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Ancient Coins
1539
Sicily, Leontinoi. Silver Tetradrachm (16.87 g), ca. 440-
430 BC
. Laureate head of Apollo left.
Reverse:
LEON-TI-N-ON,
head of roaring lion left; behind, leaf; around, three barley
grains. Cf. Boehringer 51; SNG ANS 240-1 (same obv. die).
Lovely fine style. Lightly toned.
Very Fine
.
Estimate Value ..................................................... $500 - 600
The Hanbery Collection; Purchased privately from Rare Coins &
Classical Arts in 1986.
Enlargement
1540 Sicily, Messana. Silver Tetradrachm (17.26 g), ca. 480/75-475/70 BC
. The nymph Messana, holding kentron and reins, driving slow biga
of mules left; in exergue, two dolphins confronted.
Reverse:
, hare springing left; above, dove flying left; below, grain ear. Caltabiano
series XV, 614 (D220/R241); SNG ANS -; SNG Lloyd 1103 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 404 (same dies); Weber 1428 (same dies).
Rare.
Lovely
old cabinet toning.
Very Fine
.
Estimate Value ............................................................................................................................................................................ $500 - 600
The Hanbery Collection; Purchased privately from Economopoulos Enterprises in the late 1980s or early 1990s. With old German dealer ticket not-
ing ex Imhoof-Blumer Collection (unconfirmed).
Enlargement
1541 Sicily, Syracuse. Deinomenid Tyranny. Silver Tetradrachm (17.13 g), 485-466 BC
. Under Hieron I, ca. 475-470 BC. Charioteer, holding
kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses with open wreath held.
Reverse:
V-RAKO-
IO-? Head of
Arethusa right, hair bound with pearl diadem, wearing necklace; around, four dolphins. Boehringer 310E.1 (V150/R206); Randazzo 476-7 (same
dies); SNG ANS 100; Weber 1561 (same dies). Well struck on a nice clean flan. Lightly toned.
Extremely Fine
.
Estimate Value .......................................................................................................................................................................$2,000 - 2,500
From the Hanbery Collection; Purchased privately from F. Kovacs in 1988.
Syracusan tetradrachms of the fifth century BC are famous for their scenes of chariot racers. Sometimes the scenes are filled with excitement and
tension as the horses barrel through the hippodrome and the charioteer loses the reins, but the scene on this coin seems to depict the end of the
race as the winner drives his chariot for a final victory lap. The horses are not at full gallop as in the race, but take their time in turning around the
meta (a column used to mark the turning point in the hippodrome), giving the driver time to bask in the glory of his victory. While the triumphant
context of the scene can be inferred from the gait of the horses, it is made explicit by the appearance of Nike flying above holding the victor' s dia-
dem.