SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (33mm, 42.82 g, 11h). Dies signed by Kimon. Struck circa 405-400 BC. NGC Ch VF, 4/5, 3/5, Fine Style.

Triton XXVII
Lot: 67. Estimated: $ 30 000

Greek, Silver

Sold For $ 55 000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (33mm, 42.82 g, 11h). Dies signed by Kimon. Struck circa 405-400 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in her extended hands; below heavy exergual line [inscribed KIMΩN], a shield, greaves, cuirass, and Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear; [AΘΛA below] / Head of Arethousa left, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace, hair restrained in an open-weave sakkos and ampyx; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ behind hair, four swimming dolphins around, the one below neck inscribed KIMΩN. Jongkees 5 (dies A/ε); Scavino 5 (D1/R5); Regling, Dekadrachmon 5; HGC 2, 1298; SNG Fitzwilliam 1272–3 (same dies); SNG Spencer-Churchill 56 = DDTP p. 15 (same dies); Gulbenkian 304 (same dies); Hunt III 27 (same obv. die); Jameson 1920 (same dies); Kraay & Hirmer 119 (same obv. die); Prosepero 176 (this coin). Beautiful old cabinet tone. In NGC encapsulation 6708769-001, graded Ch VF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 3/5, Fine Style. A lovely example of this famed issue.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 133 (21 November 2022), lot 21; Prospero Collection (The New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012), lot 176; Pflieger Collection (Vinchon, 13 April 1985), lot 137.

Dionysios assumed power in 405 BC and immediately set out to make Syracuse the greatest and most heavily fortified city in all Sicily. He was defending against the renewed imperialistic expansion of Carthage. Three times he defeated the Carthaginians, bringing further prestige and wealth to Syracuse. During his reign, the Syracusan navy became the most powerful in the Mediterranean, allowing Syracuse to expand her territorial control over much of southern Italy.

Dionysios reintroduced the large and ostentatious silver dekadrachms, a denomination that had not been used in Syracuse since the issue of the Demareteion decades earlier. Dionysios entrusted two of the greatest local numismatic artists, Kimon and Euainetos, to design these impressive pieces. The regard for these coins in modern times is reflected by the fact that they are considered a must for any first rank collection of Greek coins.

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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