Lot 3027
Sicily, Leontinoi, 470-465 BC. AR Tetradrachm by the Demareteion Master. Slow quadriga right, charioteer crowned by Nike; lion running in exergue. Reverse: LEOTINO, laureate head of Apollo right of superb late archaic style; three bay leaves around; lion running below right. SG 823; BMC 14; SNG ANS 217; Gulbenkian 211; Randazo 89; Dewing 623 (all from the same dies). Details are Very Fine with some porosity and flan faults, all toned, die break beginning at ear. One of the icons of ancient Greek coinage. About Very Fine.
Leontinoi was founded by the Chalkidians from Naxos in 729 BC. Leontinoi produced no coinage in the Archaic period. In the early part of the 5th century BC, the city was under the rule of the Gelan and the Syracusan tyrants, but in 466 BC it regained its independence. This coinage was probably struck to celebrate this event.
Sear notes, "This masterpiece of late archaic art is probably by the same hand as the famous 'Demaretion' coinage of Syracuse." It has been suggested that the effigy of the lion on this coin as well as the lion on the Demareteion dekadrachm are marks of the master engraver.
Estimated Value $5,000 - 6,000.
Private purchase from Realms in 2005.
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