Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVIIAuction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 72

Price realized: 19,000 USD   (Approx. 17,402 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (32mm, 41.92 g, 4h). Unsigned dies in the style of Euainetos. Struck circa 405-380/67 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line, [military harness, shield], greaves, cuirass, and crested Attic helmet, all connected by a [horizontal spear]; [AΘΛA below] / Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; ΣΥ-ΡΑ-ΚΟ-[Σ-ΙΩΝ] above, pellet below chin, four dolphins swimming around. Gallatin dies R.XXI/J.II; Scavino 59 (D18/R31); HGC 2, 1299; SNG ANS 375 (same dies); BMC 179 (same dies). In NGC encapsulation 6158788-002, graded Ch VF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5, Fine Style.

Ex Doyle (19 January 2022), lot 13; reportedly purchased by the consignor from George M. Beach, 1990.


Estimate: 15000 USD

Match 1:
Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 126Auction date: 28 May 2024
Lot number: 69

Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot
Lot description:


SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (35mm, 43.38 g, 1h). Unsigned dies in the style of Euainetos. Struck circa 405-380/67 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line, [military harness], shield, greaves, cuirass, and crested Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear; [AΘ]ΛA below / Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; ΣΥ-ΡΑ-Κ-Ο-ΣΙΩΝ above, shell behind neck, four swimming dolphins around. Gallatin dies R.XII/F.II; Scavino dies D12/R22; HGC 2, 1299; SNG Ashmolean 2026 (same dies); Boston MFA 427 = Warren 361 (same dies). Attractive old cabinet tone, a few faint scratches under tone. Near EF. Exceptional for issue, struck from an early die state, with virtually no die rust, and well centered.

Ex ArsAntiqva IV (11 October 2003), lot 80.

Dionysios assumed power in 405 BC and immediately set out to make Syracuse the greatest and most heavily fortified city in all Sicily. He was defending against the renewed imperialistic expansion of Carthage. Three times he defeated the Carthaginians, bringing further prestige and wealth to Syracuse. During his reign, the Syracusan navy became the most powerful in the Mediterranean, allowing Syracuse to expand her territorial control over much of southern Italy.

Dionysios reintroduced the large and ostentatious silver dekadrachms, a denomination that had not been used in Syracuse since the issue of the Demareteion decades earlier. Dionysios entrusted two of the greatest local numismatic artists, Kimon and Euainetos, to design these impressive pieces. The regard for these coins in modern times is reflected by the fact that they are considered a must for any first rank collection of Greek coins.

Estimate: 40000 USD

Match 2:
Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVIIAuction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 71

Price realized: 42,500 USD   (Approx. 38,926 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (34mm, 43.16 g, 9h). Unsigned dies in the style of Euainetos. Struck circa 405-380/67 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line, [military harness], shield, greaves, cuirass, and crested Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear; [AΘΛA below] / Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; [ΣΥ-ΡΑ]-Κ-Ο-ΣΙΩΝ above, scallop shell behind neck, four dolphins swimming around. Gallatin dies R.XI/E.I; Scavino 38 (D11/R21); HGC 2, 1299; SNG ANS 372 (same dies); Boston MFA 426 = Warren 359 (same dies); Consul Weber 686 (same dies); Hunterian 55 (same dies); Jameson 829 (same dies). Toned, a little die rust as usual. Good VF.

Ex Kovacs XV (1 October 2003), lot 30; Russel Bement, Jr. Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 51, 15 September 1999), lot 152.


Estimate: 20000 USD

Match 3:
Classical Numismatic Group > Auction 126Auction date: 28 May 2024
Lot number: 70

Price realized: This lot is for sale in an upcoming auction - Bid on this lot
Lot description:


SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (34mm, 42.90 g, 3h). Unsigned dies in the style of Euainetos. Struck circa 405-380/67 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line, [military harness, shield], greaves, cuirass, and crested Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear; [AΘΛA below] / Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; ΣΥ-ΡΑ-Κ-Ο-[ΣΙΩΝ] above, star behind neck, four swimming dolphins around. Gallatin dies R.XXIII/K.III; Scavino dies D20/R38; HGC 2, 1299; SNG Blackburn 189 (same dies); SNG München 1082 (same dies). Toned, minor marks. Good VF.

Ex CNG inventory 866444 (February 2009); Gemini V (6 January 2009), lot 468.


Estimate: 25000 USD

Match 4:
Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVIIAuction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 69

Price realized: 31,250 USD   (Approx. 28,622 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (36mm, 41.38 g, 1h). Unsigned dies in the style of Kimon. Struck circa 404-400 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line, a military harness, shield, greaves, cuirass, and Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear; AΘΛ[A] below / Head of Arethousa left, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace, hair restrained in an open-weave sakkos and ampyx, KI (Kimon's signature) on ampyx; ΣΥΡΑΚ-ΟΣΙΩ to right, four dolphins swimming around. Jongkees 12 (dies C/λ); Scavino 12 (D3/R11); Regling, Dekadrachmon 12; HGC 2, 1298; SNG ANS 360 (same dies); Bement 510 (same dies); de Luynes 1241 (same dies); Ward 292 (same dies). Deep old cabinet tone. In NGC encapsulation 6158788-001, graded Ch VF, Strike: 3/5, Surface: 2/5, Fine Style, double-struck.

Ex Doyle (19 January 2022), lot 12.


Estimate: 15000 USD

Match 5:
Classical Numismatic Group > Triton XXVIIAuction date: 9 January 2024
Lot number: 67

Price realized: 55,000 USD   (Approx. 50,375 EUR)   Note: Prices do not include buyer's fees.
Lot description:


SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (33mm, 42.82 g, 11h). Dies signed by Kimon. Struck circa 405-400 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line [inscribed KIMΩN], a shield, greaves, cuirass, and Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear; [AΘΛA below] / Head of Arethousa left, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace, hair restrained in an open-weave sakkos and ampyx; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ behind hair, four swimming dolphins around, the one below neck inscribed KIMΩN. Jongkees 5 (dies A/ε); Scavino 5 (D1/R5); Regling, Dekadrachmon 5; HGC 2, 1298; SNG Fitzwilliam 1272–3 (same dies); SNG Spencer-Churchill 56 = DDTP p. 15 (same dies); Gulbenkian 304 (same dies); Hunt III 27 (same obv. die); Jameson 1920 (same dies); Kraay & Hirmer 119 (same obv. die); Prosepero 176 (this coin). Beautiful old cabinet tone. In NGC encapsulation 6708769-001, graded Ch VF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Fine Style. A lovely example of this famed issue.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 133 (21 November 2022), lot 21; Prospero Collection (The New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012), lot 176; Pflieger Collection (Vinchon, 13 April 1985), lot 137.

Dionysios assumed power in 405 BC and immediately set out to make Syracuse the greatest and most heavily fortified city in all Sicily. He was defending against the renewed imperialistic expansion of Carthage. Three times he defeated the Carthaginians, bringing further prestige and wealth to Syracuse. During his reign, the Syracusan navy became the most powerful in the Mediterranean, allowing Syracuse to expand her territorial control over much of southern Italy.

Dionysios reintroduced the large and ostentatious silver dekadrachms, a denomination that had not been used in Syracuse since the issue of the Demareteion decades earlier. Dionysios entrusted two of the greatest local numismatic artists, Kimon and Euainetos, to design these impressive pieces. The regard for these coins in modern times is reflected by the fact that they are considered a must for any first rank collection of Greek coins.

Estimate: 30000 USD