Ex Lockett and Mathey Collections – Pedigreed to 1906
SICILY, Syracuse. Hiketas II. 287-278 BC. AV Hemistater – Drachm (16.5mm, 4.27 g, 4h). Struck circa 279/8 BC. Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of grain ears, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ to left, long torch to right / Nike, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast biga right; star above, grain ear below, EΠI IKETA in exergue. Buttrey,
Morgantina, dies 3/F, e = SNG Lockett 1007 (
this coin); BAR issue 41; HGC 2, 1277; Boston MFA 469 (same dies); Hunterian 186 (same dies); Locker Lampson 106 = Weber 1689 (same dies). Trace deposits, a little die wear, minor doubling on reverse. Near EF.
Ex Phillips Family Collection; Richard Cyril Lockett Collection (Greek Part I, Glendining, 25 October 1955), lot 911; Glendining (27 May 1936), lot 27; Paul Mathey Collection (Feuardent Frères, 9 June 1913), lot 124; Egger XVIII (10 December 1906), lot 229.
Little is known of Hiketas beyond his coinage, but Buttrey pieces together a history based on the numismatic evidence. Following his defeat of Phintias, tyrant of Akragas, Hiketas set out against the Carthaginians. This campaign ended in disaster at the Terias river, northwest of Syracuse. Buttrey, based on his die analysis, concludes that this gold issue was struck very hurriedly towards the end of the reign of Hiketas, and theorizes that this series was issued to pay for his Carthaginian campaign.
