Lot 1687

Description

Sicily, Syracuse, Dionysios I, (405-367 B.C.), AE drachm, 28mm, (32.85 g), obv. head of Athena wearing Corinthian helmet to left bound with olive wreath, to left traces of **[S*Y]RA, rev. starfish between two dolphins with central pellet, (S.1189, Boehringer Finanzpolitik Pl.39, 44, Calciati CNS 62, BMC 287, SNG ANS 454-469, Weber 1630, HGC 2, 1436). Brown patina, very fine and very scarce.

Dionysios I or Dionysios the Elder (c.432 - 367 B.C.), was a Greek tyrant of Syracuse. He conquered several cities in Sicily and southern Italy, opposed Carthage's influence in Sicily and made Syracuse the most powerful of the Western Greek colonies. He was regarded by ancient writers as an example of the worst kind of despot-cruel, suspicious and vindictive.