Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
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Syracuse.
Decadrachm unsigned work by Kimon circa 408, AR 42.51 g. Fast quadriga driven l. by charioteer, holding reins and kentron; in field above, Nike flying r. to crown him. In exergue, display of military harness set on two steps and beneath, [ΑΘΛΑ]. Rev. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩN Head of nymph Arethusa (Kore-Persephone) l., wearing earring with pendant and beaded necklace; wavy hair bound in front with ampyx, and caught up behind by net. Around three dolphins, while a fourth makes dorsal contact with neck truncation. BMC 204 (these dies). Regling 11. Jongkees 11.
Very rare. A spectacular specimen of this desirable issue of masterly Classical style.
Struck on an extremely large flan and exceptionally complete. Wonderful
old cabinet tone and good extremely fine / extremely fine
From an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s.
Scholars have long attempted to ascribe Kimon's decadrachms to an historical event as they seem in every way to be commemorative medallions. The Syracusan defeat of the Athenian navy in 413 at first seems an ideal choice, though current thought on the dating of this issue favours the victorious actions of Syracuse in the otherwise devastating invasion of Sicily by the Carthaginians from 406 to 405 B.C. The most compelling reason to associate the Kimonian decadrachms with a military victory is the display of armour and weaponry that appears in the obverse exergue along with the inscription AΘΛA, which indicates 'prizes', or at least 'agonistic contests'. Since it was a common practice of Greek soldiers to engrave dedicatory inscriptions on captured armour, a connection might be drawn between that practice and what we observe here. The obverse scene of a charioteer guiding his team through a bend is devoted entirely to victory. Despite their inherent dissimilarities, the four elements of the scene exist in harmony: the driver is calm and composed, the horses toss their heads wildly as they charge forward, Nike floats above as if undisturbed by the great contest below, and the display of arms and armour is fixed, as if monumental.
Decadrachm unsigned work by Kimon circa 408, AR 42.51 g. Fast quadriga driven l. by charioteer, holding reins and kentron; in field above, Nike flying r. to crown him. In exergue, display of military harness set on two steps and beneath, [ΑΘΛΑ]. Rev. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩN Head of nymph Arethusa (Kore-Persephone) l., wearing earring with pendant and beaded necklace; wavy hair bound in front with ampyx, and caught up behind by net. Around three dolphins, while a fourth makes dorsal contact with neck truncation. BMC 204 (these dies). Regling 11. Jongkees 11.
Very rare. A spectacular specimen of this desirable issue of masterly Classical style.
Struck on an extremely large flan and exceptionally complete. Wonderful
old cabinet tone and good extremely fine / extremely fine
From an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s.
Scholars have long attempted to ascribe Kimon's decadrachms to an historical event as they seem in every way to be commemorative medallions. The Syracusan defeat of the Athenian navy in 413 at first seems an ideal choice, though current thought on the dating of this issue favours the victorious actions of Syracuse in the otherwise devastating invasion of Sicily by the Carthaginians from 406 to 405 B.C. The most compelling reason to associate the Kimonian decadrachms with a military victory is the display of armour and weaponry that appears in the obverse exergue along with the inscription AΘΛA, which indicates 'prizes', or at least 'agonistic contests'. Since it was a common practice of Greek soldiers to engrave dedicatory inscriptions on captured armour, a connection might be drawn between that practice and what we observe here. The obverse scene of a charioteer guiding his team through a bend is devoted entirely to victory. Despite their inherent dissimilarities, the four elements of the scene exist in harmony: the driver is calm and composed, the horses toss their heads wildly as they charge forward, Nike floats above as if undisturbed by the great contest below, and the display of arms and armour is fixed, as if monumental.