Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Lot 4581    Session 16 (9.30am Friday 23rd November)    Greek Silver & Bronze Coins

Estimate $750
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $750

SICILY, Syracuse, silver four litrai, issued by Gelon II, son of Hieron II, (c. 218/7-216 B.C.), (3.34 g), obv. diademed head of Gelon to left, rev. **SURAKOSIOI GELWMOS*, eagle with closed wings standing to right on a thunderbolt, A to left, BA to right, (s.987, cco 295 [These dies], BAR issue 67, SNG ANS -, SNG Munich 1362 [same dies]). Nearly extremely fine, toned and rare.

Ex New York Sale Auction IX, 13 January 2005, (lot 52).
Polybios records of Gelon that he 'made it his highest object in life to obey his father and not to consider wealth or royal power or anything else as more valuable than affection and loyalty to his parents'. His father Hieron certainly saw fit to associate him with his government, as evidenced by the coinage in his name, and appears even to have bestowed the title of king upon him. He married a daughter of Pyrrhos, and had a daughter as well as a son - the future king Hieronymos.
Yet in contrast to Polybios' account, Livy asserts that following the Roman defeat at Cannae, Gelon contravened his father's wishes by attempting to subvert the Syracusan alliance with Rome. He also notes that Gelon's conveniently timed death cast suspicion even on his father Hieron. Livy's remarks should however be taken with a generous pinch of salt.