Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 133 21 Nov 2022
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Greek Coins. Sicily, Agrigentum.
Tetradrachm signed by magistrate Straton, circa 410-406, AR 17.07 g. [Α]ΚΡΑΓΑΝΤ[Ι–ΝΟΝ] Nike driving galloping quadriga l., holding kentron in l. hand, reins in both; above, grapevine. Rev. ΣΤΡΑΤΩΝ Two eagles standing l., holding hare; in r. field, head of a young horned river-god. Seltman 12. Jameson 511 (these dies). Rizzo pl. 3, 1 (these dies). Dewing 564 (these dies). Gulbenkian 169 (this obverse die). AMB 261 (these dies). Westermark 589.
Very rare. A lovely specimen of this desirable issue of excellent Classical style.
Superb old cabinet tone and excellent metal. Minor edge cut at nine
o'clock on obverse, otherwise good very fine
Ex New York sale XXVII, 2012, Prospero, 120. Privately purchased from Spink & Son Ltd., London, 13 February 1985.
This rare tetradrachm was struck in a period of great peril for the city of Agrigentum (Greek Akragas) in southern Sicily. In 410 BC, the Agrigentines made the huge mistake of allowing rivalry with the neighbouring city of Silenous to get the better of them. In this year, a Carthaginian force defeated the army of Silenous in the field. Instead of aiding Silenous against the Punic enemy common to all Greek cities of Sicily, Agrigentum did nothing. When Silenous was besieged by the Carthaginians in 409 BC, Agrigentum also did nothing, although after the city fell and was plundered, the Agrigentines did accept its refugees. Whereas the combined arms of Selinous and Agrigentum might have been able to resist the Punic onslaught in 410 BC, now that the former city was destroyed and its people scattered, the Agrigentines faced the Carthaginians alone when they returned for a new Sicilian campaign in 406 BC. Unable to stand up to the Punic enemy in the field, the Agrigentines attempted to weather a siege behind the walls of the city. They held out for eight months, before the city finally fell. The Agrigentines tried to flee to Gela and Leontini, but many were captured and put to the sword by the victorious Punic army. The Carthaginians remained at Agrigentum over the winter of 406/5 BC and then destroyed the city before returning home to North Africa. In the period 410-406 BC, the need to strengthen Agrigentum's defenses, meet expenses related to refugees after the fall of Selinous, and to recruit mercenaries for the disastrous showdown with Carthage dictated the production of tetradrachms. This particular type features a fast quadriga on the obverse that is closely modelled on the obverse type of Syracuse, illustrating the strong influence that Syracusan coinage had in Sicily at the end of the fifth century BC. Indeed, this influence may have been driven by the recognition of Syracusan coinage by mercenaries as "good money" and thus other cities, like Agrigentum made use of similar types in order to meet the tastes of their hired defenders. The reverse type however, is an iconic badge of Agrigentum, leaving no mistake as to the identity of the issuing city.
Tetradrachm signed by magistrate Straton, circa 410-406, AR 17.07 g. [Α]ΚΡΑΓΑΝΤ[Ι–ΝΟΝ] Nike driving galloping quadriga l., holding kentron in l. hand, reins in both; above, grapevine. Rev. ΣΤΡΑΤΩΝ Two eagles standing l., holding hare; in r. field, head of a young horned river-god. Seltman 12. Jameson 511 (these dies). Rizzo pl. 3, 1 (these dies). Dewing 564 (these dies). Gulbenkian 169 (this obverse die). AMB 261 (these dies). Westermark 589.
Very rare. A lovely specimen of this desirable issue of excellent Classical style.
Superb old cabinet tone and excellent metal. Minor edge cut at nine
o'clock on obverse, otherwise good very fine
Ex New York sale XXVII, 2012, Prospero, 120. Privately purchased from Spink & Son Ltd., London, 13 February 1985.
This rare tetradrachm was struck in a period of great peril for the city of Agrigentum (Greek Akragas) in southern Sicily. In 410 BC, the Agrigentines made the huge mistake of allowing rivalry with the neighbouring city of Silenous to get the better of them. In this year, a Carthaginian force defeated the army of Silenous in the field. Instead of aiding Silenous against the Punic enemy common to all Greek cities of Sicily, Agrigentum did nothing. When Silenous was besieged by the Carthaginians in 409 BC, Agrigentum also did nothing, although after the city fell and was plundered, the Agrigentines did accept its refugees. Whereas the combined arms of Selinous and Agrigentum might have been able to resist the Punic onslaught in 410 BC, now that the former city was destroyed and its people scattered, the Agrigentines faced the Carthaginians alone when they returned for a new Sicilian campaign in 406 BC. Unable to stand up to the Punic enemy in the field, the Agrigentines attempted to weather a siege behind the walls of the city. They held out for eight months, before the city finally fell. The Agrigentines tried to flee to Gela and Leontini, but many were captured and put to the sword by the victorious Punic army. The Carthaginians remained at Agrigentum over the winter of 406/5 BC and then destroyed the city before returning home to North Africa. In the period 410-406 BC, the need to strengthen Agrigentum's defenses, meet expenses related to refugees after the fall of Selinous, and to recruit mercenaries for the disastrous showdown with Carthage dictated the production of tetradrachms. This particular type features a fast quadriga on the obverse that is closely modelled on the obverse type of Syracuse, illustrating the strong influence that Syracusan coinage had in Sicily at the end of the fifth century BC. Indeed, this influence may have been driven by the recognition of Syracusan coinage by mercenaries as "good money" and thus other cities, like Agrigentum made use of similar types in order to meet the tastes of their hired defenders. The reverse type however, is an iconic badge of Agrigentum, leaving no mistake as to the identity of the issuing city.