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SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (35mm, 43.38 g, 1h). Unsigned dies in the style of Euainetos. Struck circa 405-380/67 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line, [military harness], shield, greaves, cuirass, and crested Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear; [AΘ]ΛA below / Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; ΣΥ-ΡΑ-Κ-Ο-ΣΙΩΝ above, shell behind neck, four swimming dolphins around. Gallatin dies R.XII/F.II; Scavino dies D12/R22; HGC 2, 1299; SNG Ashmolean 2026 (same dies); Boston MFA 427 = Warren 361 (same dies). Attractive old cabinet tone, a few faint scratches under tone. Near EF. Exceptional for issue, struck from an early die state, with virtually no die rust, and well centered.
Ex ArsAntiqva IV (11 October 2003), lot 80.
Dionysios assumed power in 405 BC and immediately set out to make Syracuse the greatest and most heavily fortified city in all Sicily. He was defending against the renewed imperialistic expansion of Carthage. Three times he defeated the Carthaginians, bringing further prestige and wealth to Syracuse. During his reign, the Syracusan navy became the most powerful in the Mediterranean, allowing Syracuse to expand her territorial control over much of southern Italy.
Dionysios reintroduced the large and ostentatious silver dekadrachms, a denomination that had not been used in Syracuse since the issue of the Demareteion decades earlier. Dionysios entrusted two of the greatest local numismatic artists, Kimon and Euainetos, to design these impressive pieces. The regard for these coins in modern times is reflected by the fact that they are considered a must for any first rank collection of Greek coins.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 126 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 28-29 May 2024. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 28 May at 9 AM ET.
Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.
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