idealism. This grain goddess - here probably assimilated with Arethusa, the patron nymph of Syracuse, as indicated by the surrounding dolphins - symbolized the importance of Syracuse (and indeed all of Sicily) as an important grain producer and exporter to the rest of the Greek world.
This tetradrachm series may have been struck during the struggle of Syracuse against the Athenians in 415-413 BC or in the years that followed the resounding victory of the Syracusans over the Athenian fleet at the Assinaro River (413 BC). The cost of defending Syracuse and the wars against the neighboring Chalkidian cities that followed the withdrawal of the Athenians required money to fund them. Likewise, the victory at the Assinaro River must have put plunder into the hands of the Syracusans that would have been most useful melted down and restruck as Syracusan coin.