SICILY, Leontini. Circa 466-460 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.48 g, 9h). Dies by the Demareteion master. EF.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 45. Estimated: $ 75 000

Greek, Coin-in-Hand Video, Silver

Sold For $ 110 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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SICILY, Leontini. Circa 466-460 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.48 g, 9h). Dies by the Demareteion master. Charioteer, holding kentron in right hand and reins in both, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying left, crowning charioteer with open wreath held in both hands; in exergue, lion right / Head of Apollo right, wearing laurel wreath; three leaves and LEONT[I]-NO-N around; below, lion right. Boehringer, Münzgeschichte 28 (same dies); HGC 2, 665 (this coin illustrated); SNG ANS 218 (same rev. die); SNG Lloyd 1045 (same dies); Basel 348 (same dies); Dewing 622 = Jameson 626 (same dies); Gillet 439 (this coin); Gulbenkian 210 (same dies); Kraay & Hirmer 18 = GPCG pl. 15, 44 (same dies); de Luynes 991 (same dies); Rizzo pl. XXII, 15 (same dies). Beautiful old cabinet tone. EF. A sublime example of this famous issue, exhibiting the finest style of late archaic-early classical art on coinage.

From the Columbus Collection. Ex Leu 81 (16 May 2001), lot 77; Leu 45 (26 May 1988), lot 39; Charles Gillet Collection. Lot also includes a certificate from the IBSCC.

One of the earliest of the recognized masters of Sicilian engraving, the unknown artist who created the Demareteion dekadrachm of Syracuse was also responsible for several dies at the neighboring city of Leontini. R. Ross Holloway discusses the relationship of the Leontini tetradrachms with the masterworks of the "Demareteion Master" at Syracuse in "Damarete's Lion," ANSMN XI, pp. 1-11. He regards them as works of the same hand, while Carmen Arnold-Biucchi, in her work on the Randazzo Hoard, sees influence from, but not the work of, the master, with the Leontini piece being a few years later and in a more developed realistic style. In any event, these tetradrachms of Leontini are among the finest works of Sicilian numismatic art.

The final winners of all Triton XXVII lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 9-10 January 2024.

Triton XXVII – Session One – Lot 1-337 will be held Tuesday morning, 9 January 2024 beginning at 9:00 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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