Lot 1029
Sicily, Syracuse. Fifth Democracy. Silver 8 Litrai (6.73 g), 214-212 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet, single-pendant earring, and necklace; behind neck, AΓ monogram. Rev. ΣYPAKOΣIΩN, winged thunderbolt; below, ΣΩ. (Enna Hoard 87 (dies 5/16); BAR issue 88; SNG ANS 1044 (same obv. die)). Well struck on a flan of excellent metal and lightly toned. Extremely fine. Estimate $1,000UP
Ex Goldberg 36 (30 May 2006), lot 3484.
This coin belongs to a remarkable series of silver litra multiples (including 16-, 12-, 10-, 8-, 6-, 4-, and 2 1/2-litrai) struck during the Fifth Democracy which was established at Syracuse after the assassination of the last Syracusan king, Hieronymos, in 214 BC. Although the leaders of the democracy were initially pro-Roman in their outlook, reports of Roman atrocities in southern Italy and Sicily as they fought the forces of Hannibal led them to resist. Their opposition to the Romans resulted in the famous siege of Syracuse by M. Claudius Marcellus. The siege, which was notable for the mechanical defenses ranged against the Romans by the engineer Archimedes, dragged on until 212 BC when the city fell. It is perhaps ironic that, although struck by the Syracusan democracy, the reverse thunderbolt type of this coin is copied directly from the royal coinage of the hated Hieronymos.
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| Realized $2,065 |
