Nomos 22

SICILY. Syracuse. Period of the Second Democracy - Dionysios I, 413-399 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 17.33 g, 5 h), unsigned and by an uncertain artist. Charioteer, holding reins and kentron, driving a quadriga rushing to left, about to turn, the heads of the first and third horses turned back to right; above, Nike flying right to crown the driver; below the hooves of the horse in the foreground, chariot wheel; in exergue, grain ear to left. Rev. [ΣΥΡΑΚΟ]ΣΙ-Ω-Ν Head of Arethusa to left, wearing ampyx and sphendone decorated with stars, double-spiral earring and simple necklace with a large pearl pendant; in the field to left, three dolphins: two swimming downwards and one upwards; to right, behind Arethusa's neck, dolphin swimming downwards. Dewing 849 (same dies). Fischer-Bossert/Tudeer 82 (O30/R55). Jameson 1923 (same dies). SNG ANS 290 (same dies). Well-centered and with a particularly fine reverse. Obverse somewhat mis-struck from slightly worn dies, and traces of overstriking, otherwise, extremely fine.

From the Arethusa Collection, acquired in the 1980s and 1990s.