Roma, 2.2.2015
Egregio
Lettore,
di seguito riporto gli elementi significativi raccolti
sulla moneta di figura:
Decadrammo1,
Zecca di Siracusa, c. 405 a. C, SNG Cop Italy-Sic
689-694
Descrizione
sommaria (sono indicate in rosso le parti della
leggenda usurate o comunque non più leggibili):
D. Quadriga veloce a sinistra, Nike in volo a destra
incorona auriga che sorregge con la mano destra un
pungolo e con la sinistra le redini. In esergo
corazza tra due schinieri ed elmo frigio.2
R. Testa di Aretusa3 a sinistra,
con orecchino a tre pendenti e collana di perle;
attorno, lungo il bordo, quattro delfini; in alto, a
destra, non visibile ΣΥΡAKOΣIΩN4.
La ricerca nel web di monete simili a quella di
figura ha prodotto i seguenti risultati:
- http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_image.aspx?image=k130576.jpg&retpage=17506
Weight: 43.360 g Diameter: 35.000 mm CM BMC
Syracuse 201 Room 73: Greeks in Italy. Greek,
around 413 BC From Syracuse, Sicily A
Sicilian-Greek coin signed by the artist. Among
the finest of all Sicilian coins are those of the
city of Syracuse. The people of Syracuse were
Greek, and they followed the East Greek coinage
tradition. Some of the artists of Syracuse took
great pride in the dies that they cut, and
engraved them with their own names or initials.
Among several known masters was one called Kimon.
The first two letters of his name (KI) can be seen
engraved on the headband of Arethusa on the
reverse of his coins. On the obverse (front) of
this coin a man is shown driving a four horse
racing-chariot (quadriga) and being crowned by
Nike, the goddess of Victory. Beneath this scene
is depicted a panoply of armour, with the word
ATHLA ('prizes' or 'spoils') engraved above it.
These coins have often been interpreted as
presentation pieces struck in commemoration of the
Syracusan victory over the Athenians in the
Peloponnesian War in 413 BC.
- https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=15986
Sale: Triton V, Lot: 1227. Estimate $10000.
Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002. Sold For
$12500. SICILY, Syracuse. Circa 405-400 BC.
Unsigned dies by Kimon. AR Dekadrachm (42.43 gm).
Charioteer driving galloping quadriga left,
holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; Nike
flying above and crowning charioteer; below heavy
exergual line: a military harness, shield,
greaves, cuirass and Attic helmet all connected by
a horizontal spear, AQL[A] below / SURAK-OSIW,
head of Arethusa left, wearing single-pendant
earring and necklace, hair restrained at back of
head in an open weave sakkos; all surrounded by
four dolphins swimming. Jongkees, "The Kimonian
Decadrachms," 12 (C/l); SNG ANS 360 (same dies);
Gulbenkian 309 (same dies). Near EF, moderate
obverse die rust. ($10,000). From the Robert
Schonwalter Collection.
- http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=15985#
Sale: Triton V, Lot: 1226. Estimate $15000.
Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002. Sold For
$9000. SICILY, Syracuse. Circa 405-400 BC.
Unsigned dies by Kimon. AR Dekadrachm (43.21 gm).
Charioteer driving galloping quadriga left,
holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; Nike
flying above and crowning charioteer; below heavy
exergual line: a military harness, shield,
greaves, cuirass and Attic helmet all connected by
a horizontal spear, AQLA below / [SURAK-OSIW],
head of Arethusa left, wearing single-pendant
earring and necklace, hair restrained at back of
head in an open weave sakkos; all surrounded by
four dolphins swimming. Jongkees, "The Kimonian
Decadrachms," 12 (C/l); SNG ANS 360 (same dies);
Gulbenkian 309 (same dies). Toned, good VF, fairly
early die state with only a trace of obverse die
rust. ($15,000).
- http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=19677
Sale: CNG 60, Lot: 209. Estimate $12500. Closing
Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2002. Sold For $13000.
SICILY, Syracuse. Circa 405-400 BC. Unsigned dies
by Kimon. AR Dekadrachm (42.76 gm). Charioteer
driving galloping quadriga left, holding kentron
in right hand, reins in left; Nike flying above
and crowning charioteer; below heavy exergual
line: a military harness, shield, greaves, cuirass
and Attic helmet all connected by a horizontal
spear / Head of Arethusa left, wearing
single-pendant earring and necklace, hair
restrained at back of head in an open weave
sakkos; all surrounded by four dolphins swimming.
Jongkees, "The Kimonian Decadrachms," 8 (B/h).
Lightly toned, good VF, lamination on neck, some
light corrosion behind head, moderate obverse and
reverse die rust, reverse die breaks. ($12,500).
From the William N. Rudman Collection.
- http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=96506
Wonderful Pedigreed Dekadrachm // Ex Sandeman and
Subhi Pacha Collections. Sale: Triton X, Lot: 93.
Estimate $15000. Closing Date: Monday, 8 January
2007. Sold For $22000. SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios
I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (43.05 g, 8h).
Unsigned dies in the style of Euainetos. Struck
circa 405-400 BC. Charioteer driving fast quadriga
left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in
left; above, Nike flying right, crowning
charioteer with wreath; below heavy exergual line,
[a military harness, shield], greaves, cuirass,
and Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal
spear / S-URA-K-O-S-IWN, head of Arethusa left,
hair bound in wreath of grain ears, wearing
triple-pendant earring and necklace; surrounded by
four dolphins; scallop shell behind neck. Gallatin
dies R.XIV/F.VIIA (this coin listed as example 16
= Collection des médailles grecques autonomes de
Son Excellence Subhy Pacha [Constantinople : H. A
Boyadjian, 1874], 219); SNG ANS 373 (same dies);
SNG Lloyd -; Dewing 912 (same dies); Pozzi 617
(same dies). Good VF, toned. Well struck on good
metal. Ex Ars Classica XVI (3 July 1933), lot 775;
R. Ratto (13 may 1912), lot 497; John Sandeman
Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge, 13 June
1911), lot 62; Subhi Pacha Collection (Sotheby,
Wilkinson and Hodge, 20 February 1878), lot 426.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1626403
Live Auction 1 35 (« | ») 15. June 2013 5'000 GBP
7'500 GBP. Description: Syracuse, Syracuse
Decadrachm work by Euainetos circa 400, AR 35.5mm,
43.20 g. Fast quadriga driven l. by charioteer,
holding reins and kentron; in field above, Nike
flying r. to crown him. In exergue, display of
military harness set on two steps and below. Rev.
ΣYRAKOSIΩN Head of Arethusa (Kore-Persephone) l.,
wearing barley-wreath, triple pendant earring and
beaded necklace; below chin, Δ. Around three
dolphins, while a fourth makes dorsal contact with
neck truncation. Gallatin R VIII / D I. de Luynes
1245 (this obverse die). Obverse struck from a
rusty die and a minor nick on chin, otherwise good
very fine / about extremely fine. Ex Stack's sale
157, 2011, 2025 and ex NAC 64, 2012, 2125.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1181538
Gemini, LLC http://www.geminiauction.com/ Auction
IX 5 (« | ») 8. January 2012 50'000 USD 120'000
USD Description: Sicily, Syracuse. c. 400-370 BC.
Decadrachm, 43.30g. (h). Obv: Quadriga galloping
left, driven by a charioteer holding reins and
directing the horses with a goad. Above, Nike
flying right to crown the charioteer. In exergue,
panoply of arms on two steps: cuirass, two
greaves, and a Phrygian helmet. Border of dots.
Rx: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Head of nymph Arethusa left,
wearing a reed wreath, triple ear pendant, and
necklace. Beneath her chin, pellet; around, four
dolphins. Gallatin J V-R XXII. Dewing Coll. 923
(same obverse die). Gallatin only records five
examples from this pair of dies. This is one of
the most complete and sharply struck Syracusan
decadrachms we have ever handled, from one of the
freshest pairs of dies. The obverse has virtually
unparalleled detail. The decorations on the helmet
in the exergue, as well as the details on the
crest are highly unusual, as are the details on
the chest armor. The quadriga driver has complete
detail on her chiton, showing folds and pleats, as
well as the delicate piping around the neck. She
also has hair and facial detail which we have
never seen. The head of Arethusa has incredible
detail, especially detailing inside of the ear and
a pearl visible where the earring attaches to the
ear lobe. The four dolphins are complete, except
for the tip of the nose of the dolphin underneath
Arethusa's head. There is a tiny contact mark in
the eyelid and eyebrow of Arethusa and a tiny
planchet defect in the dolphin's body behind
Arethusa's head. The coin is in fact stunning, the
more you look at it, the more details you see.
Choice EF. Ex Rarcoa auction, CICF 1985, cover
coin, lot 10. The catalogue states that this coin
came from the estate of a Chicago collector who
had owned it for forty years. An absolutely choice
Syracusan decadrachm of the Euainetos series, with
the dramatic obverse type and beautiful reverse
type of that engraver. On the obverse, the
charioteer seems to be rounding the turning post,
the most dangerous moment of the race, so urges on
the right-hand pair of horses with his goad while
pulling back the left-hand pair with the reins.
The drama on the obverse has its counterpart in
the eternal beauty of the reverse, depicting the
head of Arethusa, the nymph of the local well on
Ortygia, a small island belonging to Syracuse,
whose features were copied on many other Greek
coinages and have also inspired modern
connoisseurs such as Winckelmann, Payne Knight,
and Goethe.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1486478
Gemini, LLC http://www.geminiauction.com/ Auction
X 22 (« | ») 13. January 2013 20'000 USD 17'000
USD. Description: Sicily. Syracuse. c. 400-380 BC.
Decadrachm, 43.08g. (h). Obv: Quadriga galloping
left, driven by a charioteer holding reins and
directing the horses with a goad. Above, Nike
flying right to crown the charioteer. In exergue,
panoply of arms on two steps: cuirass, two
greaves, and a Phrygian helmet. Border of dots.
Rx: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Head of nymph Arethusa left,
wearing a reed wreath, triple ear pendant, and
necklace. Beneath her chin, Δ; around, four
dolphins; on the lower one, signature ΕΥΑΙΝΕ.
Gallatin R IX/D I. SNG Fitzwilliam 1277 (same
dies). Signed die. Obverse struck with a rusty die
but well centered. Extremely beautiful head of
Arethusa. Because of the centering the complete
name of the city shows above the head of Arethusa
but none of the master's signature which is below
Arethusa's neck. Only two reverse dies with the
delta symbol were produced. VF/EF. “Beyond these
coins, human comprehension cannot go”, Winckelmann
wrote about Sicilian coins. He may well have had
in mind the Syracusan decadrachms designed by the
master engravers Kimon and Euainetos. Especially
the series of the latter, which is also the larger
one, became renowned in the whole Mediterranean
for the beauty of its head of the nymph Arethusa,
and was therefore copied by numerous mints in
Italy and mainland Greece. Despite its serenity,
the series was issued in gloomy times, when
Dionysios I had to finance large-scale campaigns
against the Carthaginians. Hoard evidence suggests
that the decadrachms were not struck before c. 400
BC, i.e after the first five years of Dionysios’
rule when he had consolidated his empire and was
about to undertake another campaign against the
Carthaginian armies, conquering Motye in 397 BC,
though thereby risking the survival of Syracuse.
The decadrachms are thought to have been payment
for his army of mercenaries. One wonders whether
these Campanian professional soldiers appreciated
the artistic value of what they got. Maybe they
did; at least the Campanian pottery workshops did
so when the mercenaries came back home, and
adopted the head of Arethusa for a new series of
black-glazed cups with a medaillon in the center,
featuring the decadrachm Arethusa.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1537298
Roma Numismatics Limited
http://www.romanumismatics.com/ Auction 5 132 (« |
») 23. March 2013 75'000 GBP 90'000 GBP
Description: Sicily, Syracuse AR Dekadrachm.
Sicily, Syracuse AR Dekadrachm. Time of Dionysios
I, circa 400-370 BC. Charioteer driving galloping
quadriga to left, holding kentron in right hand,
reins in left; above, Nike flies to right, a
wreath in her outstretched arms to crown the
charioteer; in the exergue, a panoply of arms is
set on two steps: a cuirass, two greaves, and a
Phrygian helmet / Head of the nymph Arethusa to
left, wearing a reed wreath, triple-pendant
earring, and a pearl necklace; below her chin, a
pellet, ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ behind, four dolphins playing
around her. Gallatin V-XXII (five examples
recorded from this pair of dies); Dewing Coll. 923
(same obverse die). 43.38g, 36mm, 5h. Good
Extremely Fine. Ex Rarcoa auction, CICF 1985, lot
10 and coverpiece, from the estate of a Chicago
collector who had owned it for forty years. The
dekadrachms of Syracuse have been called ‘the
admiration of the ancient and modern world’, and
‘perhaps the most famous of all ancient coins’;
rightly so, for by virtue of not only their
impressive size and weight, but more importantly
the incredibly detailed artistry of exquisite
style which they bear, they represent the zenith
of cultural and numismatic technological
achievement at ancient Syracuse, and are among the
most beautiful coins ever struck for circulation.
Produced at the apex of Syracuse’s power and
glory, the dekadrachm issue began circa 405 BC,
following the election of Dionysios as supreme
military commander of Syracuse for his
achievements in the war against Carthage, and his
subsequent seizure of total power. Syracuse had
only recently defeated an Athenian invasion of
Sicily that resulted in the utter destruction of
Athens’ expeditionary force and ultimately
contributed significantly to Athens’ defeat at the
hands of Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. Then
under Dionysios in 405, despite the ruin of great
cities such as Akragas and Gela, Syracuse repulsed
a Carthaginian invasion that might have resulted
in a complete conquest of the island. Such glory
was short-lived however, as the rule of Dionysios’
son and successor was to bring only civil strife
that would weaken the power of Syracuse. Never
again would the city issue coinage on such a grand
scale, and with the cessation of tetradrachm
production in c.400 BC, the dekadrachms represent
the last great flourishing of classical numismatic
art at Syracuse before two centuries of steady
decline and eventual conquest at the hands of the
Romans. This astounding example is struck from the
freshest dies with uncommon precision, and has
been preserved in near mint state, such that the
level of detail is virtually unparalleled.
Features such as the delicate folds and pleats in
the chiton of the charioteer, her facial details,
and the manes of the horses are very rarely
encountered with this level of sharpness and
clarity. A truly stunning and choice specimen of
the Euainetos series.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1537299
Roma Numismatics Limited
http://www.romanumismatics.com/ Auction 5 133 (« |
») 23. March 2013 30'000 GBP 24'000 GBP
Description Sicily, Syracuse AR Dekadrachm.
Sicily, Syracuse AR Dekadrachm. Time of Dionysios
I, circa 400 BC. Charioteer driving galloping
quadriga to left, holding kentron in right hand,
reins in left; above, Nike flies to right, a
wreath in her outstretched arms to crown the
charioteer; in the exergue, a panoply of arms is
set on two steps: a cuirass, two greaves, and a
Phrygian helmet / Head of the nymph Arethusa to
left, wearing a reed wreath, triple-pendant
earring, and a pearl necklace; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ behind,
four dolphins playing around her, a star below the
rearmost. Gallatin XXIII-KII. 43.27g, 35mm, 5h.
Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare. From a private
Belgian collection. This type with a star behind
Arethusa’s head and below the rearmost dolphin is
one of the most infrequently encountered in the
dekadrachm series. Struck from a remarkable
reverse die, not only on account of the excellent
style of the Arethusa portrait, but also because
of the astonishing high relief in which it was
engraved. Standing proud from the fields 33% more
than the majority of its counterparts including
the preceeding lot, this nymph commands reverence
and admiration. The fortuitously superb metal
quality and lustre of the fields further
complement the appearance of this sculptural
marvel.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1390132
Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG
http://www.arsclassicacoins.com/ Auction 66 12 («
| ») 17. October 2012 80'000 CHF 170'000 CHF
Description: Syracuse Decadrachm signed by Kimon
circa 404-400, AR 43.33 g. Fast quadriga driven l.
by charioteer, holding reins and kentron ; in
field above, Nike flying r. to crown him. On the
exergual line, in minute letters, KIMΩN. In
exergue, display of military harness set on two
steps and below l., AΘΛA. Rev. ΣΥ[RAKOSIWN] Head
of Arethusa l., wearing earring with pendant and
beaded necklace; wavy hair bound in front with
ampyx , on which the signature K, and caught up
behind by net. Around three dolphins, while a
fourth makes dorsal contact with neck truncation;
on its body, the signature KIMWN. Regling Syrakus
3. AMB 479 (these dies). Rizzo pl. LII, 3 (these
dies). Gulbenkian 303 (these dies). Dewing 869
(these dies). SNG Lloyd 1409 (these dies).
Kraay-Hirmer pl. 42, 118 (this reverse die).
Jongkees 3. Extremely rare. A magnificent specimen
of this celebrated issue with the usual reverse
die break on the eye at a very early stage. Struck
on very broad flan and exceptionally well-centred,
light iridescent tone. Minor metal flaws and a die
break on the hair on reverse, otherwise about
extremely fine Ex Sotheby’s sale 21-22 June 1990,
Hunt part II, 266. Scholars have long attempted to
ascribe Kimon’s decadrachms to an historical event
as they seem in every way to be commemorative
medallions. The Syracusan defeat of the Athenian
navy in 413 at first seems an ideal choice, though
current thought on the dating of this issue
favours the victorious actions of Syracuse in the
otherwise devastating invasion of Sicily by the
Carthaginians from 406 to 405 B.C. The most
compelling reason to associate the Kimonian
decadrachms with a military victory is the display
of armour and weaponry that appears in the exergue
along with the inscription AQLA , which indicates
'prizes', or at least 'agonistic contests'. Since
it was a common practice of Greek soldiers to
engrave dedicatory inscriptions on captured
armour, a connection might be drawn between that
practice and what we observe here. The obverse
scene of a charioteer guiding his team through a
bend is devoted entirely to victory. Despite their
inherent dissimilarities, the four elements of the
scene exist in harmony: the driver is calm and
composed, the horses toss their heads wildly as
they charge forward, Nike floats above as if
undisturbed by the great contest below, and the
display of arms and armour is fixed, as if
monumental. If possible, the head of
Artemis-Arethusa on the reverse is even more
impressive. This die is especially important, as
it is signed twice by Kimon: his initial K on the
ampyx near her forehead and his full name KIMWN on
the body of the dolphin below her neck.
Considering his signature also occurs in miniature
letters on the exergual line on the obverse, we
have a coin that the artist must have considered
to be among his best creations.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=435667
Stack's http://www.stacks.com/ Stack & Kroisos
Collections 2117 (« | ») 14. January 2008 - -
Description: SYRACUSE. Time of Dionysios I,
405-367 B.C. Decadrachm, ca.400-390 B.C. Signed by
Euainetos. Fast quadriga driven l. by female
charioteer leaning forward with kentron in r. hand
and reins in l. hand, Nike above flying r. to
crown her; heavy exergual line and panoply of arms
below. Rv. Head of Arethusa l. wearing barley
wreath, four dolphins around, EYAINE below, ethnic
not visible. 41.44 grams. Gallatin C.XII/R.IV.
Slightly granular surfaces, darkly toned. Sharply
detailed on both sides. Choice Very Fine, nearly
Extremely Fine. (25,000-30,000) The Dekadrachms of
Syracuse are undoubtedly the most famous of
ancient Greek coins, both in modern and in ancient
times. Kraay notes (ACGC, p.232) "Italian pottery
cups have a facsimile [of the decadrachm] set in
the base, no doubt imitating silver vessels which
incorporated actual decadrachms." The design was
copied or adapted for coin issues in such
far-flung places as North Africa, Spain, South
Italy, Lokris Opuntia, the Peloponnese and Crete.
Their size and dignified majesty have always made
them the centerpiece of any Greek collection. The
treatment of the head of the goddess Arethusa
defines classical beauty. In this treatment the
Dekadrachms can be divided into two main types.
The first, smaller issue shows her hair confined
in an ornate net. Many of these dies bear the
initial or signature of Kimon. These coins were
struck ca.405 B.C. from three obverse and thirteen
reverse dies. The second, much larger issue shows
the hair free but bound with a reed, appropriate
for a water-goddess. The earliest dies of this
series bear the signature of Euainetos and were
struck ca.400-390 B.C., probably closer to 400
B.C. This was a fairly large emission, with
twenty-four known obverse and forty-four known
reverse dies, twenty-one carrying the name
Euainetos. Kraay (ACGC, p.232) estimates that this
second issue would have been struck over no more
than a ten to fifteen year period. Silver
Dekadrachms, like the gold fractions that were
produced at approximately the same time, were high
value coins struck for a specific purpose other
than ordinary commerce. It seems most likely they
were a war issue, intended to pay for or provide
the financial backing to pay for mercenary
soldiers, ships and supplies for major military
operations, in this case the on-going war against
Carthage. That so much care should have been taken
to glorify civic pride and the human form on what
was otherwise a very utilitarian item is perhaps
what most separates the ancient from the modern
world. From the Lawrence R. Stack Collection of
Ancient Greek Coins.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1650657
Ponterio & Associates http://www.ponterio.com/
August 2013 Chicago ANA World\'s Fair of Money
11026 (« | ») 13. August 2013 10'000 USD 15'000
USD Description Syracuse SICILY. Syracuse. AR
Decadrachm (42.96 gms), ca. 405-367 B.C.
Gallatin-D.ll/RlX. Charioteer driving fast
quadriga left, Nike flying right above, military
implements in exergue; Reverse: Head of Arethusa
face left wearing earring and necklace, four
dolphins around, artist's signature below.
Graffiti on neck. Toned.VERY FINE.
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=353569
Stack's http://www.stacks.com/ Ancient & World
Coin Auction January 2007 4179 (« | ») 15. January
2007 - 15'000 USD Description SYRACUSE. End of the
Second Democracy and Dionysios I. Dekadrachm, ca.
400-390 B.C. In the manner of Euainetos. Fast
quadriga l., Nike above crowning the charioteer;
panoply of arms in ex. Rv. Head of
Artemis-Arethusa l., hair bound with corn-leaves;
[ΣY]PAKOΣIΩN above, pecten shell behind, four
dolphins around. 43.40 grams. SNG ANS 372 (same
dies), Gallatin 28. E.I/R.XI. Well and evenly
struck, the obverse from a somewhat rusty die.
Clear and sharp rendition of a justly famous coin.
Extremely Fine with an attractive pale gray,
slightly iridescent toning. (15,000-20,000).
- http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=357961
Stack's http://www.stacks.com/ Coin Galleries
February 2007 33 (« | ») 21. February 2007 - -
Description SYRACUSE. Dionysios I, 405-367 B.C.
Dekadrachm, 405-400 B.C. Style of Euainetos.
Charioteer driving fast quadriga l. holding goad,
Nike above flying r. crowning charioteer with
wreath; panoply of armour below. Rv. Head of
Artemis-Arethusa l., hair bound with wreath of
corn-leaves, scallop shell behind, four dolphins
around. 42.10 grams. SNG ANS 372, Gallatin
R.XV/F.IX. Medium gray tone. Very Fine and
impressive. (10,000-15,000).
Venendo alle conclusioni, sebbene il peso e il
diametro rientrino nella norma, l'aspetto generale
della moneta fa ritenere che quella in esame sia una
delle tante riproduzioni moderne in circolazione sul
mercato numismatico. Destano perplessità i contorni
delle figure che appaiono lisciate e non scolpite e
l'aspetto generale del tondello che non sembra
d'argento.
Un saluto cordiale
Giulio De Florio
--------------------------------------------
(1) Decadrammo
(argento), ovvero moneta del valore di dieci
dracme. Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche
fisiche delle monete della tipologia di figura
descritte nei link di cui sopra:
Riferimenti |
Peso (g.) |
Diametro (mm.) |
Asse di conio (h) |
Link01 |
43,360 |
35 |
- |
Link02 |
42,43 |
- |
- |
Link03 |
43,21 |
- |
- |
Link04 |
42,76 |
- |
- |
Link05 |
43,05 |
- |
8 |
Link06 |
43,20 |
35,5 |
- |
Link07 |
43,30 |
- |
- |
Link08 |
43,08 |
- |
- |
Link09 |
43,38 |
36 |
5 |
Link10 |
43,27 |
35 |
5 |
Link11 |
43,33 |
- |
- |
Link12 |
41,44 |
- |
- |
Link13 |
42,96 |
- |
- |
Link14 |
43,40 |
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Link15 |
42,10 |
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- |
Si desume dalla tabella che le caratteristiche
fisiche della moneta di figura (41,8g, 35mm), non si
discostano da quelle dei conȋ d'epoca di pari
tipologia.
(2) Il tema dell'auriga che,
alle redini di una quadriga, riceve dalla Nike la
corona della vittoria è tipico della monetazione in
argento di Siracusa. In questo caso però la presenza
di paramenti militari sotto la linea di esergo
allude ad una vittoria militare, verosimilmente
quella del tiranno di Siracusa Dionigi I sui
cartaginesi. La moneta fu probabilmente battuta per
il pagamento delle spese militari della campagna
contro i cartaginesi.
(3) Aretusa è il simbolo
dell'autorità statuale di Siracusa impresso sulla
moneta (come nel passato italico recente il simbolo
statuale dell'Italia era il personaggio femminile
con il capo coperto da corona turrita che si
osserva, ad esempio, sui francobolli - v. link).
Nel caso dell'antica Siracusa la scelta dell'Aretusa
come simbolo trova ispirazione nel mito di cui di
seguito fornisco una breve sintesi (v. anche il link):
"Aretusa, ninfa al seguito di Artemide, mentre si
bagnava nelle acque del fiume Alfeo nel Peloponneso
(v. mappa)
fu spiata dall'omonimo dio fluviale che,
innamoratosene, si propose di tenerla con sé. Per
sfuggirgli, Aretusa riparò ad Ortigia, l'isoletta
che fronteggia Siracusa; lì Artemide, nell'intento
di proteggerla, la trasformò in fonte. Alfeo allora,
non volendo perderla, attraversò il mare nella forma
di fiume e unì le sue acque a quelle che sgorgavano
dalla fonte Aretusa".
(4) L'etnico abbreviato
ΣΥΡAKOΣIΩN (dei siracusani) indica in Siracusa lo
stato emittente. I delfini evidenziano genericamente
che Siracusa è una città marittima. Il tema dei
delfini è presente anche nei tetradrammi siracusani
coevi (v. link). |