Lot 11
Sicily, Syracuse, c. 510-490 B.C. AR Tetradrachm (17.16 g). Attic standard. Charioteer in long chiton, and holding reins, in walking chariot right; ethnic in two lines above. Reverse: Within small circular incuse the head of Arethusa left, a roll of hair frames the face, the rest as rows of parallel dots depending along the neck, this within a swastika-like, pellet-textured quartered incuse square. Weber 1549 (these dies); Kraay/Hirmer 72; Rizzo pl. 34, 4; Boehringer, Die Munzen von Syrakus, 9; SNG ANS 2. Well struck in high relief, on full flan of excellent metal. Light to medium toning. Rare. NGC graded Extremely Fine.
This coin is noteworthy for being the first of the artistic formula that would dominate Syracusan tetradrachms for the next two and a half centuries -- the obverse with charioteer and team, the reverse with a portrait of Arethusa. While the motifs for the tetradrachms would remain for the most part unchanging, the coinage can be considered ingeniously innovative -- the horses were utilized to denote the coin's denomination. Thus four horses comprised the team on tetradrachms; a biga of two horses, or other paired horses, were seen on didrachms; while drachms made use of only a single horse. The distinctive quartered incuse square seen in this issue reveals the influence of early northern Greek money then in circulation in Sicily.
Estimated Value $12,000 - 14,000.
Ex M & M sale 37, 1968, lot 90. Illustrated in Money of the World, coin 16.
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| Realized $23,000 |
