TheNewYorkSaleauctionXL

1020

Sicily, Syracuse. Second Democracy. Silver Tetradrachm (17.10 g), 466-405 BC. Ca. 450 BC. Charioteer,

holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses with

wreath; in exergue, ketos right. Rev.

VRAKO

-I-ON, head of Arethusa right, wearing single-pendant

earring and necklace; around, four dolphins. (Boehringer 515 (V270/R366); SNG ANS 170 (same rev. die);

Rizzo pl. XXXVI, 6 (same dies); Basel 437 = Jameson 783 (same dies); Pozzi 578 (same dies); BMC 83

(same dies)). Fine style, and with attractive old cabinet toning. Extremely fine.

$ 3,000

Purchased privately from Tom Cederlind.

This coin which features the charioteer and Arethusa types for which Syracuse is widely celebrated, was struck not long after the

restoration of a democratic constitution in the city after two decades of rule by tyrants of the Deinomenid family. While Gelon I

(485-478 BC) and his brother Hieron I (478-467 BC) had done much to establish Syracuse as the preeminent city of Greek Sicily

and stave off the encroachments of the Carthaginians, the despotic behavior of their successor, Thrasyboulos, resulted in a general

uprising against the Deinominids and the end of the tyranny in 466/5 BC.

1021

Sicily, Syracuse. Second Democracy. Silver Tetradrachm (17.35 g), 466-405 BC. Ca. 420-415 BC.

Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flyong right, crowning

horses with wreath; in exergue, grasshopper right. Rev.

-Y-PA-K-[O

I]-O? head of Arethusa right, hair

bound in sakkos; around, four dolphins. (cf. Boehringer 727-8 (V360/R495; die combination not recorded);

Rizzo pl. XL, 17; McClean 2682, pl. 94, 3; Jameson 781; Pozzi 590 (all from the same rev. die)).

A rare die

combination not recorded by Boehringer.

Of confident and attractive style. Toned. Very fine.

$ 1,300

1022

Sicily, Syracuse. Timoleon and the Third Democracy. Silver Hemidrachm (1.91 g), 344-317 BC.

RAK

SIW

, head of Athena facing slightly left, wearing triple-crested Attic helmet; around, three

dolphins. Rev. Youth on horseback right; above, eight-pointed star. (SNG ANS 520).

Rare.

Attractively

toned. Very fine.

$ 500

ex NFA MBS (18 October 1990), lot 105.