The Revival of Syracuse under Timoleon

Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 66. Estimate $7500.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $8000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Syracuse. Timoleon and the Third Democracy. 344-317 BC. AV Hemidrachm – 30 Litrai (2.15 g, 9h). Struck circa 344-339/8 BC. Head of Zeus left, wearing laurel wreath; [ZEY]Σ EΛEY[ΘEPIOΣ] around / Pegasos flying left; ΣYP-A-K-OΣIΩN around, AP monogram before, three pellets below. Garraffo pl. 1, 8 (same rev. die); SNG ANS 493 corr. (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1440 (same dies); Rizzo pl. 58, 1 (same dies); Jameson 851 (same dies). EF.

Ex James A. Ferrendelli Collection (Triton VII, 13 January 2004), lot 96; Numismatica Ars Classica 9 (16 April 1996), lot 233.

By the early 4th century BC, Syracuse had become highly factionalized, and the Carthaginians took advantage of the political turmoil by supporting Hiketas against their enemy, 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 introduction of many new types and denominations.