Lot 1020
Sicily, Syracuse. Second Democracy. Silver Tetradrachm (17.10 g), 466-405 BC. Ca. 450 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses with wreath; in exergue, ketos right. Rev. ΣVRAKOΣ-I-ON, head of Arethusa right, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace; around, four dolphins. (Boehringer 515 (V270/R366); SNG ANS 170 (same rev. die); Rizzo pl. XXXVI, 6 (same dies); Basel 437 = Jameson 783 (same dies); Pozzi 578 (same dies); BMC 83 (same dies)). Fine style, and with attractive old cabinet toning. Extremely fine. Estimate $3,000UP
Purchased privately from Tom Cederlind.
This coin which features the charioteer and Arethusa types for which Syracuse is widely celebrated, was struck not long after the restoration of a democratic constitution in the city after two decades of rule by tyrants of the Deinomenid family. While Gelon I (485-478 BC) and his brother Hieron I (478-467 BC) had done much to establish Syracuse as the preeminent city of Greek Sicily and stave off the encroachments of the Carthaginians, the despotic behavior of their successor, Thrasyboulos, resulted in a general uprising against the Deinominids and the end of the tyranny in 466/5 BC.
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| Realized $3,304 |
