Heritage World Coin Auctions
ANA Signature Sale 3033 8 August 2014
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Ancients
SICILY. Syracuse (Second Democracy, 466-405 B.C.). AR tetradrachm, 17.35g. Ca. 430 BC. Male charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga to right; Nike flying above to right, crowning horses / ΣYPAKOΣION, head of Arethusa right, hair in a sakkos ornamented with a meander pattern and zigzag bands, four dolphins swimming around. Boehringer 642 (V326/R442). BMC 112 (same dies). SNG ANS 207 (same dies). HGC 2, 1319. Well struck from fresh dies of outstanding style. Exceptional metal quality. NGC Choice MS★ 4/5 - 5/5, Fine Style.From The Lexington Collection of Jonathan K. Kern.The 'transitional' era of Greek numismatic art is perfectly exemplified by the dies of this Syracusan tetradrachm, which displays a blend of Archaic and Classical artistic conventions. The obverse image of a charioteer driving his quadriga to right retains some Archaic elements, notably the rather stiff pose of the charioteer and the slow, stately gate of the horses; the reverse head of Arethusa, on the other hand, exhibits the cool classicism of contemporary Athenian art as seen on the famous Parthenon frieze. The added touch of the meander pattern (or "Greek key") adorning the snood-like saccos containing Arethusa's hair shows the precise, mathematical precision of a true master engraver.
Estimate: 12000-16000 USD
SICILY. Syracuse (Second Democracy, 466-405 B.C.). AR tetradrachm, 17.35g. Ca. 430 BC. Male charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga to right; Nike flying above to right, crowning horses / ΣYPAKOΣION, head of Arethusa right, hair in a sakkos ornamented with a meander pattern and zigzag bands, four dolphins swimming around. Boehringer 642 (V326/R442). BMC 112 (same dies). SNG ANS 207 (same dies). HGC 2, 1319. Well struck from fresh dies of outstanding style. Exceptional metal quality. NGC Choice MS★ 4/5 - 5/5, Fine Style.From The Lexington Collection of Jonathan K. Kern.The 'transitional' era of Greek numismatic art is perfectly exemplified by the dies of this Syracusan tetradrachm, which displays a blend of Archaic and Classical artistic conventions. The obverse image of a charioteer driving his quadriga to right retains some Archaic elements, notably the rather stiff pose of the charioteer and the slow, stately gate of the horses; the reverse head of Arethusa, on the other hand, exhibits the cool classicism of contemporary Athenian art as seen on the famous Parthenon frieze. The added touch of the meander pattern (or "Greek key") adorning the snood-like saccos containing Arethusa's hair shows the precise, mathematical precision of a true master engraver.
Estimate: 12000-16000 USD