10. SICILY, Syracuse. Deinomenid Tyranny. 485-466 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 17.34 g), circa 475-470. Quadriga walking to right, driver holds the reins in his left hand and his goad in his right; above, Nike flying right to crown the driver. Rev. ΣVRΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ Head of Arethusa to right, wearing necklace and diadem of pearls, and with her hair drawn up at the back; around, four dolphins swimming clockwise to right. Boehringer 322 (this coin). Atrractively toned, a very pretty example. Extremely fine. Ex Naville IV, 17 June 1922, 308. The tetradrachms of Syracuse from this period were struck very rapidly, and are often somewhat off-struck on narrow flans. This piece, however, is exceptionally nice, with both sides beautifully centered, and with an unusually small and pretty head of Arethusa.
11. SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 410-405. Hemilitron (Bronze, 3.18 g 7). Head of Arethusa to left, wearing ampyx and sphendone adorned with a star; behind, dolphin to left. Rev. ΣΥΡΑ Wheel with four spokes; dolphin in each of the bottom two quarters. CNS 20. SNG ANS 411. Of beautiful late 5th century style, and with a fine greenish-brown patina. Extremely fine.
12. SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. 100 Litrai (Gold, 5.79 g), circa 405-400. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Head of Arethusa to left, her hair bound up in a sphendone ornamented with two stars, wearing a single-pendant earring and a pearl necklace; globule in field before and behind her neck. Rev. Youthful Herakles kneeling to right on rocky ground line, grappling with the Nemean lion. Bérend 14/6 (this coin). Jameson 814 (this coin). SNG ANS 327-328 (same dies). A lovely coin of beautiful style, unsigned but by Euainetos, nicely centered and toned. Some minor marks, otherwise, extremely fine. Ex Hess-Leu 28, 5 May 1965, 93, Hess-Leu (3), 27 March 1956, 205 (incorrect weight), Hess(-Leu 1), 14 April 1954, 68 (incorrect weight), and from the collections of R. Jameson, and of the Earl of Ashburnham, SWH, 6 May 1895, 49. One of the amazing things about Greek coins, which are so beautiful to our eyes today, is that they were struck to pay for all sorts of everyday expenses. The extensive gold issues of Dionysios I are among the most beautiful gold coins ever struck, but they were, of course, made to pay his mercenary army! It is a question of philosophy: the Greeks believed in making even everyday objects such as coins beautiful as a way of bringing prestige and honor to the city and ruler who issued them. Certainly, the competition over engravers that took place in 5th century Sicily can be explained in no other way.
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