Nomos 23

SICILY. Syracuse. Second Democracy, 466-405 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 28 mm, 15.69 g, 3 h), signed by Kimon, c. 405. Head of Arethusa facing slightly to left, with flowing sea swept hair, wearing ampyx inscribed [KIMON], single pendant earring and plain necklace; four dolphins emerging from the locks of her hair around her cheeks and neck. Rev. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩ Arethusa driving fast quadriga to left, holding the reins in both hands; above, Nike flying to right preparing to crown charioteer with laurel wreath; below, stele lying on its side; in exergue, grain ear to left. Dewing 846 (same dies). Rizzo pl 51, 2 (same dies). SNG ANS 288 (this coin). Tudeer (FB) 81n (V29/R54 this coin). Deeply toned. Edge chip at 7h, otherwise, good very fine/fine.

From the Collection I, USA, and from the duplicates of the American Numismatic Society, Gemini V, January 2009, 365 originally from the Hoyt Miller bequest, left to the ANS in 1957 (inventory number 1957.172.1867).

This is quite a different Arethusa! She’s not a young girl all dressed up to go to a ball, but a serious and powerful woman. This ‘portrait’ by Kimon had an enormous influence on the numismatic art of the Greek world and was copied by engravers throughout the 4th century BC (as in Larissa and Tarsos for example). But how did artists in Thessaly and Cilicia find out about a coin struck in far off Sicily? Almost certainly by means of lead strikes sent from artist to artist and craftsman to craftsman all around the eastern Mediterranean. Sending actual coins as samples has to be excluded given their value (a tetradrachm like this one would have been four days salary for a skilled worker).