Nomos AG
Auction 26 21 May 2023
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SICILY. Syracuse. Deinomenid Tyranny, 485-466 BC. Obol (Silver, 10 mm, 0.60 g), circa 475-470 BC. Head of Arethusa to right, her hair bound up with a pearl diadem and wearing a simple necklace; border of dots. Rev. Wheel of four spokes. Boehringer 366 var. Buceti 202. SNG ANS 116 var. Nicely centered and clear. Very slightly rough surfaces, otherwise, extremely fine.
From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, and from the collection of Leo Mildenberg, ex Kricheldorf XXXII, 14 November 1977, 413 .
This is the first coin of Syracuse, the most powerful and important of all the Sicilian cities, that we have in this collection. It celebrates two typically Syracusan subjects: Arethusa, the city's patron nymph, on the obverse and, on the reverse, a chariot wheel, a symbol of the chariot races that were its aristocracy's passion.
Arethusa's head appears on the obverses of most of the following lots, 181-190 (save for the head of Athena on lot 188): the stylistic changes are fascinating, especially the way her hair style changes following the trends of the time.
From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions, and from the collection of Leo Mildenberg, ex Kricheldorf XXXII, 14 November 1977, 413 .
This is the first coin of Syracuse, the most powerful and important of all the Sicilian cities, that we have in this collection. It celebrates two typically Syracusan subjects: Arethusa, the city's patron nymph, on the obverse and, on the reverse, a chariot wheel, a symbol of the chariot races that were its aristocracy's passion.
Arethusa's head appears on the obverses of most of the following lots, 181-190 (save for the head of Athena on lot 188): the stylistic changes are fascinating, especially the way her hair style changes following the trends of the time.