Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 134 21 Nov 2022
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Greek Coins. Syracuse.
Tetradrachm circa 500-480, AR 17.29 g. Slow quadriga driven l. by charioteer, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying r. to crown him; in exergue, ΣVRA. Rev. Σ[V] – R –Aφ – ΟΣΙ – ΟΝ partially retrograde Diademed head of the nymph Arethusa r., surrounded by four dolphins swimming clockwise. BMC 7 = H. Scharmer, Die Meister der spatarchaischen Arethusakopfe, AK 10, pl. 28, 2 (these dies). Boehringer 35.
Extremely rare and in unusually fine condition for the issue. A portrait of enchanting
beauty in the finest Archaic style and a light iridescent tone. Unobtrusive traces
of overstriking, otherwise extremely fine
Ex NAC sale 10, 1991, 131. From the Athos and Dina Moretti collection and an Exceptional Collection assembledbetween the early 70s and late 90s.
This early tetradrachm belongs to the first series of Syracusan coins to abandon the quadripartite punch reverse and employ a fully pictorial reverse type. The slow quadriga of the obverse type serves as a denominational indicator for the tetradrachm inherited from the earliest coinage of the city while the reverse featuring the head of Arethusa is a fuller realisation of the small head that appeared within a small incuse punch in the centre of the quadripartite incuse square design of earlier Syracusan tetradrachms. From its inception with tetradrachms like the present piece in c. 500-480 BC, the combination of the quadriga obverse and the head of Arethusa surrounded by dolphins became the standard type for Syracusan tetradrachms for 100 years and exerted a great deal of influence on the development of Sicilian coinages in the fifth century BC. In addition to the high artistic quality of Syracusan tetradrachms, which only increased over time, the influence of their types spread throughout Sicily as Syracusan power expanded. The present tetradrachm was struck during the rule of Gelon I, the first tyrant of Syracuse. Originally the tyrant of Gela, Gelon I seized Syracuse in 485 BC. From there he conquered neighbouring cities and formed political alliances, thus creating a large area of Syracusan influence in eastern Sicily. In 480 BC, Gelon I led his allies to victory over a great Punic army of 300,000 men at the battle of Himera. The plunder taken from the Punic camp, combined with an indemnity levied on Carthage for 2,000 talents meant that a great deal of silver poured into Syracuse after the victory. Although this tetradrachm probably represents money produced to finance many of Gelon I's early wars, it is not entirely impossible that it was struck from silver taken from the spoils at Himera.
Tetradrachm circa 500-480, AR 17.29 g. Slow quadriga driven l. by charioteer, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying r. to crown him; in exergue, ΣVRA. Rev. Σ[V] – R –Aφ – ΟΣΙ – ΟΝ partially retrograde Diademed head of the nymph Arethusa r., surrounded by four dolphins swimming clockwise. BMC 7 = H. Scharmer, Die Meister der spatarchaischen Arethusakopfe, AK 10, pl. 28, 2 (these dies). Boehringer 35.
Extremely rare and in unusually fine condition for the issue. A portrait of enchanting
beauty in the finest Archaic style and a light iridescent tone. Unobtrusive traces
of overstriking, otherwise extremely fine
Ex NAC sale 10, 1991, 131. From the Athos and Dina Moretti collection and an Exceptional Collection assembledbetween the early 70s and late 90s.
This early tetradrachm belongs to the first series of Syracusan coins to abandon the quadripartite punch reverse and employ a fully pictorial reverse type. The slow quadriga of the obverse type serves as a denominational indicator for the tetradrachm inherited from the earliest coinage of the city while the reverse featuring the head of Arethusa is a fuller realisation of the small head that appeared within a small incuse punch in the centre of the quadripartite incuse square design of earlier Syracusan tetradrachms. From its inception with tetradrachms like the present piece in c. 500-480 BC, the combination of the quadriga obverse and the head of Arethusa surrounded by dolphins became the standard type for Syracusan tetradrachms for 100 years and exerted a great deal of influence on the development of Sicilian coinages in the fifth century BC. In addition to the high artistic quality of Syracusan tetradrachms, which only increased over time, the influence of their types spread throughout Sicily as Syracusan power expanded. The present tetradrachm was struck during the rule of Gelon I, the first tyrant of Syracuse. Originally the tyrant of Gela, Gelon I seized Syracuse in 485 BC. From there he conquered neighbouring cities and formed political alliances, thus creating a large area of Syracusan influence in eastern Sicily. In 480 BC, Gelon I led his allies to victory over a great Punic army of 300,000 men at the battle of Himera. The plunder taken from the Punic camp, combined with an indemnity levied on Carthage for 2,000 talents meant that a great deal of silver poured into Syracuse after the victory. Although this tetradrachm probably represents money produced to finance many of Gelon I's early wars, it is not entirely impossible that it was struck from silver taken from the spoils at Himera.