| Heritage World Coin Auctions > Showcase Auction 61375 | Auction date: 20 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 25020 Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot  | Show similar lots on CoinArchives Find similar lots in upcoming auctions on  |
| Lot description: Ancients SICILY. Syracuse. Second Democracy (ca. 466-405 BC). AR tetradrachm (25mm, 17.23 gm, 3h). NGC Choice VF 4/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Ca. 430-420 BC. Male charioteer, wearing long chiton, kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving walking quadriga right; Nike flying above to right, crowning horses / ΣYPAKOΣION, head of Arethusa right, hair in saccos decorated with a maeander pattern and zigzag bands, four dolphins swimming around. Boehringer 657 (V332/R448). HGC 2, 1319. A beautiful coin featuring an exquisitely rendered portrait of Arethusa on the obverse and of the quadriga being crowned on the reverse, all bathed in lovely graphite toning accented with subtle hints of mauve hues. Ex Economopoulos Numismatics, private sale with old dealer's tags included; Lucia Birkler Collection. The transitional era of Greek numismatic art is perfectly exemplified by the dies of this Syracusan tetradrachm, which displays a blend of Archaic and Classical artistic conventions. The obverse image of a charioteer driving his quadriga to right retains some Archaic elements, notably the rather stiff pose of the charioteer and the slow, stately gate of the horses; the reverse head of Arethusa, on the other hand, exhibits the cool classicism of contemporary Athenian art, as seen on the famous Parthenon frieze. The added touch of the maeander pattern (or "Greek key") adorning the snood-like saccos containing Arethusa's hair shows the precise, mathematical precision of a true master engraver. https://coins.ha.com/itm/ancients/greek/ancients-sicily-syracuse-second-democracy-ca-466-405-bc-ar-tetradrachm-25mm-1723-gm-3h-ngc-choice-vf-4-5/a/61375-25020.s?type=DA-DMC-CoinArchives-WorldCoins-61375-05202024 HID02906262019 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved |  |
