Sale: Nomos 7, Lot: 15. Estimate CHF5000.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 14 May 2013.  Bidding Closed.

SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. Dekadrachm or Tetrobol (Gold, 2.83 g 10), circa 295-289. Laureate head of Apollo to left. Rev. Charioteer, holding goad in his right hand and reins in his left, driving biga galloping to right; below horses, triskeles to left; in exergue, Φ. Bérend, l’or pl. 9, 13. Jameson 859. SNG ANS 706. Very rare, toned and of lovely style. Good very fine.

The types of this coin, a head of Apollo and a biga, are surely meant to be reminiscent of the gold coinage of Philip II of Macedon: they are virtually straight copies. Agathokles liked to identify himself with the great Macedonian kings and especially enjoyed comparing his victories over the Carthaginians with those of Alexander over the Persians. While Agathokles lived longer than Alexander did, his empire collapsed even faster.