Greek

Lot 3280    SESSION 11 (Friday at 9.30am)    Greek

Estimate $30,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $23,000

SICILY, Syracuse, (c.405-400 B.C.), silver tetradrachm by Eucleidas, (17.094 grams), obv. galloping quadriga driven to left by male charioteer holding reins and kentron in left hand and raising right hand in field above, Nike flying right crowning rider, in exergue grain ear, rev. traces of **SUPAKOSIO N* around but partially off the flan, head of Artemis-Arethusa to left, hair tied by ampys in front and sphendone ornamented with stars, four dolphins around, (cf.S.955, Jameson 833 [p.181, Pl.XLII, This Coin), Tudeer 75b [Jameson) = 75c (Martinetti Collection No. 766] [This Coin obv.27, rev.46], Rizzo Pl.47, No.20 [p.221, This Coin], Hirsch Sale sale 32, 14-5/11/1912, Pl. XIII, [lot 340 same dies, incorrectly numbered 240]). Extremely fine and very rare, with an old cabinet tone and impressive pedigree, as well as being struck from dies of the finest style on a large flan, having a magnificent representation of Arethusa in the finest classical style.

Ex Classical Numismatic group Auction sale 45, March 18, 1998 (lot 116), previously from the Munzen und Medaillen Auction Sales 54, 16th October 1978 (lot 119) and Sale 53, 19th November 1977 (lot 40), Ex the Jameson Collection (No.833) acquired from Martinetti Collection sold Sambon & Canessa, Auction Sale 16-17 November 1907 (lot 766, illustrated). The following is a comment that was appended below from the example of the same dies sold by NAC (Switzerland) in their Auction Sale 40 of May 16, 2007 (lot 242). It realised 60,000 SFr. "This superb tetradrachm of Syracuse offers us a coupling of dies of enchanting beauty. The artistic quality of its reverse is absolutely sublime and surely the work of a master-engraver who, even if he did not sign his works, he was in no way inferior to those who were wont to put their signatures on their dies. We believe that to him should be ascribed some of the best made Arethusa heads, and namely Tudeer nos. 41. 42, 43, 46, 47, 52. Among these, in our opinion the masterpieces are nos. 42, 43 and 47 that, for their enchanting beauty, stand out from the others and represent the highest achievement in the coinage of classical time. Also the obverse die is well done where the engraver not only succeeds with consummate skill in conveying the motion of the quadriga, but also gives us an unusual representation of the charioteer who faces the spectators and, with his right hand raised, seems to turn to the public to celebrate his victory after having overcome the meta. The scene, so far unpublished, is altogether rendered with uncommon plasticity and harmony." Unsigned dies probably by the artist Eukleidas one of the great master engravers of Greek coinage. Tudeer notes 6 specimens from these dies.