| | Greece: Sicily-Syracuse - On the southeast coast of Sicily
 |
Sicily-Syracuse, AR Tetradrachm, c.482-480 BC, Deinomenid Tyranny, Struck
under Gelon
(No legend)
Charioteer driving walking quadriga right, holding kentron and reins; Nike
flying above and crowning horses
SURAKOSION
Diademed head of Arethusa right; four dolphins swimming clockwise around
23mm x 24mm, 17.28g
Boehringer 89 (V44/R58); SNG ANS 23 (same obverse die) Ex Barry Murphy,
CICF, April 2008
Note: The obverse of the Syracusan Tetradrachm shows a charioteer driving a
quadriga right. On nearly all the dies though, only two horse heads are
visible. Only two dies, this one (V44) and V45 show all four horse heads.
|
 |
Sicily-Syracuse, AR Tetradrachm, c.485-480 BC, Deinomenid Tyranny, Struck
under Gelon
(No legend)
Charioteer driving walking quadriga right, holding kentron and reins; Nike
flying above and crowning horses
SURAK_OSI_O_N
Diademed head of Arethusa right; four dolphins swimming clockwise around
23mm x 25mm, 17.14g
Boehringer 120
Ex Mark Drazak Collection
Notes: The Deinomenid tyranny began in Gela. Cleandrus became tyrant in
505. He was an important and wealthy man and led the opposition to the
ruling oligarchs. In 498 he was murdered, and Hippocrates took over. He
engaged in military exploits in Sicily but died in 491. When Hippocrates
died in 491 BCE, Gelon (with the army's loyalty) seized power and
undertook a quiet rule from 491-485--when he intervened in Syracuse. The
gomoroi (oligarchs) had lost control in Syracuse about 490. A democracy
was established, but it remained disorganized. The Gomoroi, who had
retreated to the interior of Sicily, appealed to Gelon in 4 85. He
overpowered the democrats, gained control of Syracuse, and made the city
his base. Gelon increased his power, developed a large army and navy, and
gained control of half of Sicily. This led him into direct conflict with
Carthage which, under Hamilcar, invaded Sicily but was completely defeated
by Gelon in 480. This marked the end of Carthaginian intervention in
Sicily for 70 years. Gelon died in 478; his reign was viewed as a period
of prosperity and happiness. Gelon's brother Hieron succeeded.
|
 |
Greek, Sicily-Syracuse, AE Hemilitra, After 410 BC
(No legend)
Head of Arethusa left, wearing headband
ΣY_PA
Doplhin swimming right, shell below
14mm x 17mm, 3.05g
Calciati 24
Ex David Cannon Collection
|
 |
Sicily-Syracuse, EL 50 Litrae, c.317-289 BC, Struck under Agathokles
(No legend)
Laureate head of Apollo left within beaded circle
SURAK | OSIWN
Tripod
15mm, 3.69g
BMC Sicily 183, 254; SNG ANS --
|
 |
Sicily-Syracuse, Agathokles (317-289 BC), AE Trias (?)
ΣYPAKOΣIΩN
Head of Kore left, wearing pendant earring, ivy leaf behind, all within beaded circle
(No legend)
Bull butting left within linear circle
AΓ in exergue
16mm x 17mm, 3.41g
Note: The exergual mark actually appears to be NI, however, I cannot find any
similar examples. As such, I have to assume it is a corrupted A and a
partially struck Γ.
|
 |
Sicily-Syracuse, EL 25 Litrae, c.310-305 BC
(No legend)
Laureate head of Apollo left
SURAKO | SIWN
Lyre
10mm x 11mm, 1.82g
SNG ANS 617
|
 |
Sicily-Syracuse, Hiketas II, AE24, c.287-278 BC
SURAKUSIWN
Head of Persephone right, B behind
(No legend)
Biga right
A X in exergue
Sear Greek 1210
Note: Obverse slightly rotated and
double stuck, most of the eye and cheek detail evident on both strikes.
|
 |
Sicily-Syracuse, Hiketas II, AE23, c.287-278 BC
DIOSELLANOU
Laureate head of young Zeus Hellanios left, trophy in right field
SURAKO_SIWN
Eagle standing left on thunderbolt, * in left field
22mm x 24mm, 9.37g
SNG ANS 810; Calciati 156
|
 |
Sicily-Syracuse, Philistis (Wife of Hieron II), AR 16 Litrai, 216-215 BC
(No legend)
Veiled, diademed head of Philistis left
BASILISEAS
Nike in walking quadriga right
Crescent in upper field, A in right field
FILISTIDOS in exergue
26mm x 27mm, 13.03g
Burnett, Enna 32; SNG ANS 876 variant
|
 |
Hellenic Kingdoms and City States, Sicily-Syracuse, AR 2-1/2 Litrae, 215-212
BC
(No legend)
Laureate head of Apollo left
ΣYPAKOΣION
Isis standing facing, head left, sistrum in right hand, palm in left, veil
billowing behind, E in right field
14mm x 15mm, 2.25g
SNG Copenhagen 883; SNG ANS 905
|
 |
Sicily-Syracuse, AR 8 Litrai, 214-212 BC, Fifth Democracy
(No legend)
Head of Athena left wearing crested Corinthian helmet, necklace and single
pendant earring
SURAKOSIWN
Winged thunderbolt
YA S in lower field
23mm x 25mm, 6.72g
Burnett, Enna 28; SNG ANS 1046 (same dies)
|
|