Sale: Nomos 7, Lot: 17. Estimate CHF15000.  Closing Date: Tuesday, 14 May 2013.  Sold For CHF17000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Syracuse. Theonon and Sosistratos. 278 BC. Hemistater or Dekadrachm (Gold, 4.27 g 6). Head of Persephone to left, wearing wreath of grain leaves, pendant earring and pearl necklace; behind neck, Β. Rev. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Nike driving galloping biga to right, holding goad in her right hand and the reins in her left; above, star; on the near horse, above the foreleg, countermark of a Punic letter (?). Buttrey, Morgantina 6-X. De Hirsch 684 (same dies). Jameson 870 (same dies). Extremely rare. A lovely coin. Very minor traces of die rust on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the collection of J. A. Ferrendelli, Triton VII, 13 January 2004, 114.

The meaning of the countermark on this coin is unknown, but it may well have to do with mercenary pay.