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SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 16.96 g, 9h). Struck circa 460-450 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses with open wreath; in exergue, ketos right / Head of Arethousa right, wearing pearl tainia, single-pendant earring, and necklace; four dolphins around. Boehringer Series XIVa, 477 (V255/R342); HGC 2, 1311; SNG ANS 144–5 (same rev. die); SNG München 1010 (same dies); Randazzo 535–6 (same dies); Ward 254 (same dies). Old collection tone, scattered light marks, minor flan flaw on reverse. VF. Perfectly centered.
The tyranny of the Deinomenids, under whom Syracuse had become a great power in the Greek world, was overthrown in about 466 BC and replaced by a new oligarchic constitution traditionally called the Second Democracy. This tetradrachm dates from the early years of this new government. While superficially similar to the Deinomenid issues of the 470s BC, it bears an innovation: the serpentine figure of a Ketos, or sea-serpent, in the obverse exergue. Perhaps the emblem of the ruling oligarchy, the Ketos would feature on Syracusan tetradrachms for roughly the next 30 years.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 129 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 13-14 May 2025. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 13 May at 9 AM ET.
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