Fine Style Portrait
SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26.5mm, 17.02 g, 7h). Struck circa 310-306/5 BC. Head of Kore right, wearing wreath of grain ears, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; KOPAΣ to left / Nike, wearing long chiton, standing right, erecting trophy to right; AΓAΘOKΛEOΣ to left, monogram in central field, triskeles to outer right. Ierardi 91 (O18/R60); BAR Issue 23; HGC 2, 1536; Basel 512 (same obv. die); Gulbenkian 334 (same obv. die); Hermitage Sale II 379 (same obv. die); McClean 2835 (same obv. die). Attractively toned, a few minor marks. EF. Wonderful style and perfectly centered. A lovely coin in hand.
Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 110 (24 September 2018), lot 16; M. L. Collection of Coins of Magna Graecia and Sicily (Numismatica Ars Classica 82, 20 May 2015), lot 65; Numismatica Ars Classica 4 (27 February 1991), lot 75.
The Kore tetradrachms of Agathokles were struck following a major victory over Carthaginian forces outside the gates of Syracuse in 310 BC, which prompted him to name himself King of Sicily and adopt the style and trappings of a Hellenistic ruler. The reverse, depicting Nike erecting a trophy, proved highly influential and was widely copied by Greek kingdoms and Romans centuries hence; a near-contemporary issue of Seleukos I Nikator has a similar reverse design, though Nike is more demurely clothed. The Kore tetradrachms are found in two main varieties based on the engraving style, termed "Sicilian" and "African," although both were probably struck in Syracuse. This piece exemplifies the finest Sicilian style and is clearly the work of a master engraver.
