The Finest Known

Sale: Triton XI, Lot: 65. Estimate $25000.  Closing Date: Monday, 7 January 2008.  Sold For $18000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Syracuse. Timoleon and the Third Democracy. 344-317 BC. Æ Dilitron (20.38 g, 8h). Timoleontic Symmachy coinage, circa 339/8-334 BC. IEUS EL[EUQ]ERIOS, laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios left / SURA-K-OSIW-N, horse prancing left. Castrizio Series II, 1; CNS 80; SNG ANS 533-41; SNG Lloyd 1456-7; Basel 499 (this coin). Superb EF, dark green patina. Struck from artistic dies; the finest known.

Ex Sammlung Ludwig (Numismatica Ars Classica 13, 8 October 1998), lot 499.

In the early 4th century BC, Syracuse had become highly factionalized, and the political turmoil was taken advantage of by the Carthaginians, who supported Hiketas against Dionysios I. Eventually a delegation was sent by the Syracusans to Corinth to appeal to their mother city for help. Timoleon was chosen to take control of Syracuse, drive the Carthaginian-backed government from power, and restore the tranquility and prosperity of the great Sicilian city. In this endeavor Timoleon was successful, and his rule sparked a cultural and political revival. This revival is reflected in the city's coinage, with the advent of many new types and denominations.

Among the new issues was this large bronze drachm. The obverse features the head of Zeus Eleutherios (the Liberator), whose prominence in the series, appearing on multiple denominations from gold to bronze, clearly underscored the achievements of Timoleon. The free horse on the reverse, with its trailing rein, also evokes the idea of liberation and freedom from the oppressive rule of Hiketas. What is most unusual and definitive is the quality of the engraving executed on the dies of this issue. Until this time, the most skilled engravers appear to have been reserved solely for the precious metal coinage, but this bronze issue displays a highly refined style that is certainly on par with the finest art found on the silver and gold.

This spectacular coin is among the very finest Greek bronzes known. A master die engraver produced both the exceedingly rare silver stater, of which two are known (Rizzo pl. LVIII, 2 [Naples] and Tkalec, 25 October 1996, lot 15 [cover coin]), and this issue of bronze having the same obverse motif. The sensitivity and clarity of style of the Zeus head is reminiscent of the high classical Zeus of the fifth-century sculptor Phidias with other derivative bronze heads being found in the Hunt collection (Wealth of the Ancient World, 42) and in The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. The horse is of equally seductive beauty, evoking images of the unruly horses of the quadrigas on Euainetos’ and Kimon's dekadrachms. Its musculature is detailed and vigorous, perfectly capturing the steed reeling in the glory of its newfound freedom. Lastly, the untouched surfaces highlighted by a wonderful green patina serve to transform this coin when held in the hand, producing an effect that cannot be fully captured by conventional photography.