bgr_354274 - SICILY - SYRACUSE Tétradrachme
Not available.
Item sold on our e-shop (2015)
Price : 1 500.00 €
Item sold on our e-shop (2015)
Price : 1 500.00 €
Type : Tétradrachme
Date: c. 480-475 AC.
Mint name / Town : Syracuse, Sicile
Metal : silver
Diameter : 26 mm
Orientation dies : 4 h.
Weight : 17,13 g.
Rarity : R3
Coments on the condition:
Exemplaire sur un flan ovale bien centré des deux côtés avec le grènetis visible au droit. Joli droit de style fin bien venu à la frappe. Joli revers de style fin avec un début de cassure de coin perceptible dans la chevelure. Jolie patine de collection ancienne avec des reflets doré
Catalogue references :
Obverse
Obverse legend : ANÉPIGRAPHE.
Obverse description : Bige au pas à droite, conduit par un aurige tenant les rênes et le kentron ; le bige est couronné par Niké volant à droite.
Reverse
Reverse legend : N RÉTROGRADE.
Reverse description : Tête d'Aréthuse à droite, les cheveux relevés et retenus par un diadème de perles, entourée de quatre dauphins.
Reverse legend : SURAKOS-IO-N
Commentary
Même coin de revers que l’exemplaire de la vente Ars Classica V, Naville, n° 1020. Ce type semble beaucoup plus rare que ne le laisse apparaître la typologie. Cassure de coin caractéristique, bien visible sur l’ensemble de la chevelure donnant une impression de “vague”.
Same reverse die as the example in the Ars Classica V sale, Naville, no. 1020. This type seems much rarer than the typology suggests. Characteristic die break, clearly visible on the entire hair, giving an impression of a “wave”
Same reverse die as the example in the Ars Classica V sale, Naville, no. 1020. This type seems much rarer than the typology suggests. Characteristic die break, clearly visible on the entire hair, giving an impression of a “wave”
Historical background
SICILY - SYRACUSE
(5th century BC)
Hieronymus, tyranus of Syracuse
The government of Syracuse, founded in 733 BC by Corinthian settlers, was ensured from 485 BC by Gelon, tyrant of Gela since 491 BC. He had won a victory at the Olympic Games of 488 BC (chariot race) and recalled this victory by representing it on the obverse of the coinage of Syracuse while the reverse was occupied by the head of Arethusa. This nymph, in mythology, resided in the island of Ortygia, opposite the city of Syracuse, in the form of a fountain of fresh water, (Virgil, Eclog. IV.1, X.1). Alpheus, a satyr, representing a river-god in the Peloponnese, near Phylace in Arcadia, had pursued Arethusa. At her request, Artemis transformed her into a river and only the sea allowed the nymph to escape the satyr. This legend made it possible to explain a hydro-geographical phenomenon: an underground river passes under the sea to emerge in the island of Ortygia. In 480 BC, the Carthaginians invaded Sicily but were defeated by Gelon at Himera. In 478, Gelon died and his nephew Hieron succeeded him.
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