Nomos 3

SICILY, Syracuse. Tetradrachm (Silver, 17.42 g 6), From the Demareteion series, c. 465 BC. Charioteer, wearing a chiton and holding the reins in his left hand and a goad in his right, driving a quadriga walking to right; above, Nike flying right to crown the horses; in exergue, lion running to right Rev. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ Head of Arethusa to right, wearing olive wreath, pendant earring and necklace; around, four dolphins swimming to left. Boehringer 385, Rizzo pl. XXXV, 6 (B. 385, 1) and SNG ANS 122 (all same dies). Very rare and of splendid style. Lightly toned and struck on a broad flan. About extremely fine.

From the SF Collection, USA, ex Numismatica Ars Classica 40, 16 May 2007, 240.

This coin from the Demareteion series is struck on an unusually broad flan, and is also free from the usual condition problems these coins tend to have. They seem to have circulated for a long time, perhaps because they were issued at a time when there were no major political problems, and so are usually found quite worn since they were not hoarded soon after they were minted.