Lot 1789

Description

Sicily, Syracuse, (c.450-439 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (17.01 grams), obv. slow quadriga driven to right by male charioteer, Nike flying right crowning horses, plain exergue, rev. **SUPAKOSION around, head of Artemis-Arethusa to right, hair in korymbos under a diadem band, wearing a necklace, four dolphins around, (cf.S.931 [£850], Boehringer 647.5 [this coin, obv. V328, rev. R444], SNG ANS 211 [same dies], SNG BN Delepierrie 654 [same dies], BMC 114 [same dies]). Flan crack in edge, otherwise very fine, very rare.

Ex. Virzi Collection, sold Jacob Hirsch Auction sale XXXII, November 15, 1912 (lot 289, illustrated and realised 105 DM). Boehringer note 17 specimens from these dies, only a few in private collections, this being one of those specimens listed by Boehringer and illustrated by Hirsch in that sale, Virzi formed one of the greatest collections of coins of Syracuse ever sold.