Nomos AG
Auction 27 22 May 2023
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SICILY. Syracuse. At the End of the Second Democracy and the Start of the Reign of Dionysos I, circa 410/405-400 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 30 mm, 17.30 g, 7 h), signed by the engraver Eukleidas on the reverse. Quadriga galloping to left, driven by a goddess (Persephone?) holding the reins in her left hand and a torch in her right; above, Nike flying right to crown the driver; in exergue, grain ear to left. Rev. [Σ]ΥΡ-ΑΚ[ΟΣΙ]ΩΝ Head of Athena facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing a triple-crested Attic helmet adorned with palmettes, a double-spiral earring and a necklace of pendant acorns with a gorgoneion at the center; across the helmet bowl, ΕΥ-Κ-ΛΕΙΔ/Α; around, four dolphins: two swimming downwards and two swimming upwards, the one on the right, emerging from the hair streaming down behind Athena's neck. AMB 464 (this coin). Buceti 491. Gulbenkian 282 (same dies). Kraay - Hirmer 111 (same dies). Müseler, SMB 287, fig. 1 (same dies). Rizzo pls. XLIII, 22 and XLV, 4a and 5 (these dies). Tudeer (Fischer-Bossert) 58e (this coin) . Very rare. An important and innovative coin with one of the most successful facing heads ever to appear on ancient Greek coinage. Toned and attractive. Usual die break on the left of the reverse and another on the right, otherwise, good very fine/extremely fine.
From the collection of A. Moretti, Numismatica Ars Classica 13, 8 October 1998, 464, displayed at the Antiken Museum in Basel, ex Hess-Leu 31, 6 December 1966, 141.
One of the great coins of the late 5th century BC, this is a prime example of the kind of spectacular workmanship that the Sicilian cities commissioned so that their coins would, by their magnificence, advertise their wealth and power. It has been suggested that the head on this coin is not that of Athena, but of Arethusa wearing Athena's helmet, in celebration of the Syracusan triumph over the Athenians. However, would Arethusa not only be wearing Athena's helmet but her necklace as well, especially since it bears a gorgoneion? This seems really unlikely. In fact, Athena was honored at Syracuse: a sanctuary was erected to her on the Ortygia to commemorate the Syracusan triumph over the Carthaginians in 480 BC. At around the time this coin was issued Sicily was facing yet another Carthaginian invasion - which resulted in the destruction of Akragas - so a coinage honoring Athena would be quite appropriate. As for the date of this coin, it is surely late 5th century, but whether it was struck during the last years of the Democracy, or shortly after Dionysos I (405-367 BC) seized power is uncertain.
From the collection of A. Moretti, Numismatica Ars Classica 13, 8 October 1998, 464, displayed at the Antiken Museum in Basel, ex Hess-Leu 31, 6 December 1966, 141.
One of the great coins of the late 5th century BC, this is a prime example of the kind of spectacular workmanship that the Sicilian cities commissioned so that their coins would, by their magnificence, advertise their wealth and power. It has been suggested that the head on this coin is not that of Athena, but of Arethusa wearing Athena's helmet, in celebration of the Syracusan triumph over the Athenians. However, would Arethusa not only be wearing Athena's helmet but her necklace as well, especially since it bears a gorgoneion? This seems really unlikely. In fact, Athena was honored at Syracuse: a sanctuary was erected to her on the Ortygia to commemorate the Syracusan triumph over the Carthaginians in 480 BC. At around the time this coin was issued Sicily was facing yet another Carthaginian invasion - which resulted in the destruction of Akragas - so a coinage honoring Athena would be quite appropriate. As for the date of this coin, it is surely late 5th century, but whether it was struck during the last years of the Democracy, or shortly after Dionysos I (405-367 BC) seized power is uncertain.