NEW YORK SALE 2018 Ancients.indd

Sicily, Syracuse. Agathokles. Silver Tetradrachm (17.19 g), 317-289 BC. Struck ca. 317-310 BC. Wreathed

head of Arethusa left, surrounded by three dolphins; below neck,

rev.

[

]YPAKO

N in exergue,

charioteer, holding goad and reins, driving galloping quadriga left; above, triskeles; in exergue, monogram.

Ierardi 67 (O12/R43); SNG ANS 640-3. Lightly toned, Fine Style. Extremely Fine.

$2,500

From the Dionysus Collection.

Agathokles spent much of his early career struggling against the Syracusan oligarchy known as the SixHundred. Fearing his personal

wealth and popularity in the city, the SixHundred sent him into exile, where he became a skilledmercenary commander. His newmil-

itary strength and Carthaginian intervention paved the way for his return and appointment by the oligarchs as

strategos autokrator

(“supreme general”), but in 317/16 BC, he championed the cause of democracy (cynically as it turned out) and overthrew the Six

Hundred. This coinwas struck in the years following this coup and consciously looks back toolder types used indemocraticperiods at

Syracuse as ameans of presenting a democratic façadewhile all real power was increasingly concentrated in the hands of Agathokles.

Sicily, Syracuse. Agathokles. Electrum 50 Litrai (3.48 g), 317-289 BC. Struck ca. 310-306/5 BC. Laureate

head of Apollo left; behind, Corinthian helmet left. Rev.

SURAK

OSIWN

, tripod-lebes; above, phiale.

Jenkins grp. B, dies O14/R18; SNG ANS 629. Boldly struck with some faint hairlines. Nicely toned.

Extremely Fine.

$1,500

Sicily, Syracuse. Agathokles. Æ (8.99 g), 317-289 BC. Struck ca. 306/4-289 BC.

SWTHRA

, head of Arte-

mis Soteira right, quiver at shoulder.

rev.

AGAQOKLEOS

above,

BASILEOS

below, winged thunder-

bolt. CNS 142; BAR issue 33; SNG ANS 708. Chocolate brown patina. Choice Very Fine.

$200

From the Dionysus Collection

Ex Monetarium FPL 30 (Winter 1979/80), lot 76.

Sicily, Syracuse. Hiketas II. Æ (9.51 g), 287-278 BC.

SURAKOSIWN

, wreathed head of Persephone right;

behind, grain ear. Rev. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving galloping biga galloping right; in

exergue,

. Cf. SNG ANS 763 (control on Rev.). Lovely greenish-brown patina.

Choice Very Fine.

$200

From the Dionysus Collection

Ex Schweizerischer Bankverein stock, 17 March 1977.