Ex Thyssen-Bornemisza–Kaplan, Moretti, and Pennisi Collections

Triton XXII, Lot: 144. Estimate $150000. Sold for $160000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.33 g, 10h). Dies signed by Euth- and Eumenes. Struck circa 415-409 BC. Nike as charioteer, holding reins in both hands, driving fast quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer with laurel wreath held in her extended right hand; in exergue, dolphin swimming right behind Skylla, holding trident, swimming right, EVΘ before / Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, and necklace with lion head pendant; EVM below neck; four dolphins and ΣVPAKO-ΣIΩИ around. Fischer-Bossert, Coins 46e (V15/R28) = Basel 460 (this coin); Tudeer 46; HGC 2, 1334; SNG ANS 273; SNG Lloyd 1381; BMC 153 = Kraay & Hirmer 103; Bement 498 = Gulbenkian 279 = Virzi Sale 330; Boston MFA Supp. 33; Hunterian 45; Jameson 796; de Luynes 1213 = Rizzo pl. XLIII, 11; McClean 2714; Regling, Kunstwerk 592 (all from the same dies). Superb EF, beautiful deep tone around the devices with even light gray fields.

From the Gasvoda Collection. Ex Baron Lorne Thyssen-Bornemisza & Dr. Thomas S. Kaplan Joint Collection (Numismatica Genevensis SA IX, 14 December 2015), lot 15; Numismatica Ars Classica 48 (21 October 2008), lot 47; A. D. Moretti Collection (Numismatica Ars Classica 13, 8 October 1998), lot 460; Salvatore Pennisi, Barone di Floristella Collection (sold in Switzerland in the 1960s).

From the consignor: Perhaps the first school for engraving specifically of coin dies was located at Syracuse. Master engravers abound here from the end of the fifth century BC and there are numerous signed dies each masterful in its own way. Here the engravers Euthydamos (obverse) and Eumenes (reverse) are paired together to create a tetradrachm that is nothing less than breathtaking. Beautifully centered and struck, with a wonderful provenance.