Gelon, Son of Hieron II

456, Lot: 50. Estimate $750. Sold for $950. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Syracuse. Gelon, son of Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AR 4 Litrai (16mm, 3.38 g, 1h). Struck circa 218-215 BC. Diademed head left / Eagle standing right on thunderbolt; BA to left, Φ to right. CCO 297 (D1/R2); BAR Issue 67; HGC 2, 1563; SNG ANS 902 (same dies); BMC 537 (same dies); Jameson 84 (same dies); Winterthur 994 (same dies). Lightly toned. Good VF. Excellent metal for issue. Rare.

From the BRN Collection. Ex Volteia Collection (CNG Inventory 421968, January 2016).

Gelon was the eldest son of Hieron II, king of Syracuse from 275-215 BC. Most references simply list him as Gelon, son of Hieron, but he actually was made king by his father shortly after Hieron was elevated. Although Hieron was the senior ruler, Gelon appears to have had a great latitude of autonomy. The exact dates of his rule as king are not known, but he did die shortly before his father, perhaps even in 216 BC. Gelon was a close friend of the famed Archemides, who dedicated a treatise, called Arenarius, to Gelon.