Description
Sicily, Syracuse, Period of the Deinomenid Tyranny, Silver Tetradrachm (17.22g, 24mm, Attic Standard), time of Heiron I of Syracuse circa 480/478-450 BC. Obverse: Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga to the right, Nike flying to the right above, crowning horses with laurel wreath. Reverse: Head of the Nymph Arethusa facing to the right, wearing necklace and earring, her hair bound by pearl band in a krobylos, “ΣVRΑKΟΣΙΟΝ” (“Of Syracuse”) and four dolphins swimming clockwise surrounds. SNG ANS-42; Boehringer-149 (V66/R103). Obverse a touch weakly struck and minor die break through Arethusa’s face, each typical for the type, choicely centred reverse and with deep toning to reverse, an attractive and collectible piece of Syracusan history, details near Very Fine.
