Description
Second Democracy, circa 440-430 BC. AR tetradrachm, 17.18 gr., 26.1 mm.
Obv.: charioteer driving slow quadriga to the right, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying to the right, crowning horses; below horses: grain of barley, in exergue: [Ketos]; border of dots.
Rev.: ΣYRΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ; head of nymph Arethusa to the right, wearing pendant earrings and pearl necklace, her hair held in taenia; around: four dolphins.
Ref.: Gillet 576 = Jameson 771 (this coin illustrated); Boehringer 594 (V293/R397, same dies); SNG ANS 192 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1336 (same dies); Rizzo pl. XXXVIII, 1 (same dies); Buceti 281 (same dies); MFA Boston 381 (same reverse die).; cf. HGC 1313.
Beautiful old cabinet tone. A very elegant portrait of fine style. Obverse struck from a slightly deteriorated die, otherwise, Nearly Extremely Fine.
Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachfolger 368 (München 2001), lot 51; ex Sternberg XXXIII (Zürich 1997), lot 8. From the Gillet collection (Photofile no. 571) and Jameson collection.
