Lot 3278

Description

Sicily. Syracuse. (c412 B.C.), silver tetradrachm (17.004 gm). Signed by Euth... and Eumenos, obv. winged charioteer (Agon?) driving fast quadriga right, above, Nike flying left to crown driver, in exergue, Scylla right pursuing fish right and artist's signature **EUQ*, rev. ** SUR [AKO SION]*, head of Arethusa left, wearing pearl necklace, wearing earring, ampyx, and sphendone ornamented with stars, four dolphins around, artist's signature *EUMENOI U* under neck truncation, (cf.S.939, Tudeer 48 [obv.15, rev.26], Rizzo Pl. xliii, 10 [same dies]. SNG Munich 1060 [same dies], BMC 152 [same dies]). Toned, nearly extremely fine with full and legible signatures.

Ex Gemini I, New York Sale, January 11-12, 2005 (lot 44) and previously Sternberg, Zurich, Auction Sale XX, 20 April 1988, (lot 395) This outstanding obverse die was signed by an artist who is otherwise unknown. G.K. Jenkins, Gulbenkian, p. 95, praised the composition as "balanced and dignified," noting that "the little eddy of dust rising beneath the horses' forelegs shows his mastery." The winged charioteer is perhaps the most supple of all the drivers depicted on Sicilian coinage. Another appealing feature of the die is the graceful yet slightly comical figure of Scylla pursuing a fleeing fish. This being Scylla's only appearance on Syracusan coinage, may allude to a defeat of the Athenian navy in the Straits of Messina. A most important coin known by Tudeer by only four examples for these dies.