1. Artemide Aste
  2. Artemide LVI (23 - 24 ottobre 2021)
  3. Greek Coins
Lotto 137:
Sicily. Syracuse. Thoinon and Sosistratos magistrates. AV Hemistater-Dekadrachm, c. 278 BC. Obv. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ. Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of grain leaves, pendant earring and pearl necklace; behind neck, bee. Rev. Nike, holding goad in her right hand and reins in her left driving biga galloping to right; below, Θ; in exergue, [ΕΠΙ ΙΚΕΤΑ] (but erased in the die). Cf. HGC 2 1277 (Hiketas); Buttrey, Morgantina, 5-R (same obv. die). SNG Munich 1292. AV. 4.28 g. 16.00 mm. RRR. Extremely rare. EF. Of the greatest historical interest. This coin provides particularly eloquent testimony to the troubled times of the 270s in Sicily. After the death of Agathokles in 289 there seems to have been constant fighting by various generals in an attempt to reconsolidate his power. Not only were there local tyrants, as usual the Carthaginians were involved as well. In Syracuse the people appointed Hiketas their general and protector in 288: he ruled as tyrant (he never took the royal title) until, after a severe defeat by the Cathaginians, he was ousted in 278 by Thoinon, who had been one of his officers. He was, in turn attacked by Sosistratos who was tyrant of Akragas; however, faced by a Carthaginian attack they joined forces and finally pledged their loyalty to Pyrrhos who had arrived in Sicily as the saviour of the Greeks. To avoid further strife Pyrrhos had Thoinon executed and forced Sosistratos to flee the city. The present coin was struck during the short period when Thoinon was in power: the dies were originally produced for Hiketas’ coinage but his name was carefully erased from the reverse.
Base d'asta € 4000
Prezzo attuale € 6500
Offerte: 9
Lotto non in vendita