Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 133 21 Nov 2022
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Greek Coins. Catana.
Drachm signed by Euainetos circa 405, AR 4.33 g. KATANAIΩ[N] Fast quadriga driven r. by charioteer, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying l. to crown him. Rev. Diademed head l. of river-god Amenanos; at either side, two fish and below chin, crayfish. Above, AMENANOΣ and beneath neck truncation, EYAI. Rizzo pl. 14, 7 (this coin illustrated). SNG Lloyd 907 (these dies). AMB 335. Kraay-Hirmer 38. SNG ANS 1263.
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly the finest specimen known.
A portrait of enchanting beauty - the work of a celebrated and skilled master-engraver.
Perfectly struck and centred in high relief and with a wonderful old cabinet tone.
Virtually as struck and almost Fdc
Ex NFA XII, 1982, 12; XVI, 1985, 40 and DNW A10, 2011, 1004 sales.
Catana was founded at the foot of Mount Aetna by Chalkidian Greek colonists from Sicilian Naxos in c. 729 BC. Despite the prosperity of the city and a reputation for moral uprightness that developed in the seventh and sixth centuries BC, the Catanians frequently came into conflict with the Dorian Greek cities of Sicily, and especially Syracuse. In 476 BC, the Syracusan tyrant Hieron I expelled the Catanians from their city and repopulated it with Dorian Greek colonists. Following the death of Hieron, the dispossessed Catanians returned in 461 BC and violently reclaimed their own homes from the Dorian interlopers. The Catanians never forgot (or forgave) what had been done to them and continued to nurse a grudge against Syracuse, even going so far as to join Leontini-another traditional enemy of Syracuse-in supporting the disastrous Athenian expedition against Syracuse in 415-413 BC. Despite Catanian hatred for Syracuse, this beautiful drachm clearly illustrates the ultimate inability of Syracusan enemies to avoid becoming caught up in the growing cultural and economic influence of the great Sicilian city at the close of the fifth century BC. The Syracusan victory over the Athenians brought the city great wealth in plundered silver and brought about a period of numismatic art that had never been seen before. The engravers of this period were true artists who delighted in experimentation to bring the classical style to the height of perfection. As such, they took great pride in their work and regularly signed the dies they created for use at Syracuse and at other cities. Here the reverse die has been signed by Euainetos, an artist who is perhaps most famous for his later Syracusan decadrachm dies. It depicts Amenanos, the river-god of Catana, surrounded by two fish and a crayfish. This arrangement reflects the influence of Syracusan coins featuring the head of Arethusa surrounded by dolphins. The fast quadriga on the Catanian drachm is also very similar to that found on Euainetos' decadrachm die, including the horse with the broken rein.
Drachm signed by Euainetos circa 405, AR 4.33 g. KATANAIΩ[N] Fast quadriga driven r. by charioteer, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying l. to crown him. Rev. Diademed head l. of river-god Amenanos; at either side, two fish and below chin, crayfish. Above, AMENANOΣ and beneath neck truncation, EYAI. Rizzo pl. 14, 7 (this coin illustrated). SNG Lloyd 907 (these dies). AMB 335. Kraay-Hirmer 38. SNG ANS 1263.
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly the finest specimen known.
A portrait of enchanting beauty - the work of a celebrated and skilled master-engraver.
Perfectly struck and centred in high relief and with a wonderful old cabinet tone.
Virtually as struck and almost Fdc
Ex NFA XII, 1982, 12; XVI, 1985, 40 and DNW A10, 2011, 1004 sales.
Catana was founded at the foot of Mount Aetna by Chalkidian Greek colonists from Sicilian Naxos in c. 729 BC. Despite the prosperity of the city and a reputation for moral uprightness that developed in the seventh and sixth centuries BC, the Catanians frequently came into conflict with the Dorian Greek cities of Sicily, and especially Syracuse. In 476 BC, the Syracusan tyrant Hieron I expelled the Catanians from their city and repopulated it with Dorian Greek colonists. Following the death of Hieron, the dispossessed Catanians returned in 461 BC and violently reclaimed their own homes from the Dorian interlopers. The Catanians never forgot (or forgave) what had been done to them and continued to nurse a grudge against Syracuse, even going so far as to join Leontini-another traditional enemy of Syracuse-in supporting the disastrous Athenian expedition against Syracuse in 415-413 BC. Despite Catanian hatred for Syracuse, this beautiful drachm clearly illustrates the ultimate inability of Syracusan enemies to avoid becoming caught up in the growing cultural and economic influence of the great Sicilian city at the close of the fifth century BC. The Syracusan victory over the Athenians brought the city great wealth in plundered silver and brought about a period of numismatic art that had never been seen before. The engravers of this period were true artists who delighted in experimentation to bring the classical style to the height of perfection. As such, they took great pride in their work and regularly signed the dies they created for use at Syracuse and at other cities. Here the reverse die has been signed by Euainetos, an artist who is perhaps most famous for his later Syracusan decadrachm dies. It depicts Amenanos, the river-god of Catana, surrounded by two fish and a crayfish. This arrangement reflects the influence of Syracusan coins featuring the head of Arethusa surrounded by dolphins. The fast quadriga on the Catanian drachm is also very similar to that found on Euainetos' decadrachm die, including the horse with the broken rein.