Watch List notes:

SICILY. Syracuse. Second Democracy, 466-405 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25 mm, 17.25 g, 4 h), obverse die unsigned, but by Euarchidas; reverse die signed by the engraver Phrygillos, circa 415-405. 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 Persephone with a wreath held in her right hand, while holding an aplustre in her left; in the exergue, grain ear to left. Rev. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Head of Arethusa to left, wearing ampyx and sphendone, triple pendant earring and simple necklace; on ampyx signature of engraver, ΦPΥ; before her head, dolphin swimming downward to right; behind her head and under her neck, three dolphins swimming downwards to left. de Luynes 1216 (Rizzo, pl. XLIII, 13). Tudeer (Fischer-Bossert), 51 (O18/R30). SNG Fitzwilliam 1246. In the die, AK has been corrected from KO in the obverse legend. A very rare type. Lightly toned and clear. Struck on a tight flan, otherwise, good very fine.


Arethusa is portrayed in so many different ways on the coins of Syracuse! We have to assume that given the way ancient society worked all ancient Greek engravers were men; thus, we can also assume that in Syracuse every engraver had his own vision of what Arethusa looked like. Perhaps he took his wife or girlfriend or sister as a model, or based it on some well-known beauty (the fact that some of the heads are, to our eyes, unappealing to say the least, could mean that tastes have changed, or that she was modelled on his mother). Here we have a young woman - certainly not out of her teens - wearing attractive jewels, an elaborate hair net, and with her hair beautifully coiffed.