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Research Coins: Electronic Auction

 
242, Lot: 18. Estimate $150.
Sold for $150. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Syracuse. Timoleon and the Third Democracy. 344-317 BC. Æ Hemidrachm (24mm, 14.21 g, 10h). Struck circa 344-339/8 BC. Laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios right / Upright thunderbolt; to right, eagle standing right. CNS 72; SNG ANS 477-88. VF, dark grayish-green, almost black, patina, some smoothing. Includes a David R. Sear Certificate of Authenticity.


By 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 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 advent of many new types and denominations.

Among the new issues was a multi-denominational series featuring the head of Zeus Eleutherios (the Liberator), whose prominence in the series clearly underscored the achievements of Timoleon. The dies of this series are remarkable for the exceptional quality of the engraving.