Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. First Democracy, circa 510-490 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; ΣΥΡΑQΟΣΙΟΝ in two lines above / Quadripartite incuse square, with circular incuse in centre containing diademed head of Arethusa to left. Boehringer 4. 16.99g, 26mm, 8h. Good Very Fine. Of the highest rarity. Ex Roma Numismatics V, 23 March 2013, lot 95. The first issue of coinage at Syracuse features an obverse nearly identical to that of the present piece, but with a plain quadripartite incuse square. This design had been inspired by the first issue of Olynthos, whose coinage had come to Sicily along with that of many other cities from Greece and Macedon as trade payments. Indeed, it was the silver from these trade payments that provided Syracuse with the bullion to strike their own coins. The second issue of the Syracusan series, of which the present piece is an example, included a small head of Arethusa within an incuse circle. As the Deinomenids came to power, the coinage of Syracuse diverged much more decisively from that of Olynthos, by making the head of Arethusa the principal element of the reverse design.
Sicily, Syracuse AR Tetradrachm. First Democracy, circa 510-490 BC. Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving walking quadriga right; ΣΥΡΑQΟΣΙΟΝ in two lines above / Quadripartite incuse square, with circular incuse in centre containing diademed head of Arethusa to left. Boehringer 4. 16.99g, 26mm, 8h. Good Very Fine. Of the highest rarity. Ex Roma Numismatics V, 23 March 2013, lot 95. The first issue of coinage at Syracuse features an obverse nearly identical to that of the present piece, but with a plain quadripartite incuse square. This design had been inspired by the first issue of Olynthos, whose coinage had come to Sicily along with that of many other cities from Greece and Macedon as trade payments. Indeed, it was the silver from these trade payments that provided Syracuse with the bullion to strike their own coins. The second issue of the Syracusan series, of which the present piece is an example, included a small head of Arethusa within an incuse circle. As the Deinomenids came to power, the coinage of Syracuse diverged much more decisively from that of Olynthos, by making the head of Arethusa the principal element of the reverse design.
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