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Tetradrammo di Siracusa, Quadriga/Arethusa
17.1.2008
Caro Julius,
allego la copia fronte/retro di un tetradramma siracusano del 15 sec aC che ho recentemente acquisito. La moneta è in argento e pesa 13,1g (a fronte dei 16/17 gr di quel tipo di moneta, ma potrebbe essere stata "limata", come usava prima che introducessero la zigrinatura sul bordo); ho fatto due misure del diametro, una dal naso alla crocchia dei capelli pari a 12,53 mm ed una a 90° da questa, pari a 12,49 mm. Lo spessore approssimativo è di 3,52 mm. La persona che mi ha dato (per la precisione regalato) questa moneta mi ha detto di esserne entrato in possesso per farne delle copie galvaniche e di aver trattenuto per sé l'originale. Quand'anche si fosse sbagliato, il pezzo merita senz'altro molta considerazione ed ammirazione. E tu che ne pensi???
 fig. 1
Cliccare sulle immagini per ingrandire
Roma, 18.1.2008
Caro A.,
non dispongo a casa di manuali per la monetazione greca che non rientra nell'area di mio approfondimento. Tuttavia, allo scopo di soddisfare almeno in parte la presente esigenza e nei limiti di quanto dianzi affermato, di seguito ti comunico gli elementi significativi pertinenti alla tua moneta che mi è stato possibile raccogliere da una ricerca nel web: 

Tetradrammo1, Zecca di Siracusa, ultimo quarto del 5° secolo a. C.

Descrizione sommaria:
D. Quadriga di corsa a sinistra, Nike in volo a destra incorona l'auriga che sorregge una torcia con la mano destra e le redini con la sinistra.2
R. Testa di Arethusa a sinistra, attorno quattro delfini e, in senso orario, SIRA-KOSI-ON3.

Dalla ricerca nel web ho ricavato una serie di link a monete tipologicamente affini:

  1. http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=5571&AucID=8&Lot=1223 Classical Numismatic Group > Triton V Auction date: January 15th, 2002 Lot number: 1223 Price realized: 12,000 USD Lot description: SICILY, Syracuse Estimate $12500 SICILY, Syracuse. Circa 415-405 BC. Obverse die signed by Phrygillos, Reverse die signed by Euarkidas. AR Tetradrachm (16.96 gm). SVPA-KOSI-ON, head of Arethusa left wearing single-pendant earring, hair bound with ampyx and sphendone, FRU on ampyx, stars on sphendone; all surrounded by four dolphins swimming / Nike driving galloping quadriga right, holding torch in right hand, reins in both, Nike flying above crowning charioteer; grain ear in exergue, signature [EY]APXIÐA below horse's front hooves. Tudeer 55a (V19/R33) = Kraay-Hirmer 108 = Rizzo pl. xliii, 15 (this coin); SNG ANS 279 (same reverse die). Heavily toned, near EF, a few rough spots above the charioteer's head and some scratches behind the wheel. Very rare, only 2 specimens cited by Tudeer. ($12,500) From the William N. Rudman Collection. Ex Dr. Peter M. Suter Collection (Münzen und Medaillen Auktion 89, 14 June 2000), lot 77; Numismatic Fine Arts Auction XII (23-24 March 1983), lot 23; Barone Pennisi di Floristella Collection. 
  2. http://www.s110120695.websitehome.co.uk/SNG/sng_reply2a.php?verb=SNGuk_0102_0070 SNG Vol: I 70 Newnham Davis Coins State: Syracuse OBV Description: Quadriga l.; above, Nike flying r., crowning driver; in exergue, corn-ear. REV Description: Head of Arethusa l.; around, four dolphins. REV Inscription: SURAKO[ Period: Last quarter 5th cent. -425 -400 Die Axis in numbers: 4 Die Axis in degrees: 120 Metal: AR Denomination: Tetradrachm Weight: 17.06 Wear: Not worn Cast or Struck: Struck ID: SNGuk_0102_0070
  3. http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=151108&AucID=181&Lot=79 Classical Numismatic Group > Mail Bid Sale 73 Auction date: September 13th, 2006 Lot number: 79 Price realized: 1,600 USD Lot description: SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.17 g, 1h). Obverse die signed by Phrygillos, reverse die signed by Euarchidas. Struck circa 415-405 BC. Diademed head of Arethusa left, amphyx inscribed FRU; four dolphins around / Charioteer driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; [EUARCIDA below horses, grain ear in exergue]. Tudeer 54 (V33/R18); SNG ANS 279 (same dies); SNG München 1061 (same dies); Rizzo pl. XLIII, 14; cf. Kraay & Hirmer 108 (same rev. die). VF, light surface corrosion. Very rare. Ex Astarte XVII (8 May 2005), lot 102. Estimate: $750.
  4. http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=151110&AucID=181&Lot=81 Classical Numismatic Group > Mail Bid Sale 73 Auction date: September 13th, 2006 Lot number: 81 Price realized: 850 USD Lot description: SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (15.26 g, 6h). Reverse die signed by Parmenides. Struck circa 415-405 BC. Charioteer driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; [grain ear in exergue] / Diademed head of Arethusa left; four dolphins around, PAR[ME] below neck. Tudeer 77 (V27/R49); SNG ANS 287 (same dies); BMC 212-213 (same dies); Rizzo pl. XLVII, 21. VF, surfaces heavily corroded. Very rare. Ex Astarte XVII (8 May 2005), lot 105. Estimate: $500.
  5. http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=84864&AucID=90&Lot=360 Classical Numismatic Group > Mail Bid Sale 67 Auction date: September 22nd, 2004 Lot number: 360 Price realized: 3,600 USD Lot description: SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.31 gm). Struck circa 405-395 BC. Estimate $2000 SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.31 gm). Struck circa 405-395 BC. Charioteer driving quadriga left, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; in exergue, dolphin swimming left / Head of Arethusa left, large band in hair from under which hair flows upward and backward in flame-like locks (depicting her submerged underwater), surrounded by four dolphins. Tudeer 99a (V34/R68 - this coin used to illustrate the reverse die) = Boston MFA 443 (this coin); cf. Boehringer, Dionysios, pl. 38, 3; SNG ANS 299 (same obverse die). Good VF, attractively toned. ($2000) From the Tony Hardy Collection. Ex Numismatic Fine Arts VIII (6 June 1980), lot 43; Boston Museum of Fine Arts, 443; Warren Collection.
  6. http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=67843&AucID=73&Lot=93 Classical Numismatic Group > Triton VII Auction date: January 12th, 2004 Lot number: 93 Price realized: 2,250 USD Lot description: SICILY, Syracuse. Time of Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.12 gm). Struck circa 405-395 BC. Estimate $2000 SICILY, Syracuse. Time of Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Tetradrachm (16.12 gm). Struck circa 405-395 BC. Charioteer driving galloping quadriga left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in both; Nike flying right above, crowning charioteer; dolphin swimming left in exergue / SU-RA-K-O-[SI]-W-N, head of Arethusa left wearing double looped earrings and a necklace with a small pendant, large band in hair from under which hair flows upward and backward in flame-like locks (meant to depict her beneath the water), surrounded by four swimming dolphins. Tudeer 103 (V35/R70); SNG ANS 300 (same obverse dies); SNG Lloyd 1407 (same obverse die); SNG Copenhagen 682; Jameson 809 (same obverse die). Good VF, light porosity on both sides. ($2000).
  7. http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=49921&AucID=52&Lot=118 Classical Numismatic Group > Mail Bid Sale 63 Auction date: May 21st, 2003 Lot number: 118 Price realized: 3,700 USD Lot description: SICILY, Syracuse. Time of Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.24 gm). Struck circa 405 BC. Estimate $3000 SICILY, Syracuse. Time of Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.24 gm). Struck circa 405 BC. Charioteer driving galloping quadriga left, holding kentron and reins; Nike flying above and crowning charioteer, grain ear in exergue / Head of Arethusa left, wearing ampyx and sphendone, surrounded by four dolphins. Tudeer 85 (V31/R57); SNG ANS 291. Attractive light toning, good VF, worn obverse die. Rare die combination. ($3000)
  8. http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=56071&AucID=59&Lot=282 Leu Numismatik AG > Auction 86 Auction date: May 5th, 2003 Lot number: 282 Price realized: 7,200 CHF (approx. 5,394 U.S. Dollars as of the auction date) Lot description: Magna Graecia SICILY Syracuse Estimate: CHF 4'500.00 Tetradrachm (Silver, 16.69 g 3), c. 405, with an obverse signed by Phrygillos and an unsigned reverse by Euarchidas. Head of Arethusa to left, wearing sphendone ornamented with stars and with an ampyx inscribed ; around, four dolphins. Rev. Quadriga rushing to left, driven by female charioteer holding reins in her left hand and burning torch with her right; above, Nike flying right to crown the driver; in exergue, ear of grain. KF 117. SNG ANS 276. Tudeer 49. Very rare. Nicely toned. Very fine.
  9. http://www.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=32037&AucID=36&Lot=378 Classical Numismatic Group > Mail Bid Sale 61 Auction date: September 25th, 2002 Lot number: 378 Price realized: 1,300 USD Lot description: SICILY, Syracuse. Estimate $750 SICILY, Syracuse. Circa 405-395 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.20 gm). Charioteer driving galloping quadriga left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in both hands; Nike flying above and crowning charioteer, dolphin swimming left in exergue / Head of Arethusa left, large band in hair from under which hair flows upward and backward in flame-like locks (depicting her hair floating beneath the water), surrounded by four dolphins swimming. Tudeer 90 (V33/R62). Toned VF. Rare die combination, only two specimens cited by Tudeer. ($750).
Venendo alle conclusioni, non mi è ben chiaro se il tuo dubbio risieda nel fatto che per errore il tuo amico possa averti dato la moneta originale invece che la copia. Se così è, ti dirò che la moneta è, a mio avviso, una copia, il dritto mostra segni della duplicazione per fusione, come si evince dalla superficie butterata lasciata dalle bollicine d'aria all'interno della matrice. Inoltre dritto e rovescio appaiono stilisticamente dissimili; il rovescio mi sembra accettabile, il dritto approssimativo.

Bye.
Giulio
 

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(1) Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche fisiche dei tetradrammi della tipologia di figura tratti dai link di cui sopra e dal data base dell'ANS (American Numismatic Society)

Riferimenti Peso (g.)  Diametro (mm) Asse di conio (H)
Link1 16,96 - -
Link2 17,06 - 4
Link3 16,17 - 1
Link4 15,26 - 6
Link5 17,31 - -
Link6 16,12 - -
Link7 17,24 - -
Link8 16,69 - 3
Link9 17,20 - -
ANS1947.2.537 17,41 25 12
ANS1992.42.34 16,36 27 5
ANS1992.42.36 17,43 23 -
ANS1992.42.35 16,19 23 -
ANS1992.42.40 16,4 25 6
ANS1992.42.39 16,67 24 6
ANS1992.42.38 16,32 27 5
ANS1992.42.37 16,94 22 -
ANS1991.78.46 17,96 21 2
Dalla tabella si evince che il peso della moneta da te comunicato (13,1g) è decisamente più basso del dovuto. La misura del diametro da te indicata (12,53mm) è anomala rispetto ai valori tabulati.
(2) Non potendo consultare la Silloge di Copenhagen per la classificazione  mi rifaccio alla risorsa disponibile in rete: http://www.bio.vu.nl/home/vwielink/WWW_MGC/Area_IV_map/Syracusa_map/descrSyrT_056.html e alla lista di cui al link, http://www.bio.vu.nl/home/vwielink/WWW_MGC/. Da qualche parte sulla moneta potrebbe esserci la firma dell'incisore che dalla foto non rilevo.
(3) L'etnico SURAKOSION (dei siracusani) indica in Siracusa lo stato di emissione.
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