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Ancient Greek Coins
B
EAUTIFUL
T
ETRADRACHM OF
S
YRACUSE
BY
E
UKLEIDAS
AND
E
UMENOS
Enlargement
1508
Sicily, Syracuse. Second Democracy. Silver Tetradrachm (17.7g), 466-405 BC
. Obverse die by Eukleidas (unsigned),
reverse die
signed by Eumenos
. Struck ca. 415/3-405 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving galloping quadriga left; above, Nike flying
right, crowning charioteer with wreath.
Reverse:
[
]
-
, head of Arethusa left; below neck truncation, signature EVMHNOV;
around, four dolphins. Tudeer 19 (Vs12/Rs8); SNG ANS 256 (same dies); de Luynes 1180 (same dies); BMC 141 (same dies).
Very Rare
.
Beautiful fine style and excellent metal, lightly toned.
About Extremely Fine
.
Just as the varied courts in Renaissance Italy supported artists and craftsmen in an effort to adorn their cities and outdo their rivals, the
tyrants in fifth century Sicily did the same. Syracuse, being the most prosperous and powerful city in the west at this time was no exception,
and with the constant need for coinage to pay for mercenaries to pursue its militaristic ambitions it is no wonder that there began a flowering
of artistic expression in the city's coinage. The anonymous "Demareteion Master" and "Maestro della foglia" were followed by many fine art-
ists such as Choirion, Euainetos, Eumenos, Exakestidas, Herakleidas, amongst others, who often proudly signed their work. These masters
refined the expression in miniature of motion and life in new ways, breaking from the static molds of the Archaic period. On this coin,
although the obverse die is unsigned, we can readily see the hand of the master Eukleidas, while the reverse prominently boasts the signa-
ture of Eumenos below the neck of Arethusa.
Estimated Value ............................................................................................................................................................... $5,000 - 6,000
W
ONDERFUL
F
INE
S
TYLE
S
YRACUSE
S
ECOND
D
EMOCRACY
T
ETRADRACHM
Enlargement
1509
Sicily, Syracuse. Second Democracy. Silver Tetradrachm (17.1g), 466-405 BC
. Struck circa 466-460 BC. Charioteer, holding reigns
and kentron, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right crowning horses with wreath; in exergue, ketos right.
Reverse:
R
-
-
, diademed head of Arethusa right, wearing pearl necklace and single-pendant earring; around, four dolphins clockwise. Boehringer series
Xia, 477 (V255/R342); Randazzo grp. 4, 14a, 535-6 (same dies); SNG ANS 148 (same obv. die). Delicate greyish/golden toning.
Extremely
Fine
.
Estimated Value ............................................................................................................................................................... $5,000 - 6,500
