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SICILY, Syracuse. Hiketas II. 287-278 BC. AV Hemistater – Drachm (15mm, 4.26 g, 6h). Struck circa 279/8 BC. Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of grain ears, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ to left, cornucopia to right / Nike, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast biga right; fibula above, Φ to right, Θ below, EΠI IKETA in exergue. Buttrey, Morgantina, dies 4/I; BAR issue 41; HGC 2, 1277; SNG ANS 778 var. (same obv. die; no Φ); Basel 516 (same dies); Gulbenkian 345 (same dies). Underlying luster, a hint of die rust on obverse, slight die shift on reverse. Near EF.
Ex CNG inventory 851501 (March 2010); J. Olphin Collection; Classical Numismatic Group 45 (18 March 1998), lot 129; Classical Numismatic Review XXII.3 (Fall/Winter 1997), no. 8.
Little is known of Hiketas beyond his coinage, but Buttrey pieces together a history based on the numismatic evidence. Following his defeat of Phintias, tyrant of Akragas, Hiketas set out against the Carthaginians. This campaign ended in disaster at the Terias river, northwest of Syracuse. Buttrey, based on his die analysis, concludes that this gold issue was struck very hurriedly towards the end of the reign of Hiketas, and theorizes that this series was issued to pay for his Carthaginian campaign.
The final winners of all CNG Feature Auction 126 lots will be determined during the live online sale that will be held on 28-29 May 2024. This lot is in Session One, which will begin 28 May at 9 AM ET.
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