33 / 194
Fantastic Syracuse of Agathokles, 317-289 BC Electrum 100 Litrai
53
Sicily, Syracuse. Time of Agathokles, 317-289 BC. Electrum 100 Litrai (6.61g) EF.
Struck ca. 304-289
BC.
,
SURAKOSIWN
, Laureate head of Apollo facing to left, a tripod behind. Rev.
SWTEIRA
, Head of
Artemis facing right, wearing a ribbon in her hair, and earring and pearl necklace with a quiver over her
shoulder; tripod behind. Jenkins, Electrum Coinage at Syracuse, in Essays to Robinson, Group D, pl. 15,
3 (same dies); SNG Lockett 992; Gulbenkian 343. Free from the crack in the flan that usually accompanies
this issue.
Very Rare
. Beautiful style and attractively toned. Extremely Fine.
$12,500
Private purchase from Tom Cederline.
54
Sicily, Syracuse. Agathokles. Gold 50 Litrai (4.31 g), 317-289 BC. Issued Ca. 317-311/0 BC. Laureate head
of Apollo left. Rev.
SUR
-
A
-
K
[
O
]-
SIWN
, Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving galloping biga
right; below, triskeles. Bérend pl. 9, 1; BAR issue 1; SNG ANS 552. Beautiful style and lustrous metal.
Superb Extremely Fine.
$3,000
From the Dionysus Collection.
This beautiful gold 50 litrai or decadrachm was struck by Agathokles early in his career as tyrant of Syracuse. It belongs to
the period between his return from exile to Syracuse at the head of a mercenary army in 317 BC and his defeat by the Car-
thaginians at the battle of the Himera River in 311 BC, during which time he managed to gain control of many of the other
Greek cities of Sicily. Although he ruled Syracuse as tyrant, this coin reflects the oath to uphold the democratic constitution
of Syracuse that he cynically swore upon entering the city in 317 BC. Although Agathokles was fully in control, the legend on
the coin names only the corporate body of the Syracusans as the issuing authority. Still, the tyrant did not openly trample on
his oath until 304 BC, when he began to style himself King of Sicily. The Apollo and biga types are modeled on those of the
staters of Philip II - types that were much in demand by mercenaries - but the additional triskeles on the reverse makes it clear
that the coin is a Sicilian issue. The triskeles with its three legs long served as an emblem of the three-cornered island of Sicily.