Ancient Gold Coins

Sale 96    5–8 Apr 2011   Hotel InterContinental   Sydney

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Lot 4909    Session 16 (9.30am Friday)    Ancient Gold Coins

Estimate $18,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $22,000

SICILY, Syracuse, Reign of Hiketas, (288-279 B.C.), gold decadrachm, (4.25 grams), obv. head of Persephone to left, with hair rolled and wreathed with corn, poppy behind, **QE* below neck, to left **SURAKOSIWN*, rev. galloping biga driven to right by Nike, crescent above, **Q* below, **EPI IKETA in exergue (cf.S.978, Buttrey, [Num. Chron. 1973], 2-D, SNG Fitz. 1362 [same dies]). Extremely fine and very rare.

Little is known of Hiketas beyond his coinage, but Buttrey in Morgantina Studies "The Coins" pieced together a history based on the numismatic evidence. Following Hiketas's defeat of Phintias, tyrant of Akragas, he set out against the Carthaginians. This campaign ended in disaster at the Terias river, northwest of Syracuse. Buttrey, based on his die analysis, concludes that this gold issue was struck very hurriedly towards the end of Hiketas's reign, and theorizes that this series was issued to finance his Carthaginian campaign.

Estimate / sale price does not include buyer's premium (currently 22% including GST) which is added to hammer price. All bids are executed on the understanding that the Terms & Conditions of sale have been read and accepted. For information on grading and estimates please refer to the Buying at Auction advice.

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  • Lot 4909   This lot

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    Estimate $18,000

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