Nomos 16

SICILY. Syracuse. Deinomenid Tyranny, 485-466 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 17.35 g, 12 h). Male charioteer, wearing a long chiton and holding a kentron in his right hand and the reins in his left, driving a slow quadriga to right; above, Nike flying right to crown the horses. Rev. ΣVRΑϘΟΣΙΟΝ: (partially retrograde) Head of Arethusa to right, wearing a simple earring, pearl necklace and with her hair tied with a thin band; around, four dolphins swimming clockwise. Basel 425 (same dies). BMFA 330 (same dies). Boehringer 38 (V26/R22) but reverse slightly recut. Boehringer, Comiso 158 (this coin). McClean 2594 (same dies). SNG ANS 7 (same dies). Very rare. Of superb late archaic style, nicely toned, sharp and very well-struck. Extremely fine.

From the Molard Collection, Switzerland, from the Prospero Collection, New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012, 159; Elsen Fpl 49, November 1982, 2; ex Lanz 22, 10 May 1982, 139; Numismatica Classica and later, Höfer 1982, 2 illustrated also on the front cover, and from the Comiso 1970 Hoard.

This coin, with its delicate and impressive small head of Arethusa, is a perfect example of late archaic-very early classical style. The head of Arethusa, while certainly that of a woman, has features that are similar the heads found on Attic kouroi of the same period. While there is still an "archaic smile" on Arethusa's face, it is a surprisingly natural one; though her almond-shaped frontal eye harks back to earlier and more stylized times. The engraver who made this reverse die was exceptionally talented, even idiosyncratic: Arethusa is shown here in a way that sets her apart from all the other heads found on Syracusan issues of the 480s (and later for that matter).