Greek Coinages, Syracuse: Tetradrachm, struck under the tyrant Dionysios I, c. 405-400; school of Parmenides

Obverse: charioteer driving fast quadriga left, the leftmost horses twisting in agitation and threatening to bolt; below a loose reign and a discarded chariot wheel; wreath-bearing Nike flying right above; corn-ear in exergue

Reverse: συρακοσιων: head of Arethusa left, hair bound up in patterned sakkos, wearing triple-pendant earring and cord necklace; framed by three dolphins swimming around

Metal: silver; Attic weight standard; 17.44g/10h

References: Fischer-Bossert 72a, this coin [O25/R50]; Rizzo pl. XLVII, 18; Ashmolean 2002

Condition: Extremely fine, sharply struck and of superb style; amongst the finest known and very rare thus £20,000-£30,000

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Phillips Family Collection of Ancient Greek Coins.

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Collection

Monnaies et Medailles Auction 32, Basel, 20 October 1966, lot 58
Bank Leu Auction 36, Zurich, 7 May 1985, lot 67
L. von Hoffmann Collection, Sotheby Auction, 5 July 1995, lot 26
Nomos Auction 17, Zurich, 26 October 2018, lot 53