| Numismatica Ars Classica > Auction 146 | Auction date: 8 May 2024 |
| Lot number: 2121 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: Syracuse. 24 litrae circa 214-214, AR 30 mm, 20.25 g. Diademed head l.; in r. field, cornucopiae. Rev. BAΣIΛEOΣ – ΙΕΡΩΝYMOY Winged thunderbolt. Jameson 887 (this coin). Holloway 3b (this coin, erroneously illustrated as 3a in the plates). AMB 537 (this coin). Of the highest rarity, very few specimens known and possibly the only one in private hands. An issue of tremendous importance and fascination with a delicate portrait of fine Hellenistic style and a lovely old cabinet tone. Traces of overstriking and minor marks, otherwise good very fine / about extremely fine Ex Sotheby's 1886, Montagu, 181; Sotheby's 3 February 1909, Benson, 393; NAC 13, 1998, formerly exhibited at the Antikenmuseum Basel, 537 and Heritage 3089, 2021, 31013 sales. From the Jameson, Wigan, Athos and Dina Moretti and Penn collections. Hieronymous of Syracuse was the grandson of Hieron II, and ascended to the throne of Syracuse when he was just fifteen years old, in 215 BC. While Hieron II had maintained good relations with both Rome and Carthage, the two superpowers were in the midst of the Second Punic War, and Rome had just recently suffered its greatest defeat by the forces of Hannibal at the Battle of Cannae. This convinced Hieronymous to renounce Syracuse's friendship with Rome in favor of an alliance with Carthage, with disastrous consequences for both Hieronymous and Syracuse. The Romans rebounded from their defeat at Cannae much more quickly than Hieronymous could ever have predicted, and sent troops under Marcellus to chastise the Syracusans. Before the forces of either side ever engaged, however, Hieronymous was assassinated in in the streets of Leontini by a group of his fellow citizens led by his bodyguard, Deiomenes. He had reigned for just thirteen months. Syracuse while still hostile towards Rome, for the time being renounced its tyrants and instituted a democracy. History has not been kind to Hieronymous, perhaps because the sources are Roman. He is painted as a childish tyrant, susceptible to seduction from corrupting influences, of poor temperament and prone to the vilest excesses. Of course, this portrayal may be merely propaganda and inaccurate: the writer Polybius was inclined to doubt the Roman authors on the topic. For having only reined a short time, Hieronymous issued an extensive series of coinage in all metals. The reverses of all denominations feature a winged thunderbolt with an accompanying Doric legend naming Hieronymous as king. While the gold coins all feature the head of the goddess Persephone on the obverse, customary by this time for Syracusan gold coins for nearly a century, the silver and bronze coins feature the diademed head of Hieronymous himself. The silver was struck in three denominations, based on the litra standard, in multiples of 5, 10, and 24 litrai. This coin, the largest silver denomination of Hieronymous, is the rarest by far, being one of just a few known examples and likely the only specimen held privately, making it a astoundingly unique opportunity for the astute buyer. However, not only is it of the highest rarity, it also features an incredibly fine and attractive portrait of Hieronymous, all of which is amplified by beautiful old toning. Estimate: 50000 CHF |  |
