Indice Dietro Avanti
Siracusa, tetradrammo, Aretusa con delfini, Nike su biga
9.10.2024
Buongiorno.
Sottopongo alla sua cortese attenzione un tetradramma.
Cosa ne pensa?
Grazie.
peso 17g
diametro 25mm
metallo AR.
fig. 1
cliccare sulle immagini per ingrandire
Roma, 11.10.2024
Egregio Lettore
riporto di seguito gli elementi significativi riguardanti la moneta di figura:

Tetradrammo1, zecca di Siracusa, 466-405 a. C., Boehringer 6702, SNG Cop. Italy 2 Syracuse 660-662, BMC II 121 (pag. 161)

Descrizione sommaria (sono indicate in rosso le parti della leggenda usurate o comunque non più leggibili):
D. Aretusa3 testa a destra, con orecchino e collana, capelli legati con una fascia sottile e avvolti quattro volte intorno alla testa, intorno due coppie di delfini contrapposte. Intorno ΣVPΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ4.
R. Auriga, redini tenute con entrambe le mani, kentron nella mano destra, conduce carro al passo verso destra; sopra, Nike in volo a destra incorona i cavalli5.

La ricerca nel web di monete della tipologia di figura ha dato luogo ai seguenti risultati:

  1. https://www.biddr.com/auctions/savoca/browse?a=253&l=241223 Silver 21st Silver Auction Price realized 400 EUR 9 bids Starting price 150 EUR Lotto 25 Sicily. Syracuse. Second Democracy 466-405 BC. Struck circa 430-420 BC Descrizione Tetradrachm AR 22mm., 16,98g. Charioteer holds reins with both his hands, the kentron in his right hand, driving a quadriga walking to right, [above Nike flying right to crown the horses] / [ΣVP-Α-ΚΟ-Σ-Ι-ΟΝ], head of Arethusa to right, wearing earring and necklace, hair bound with thin band and wound four times round the head, around, two opposed pairs of dolphins. very fine. Boehringer 239, 670; SNG ANS 220.
  2. https://www.ancientcointraders.com/greek-sicily-syracuse-second-democracy-tetradrachm-arethusa-p-609.html Sicily, Syracuse, Second Democracy, 466-405 BC, AR Tetradrachm, Arethusa, struck c. 430-420 BC 1,026.73€ Information: Pedigreed coin from an old collection. The die-engravers of Sicily, Syracuse were responsible for the finest art to found on a coin, whether by ancient or modern standards. Such coins are coveted by collectors and unsurprisingly fall outside a budget available to many collectors. Origin: Sicily, Syracuse. Authority: Second Democracy. Denomination: Tetradrachm. Composition: Silver. Date: circa 430-420 BC. Obverse: Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving slow quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses. Reverse: ΣVP-A-[KO]-ΣI-[ON], large head of Artemis-Arethusa right, wearing necklace and earring, hair tied back in a sakkos; four dolphins around swimming clockwise Size: 25.15mm, 17.4g, 2h Grade: aVF, well centred, cabinet-toned, casing sprue remnant, Provenance: From the collection of W. F. Stoecklin, Amriswil, Switzerland, acquired from Etienne Bourgey in Paris during the 1920s or 1930s, ex Nomos AC Oblos Auction 8 (2 December 2017), Lot 108. References: Boehringer 670 (V338/R457); SNG ANS 220; SNG Copenhagen 659 (all same dies); HGC 2, 1311; cf. SGCV I 925. General: The Deinomenid tyrants ruled Sicily, Syracuse from 485-465 BC. The tyrant rulers comprised the brothers Gelon I (ruled 485 BC-478 BC), Hieron I (478 BC-466 BC) and Thrasybulus (466-465 BC), all sons of Deinomenes. Legend has it that Deinomenes was told by an oracle that each of his sons were destined to become tyrants. When the Deinomenid tyrant Thrasybulus was overthrown, Syracuse became a republic for sixty years. This period from 466-405 BC is known as the Second Democracy.
  3. https://www.deamoneta.com/auctions/view/816/175 Lot # 175. Sicily. Syracuse. Second Democracy (466-405 BC). AR Tetradrachm, c. 430-420 BC. Obv. Slow quadriga driven right by male charioteer holding goad; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses. Rev. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ. Head of Arethusa right, hair in thin bands and wearing necklace; four dolphins around. HGC 2 1320; Boehringer 670; SNG ANS 221. AR. 17.08g. 25.50mm. Lightly toned. VF. Starting price: 800€ Number of bids: 1 Observed by: 3 Sold: 800€.
  4. https://nomosag.com/obolos-8/107 Obolos 8 2 December 2017 Lot 107 Starting Price: 250 CHF Hammer Price: 440 CHF Lot 107 SICILY. Syracuse. Second Democracy, 466-405 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 24mm, 17.21g, 6h), c. 430-420 BC. Male charioteer, wearing a long chiton, driving a quadriga walking to right; above Nike flying right to crown the horses. Rev. ΣVPΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ Head of Arethusa to right with hair in sakkos, wearing earring and necklace; around, four dolphins. Boehringer 669 (V338/R456). Struck on a tight flan, otherwise, about very fine. From the collection of W. F. Stoecklin, Amriswil, Switzerland, acquired from Münzen und Medaillen in Basel prior to 1975. Current Status Online bidding closes: 2 Dec 2017, 16:23:00 CET Current Date & Time: 10 Oct 2024, 18:52:49 CEST Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price: 440 CHF by phaidros73 (5 bids).
  5. https://nomosag.com/images/auctions/23/image00108.jpg https://nomosag.com/obolos-8/105 Lot 108 Starting Price: 450 CHF Hammer Price: 600 CHF Lot 108 SICILY. Syracuse. Second Democracy, 466-405 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25mm, 17.32g, 2h), c. 430-420 BC. Charioteer driving a quadriga walking to right; above Nike flying right to crown the horses. Rev. ΣVPΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ Head of Arethusa to right, wearing earring and necklace, and with her hair in a sakkos; around, two opposed pairs of dolphins. Boehringer 670 (V338/R457). Toned and well centered. Nearly very fine. From the collection of W. F. Stoecklin, Amriswil, Switzerland, acquired from Etienne Bourgey in Paris during the 1920s or 1930s. Current Status Online bidding closes: 2 Dec 2017, 16:23:30 CET Current Date & Time: 10 Oct 2024, 18:59:51 CEST Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price: 600 CHF by MailBidder4646 (3 bids).
  6. https://bertolamifineart.bidinside.com/it/lot/176039/sicily-syracuse-second-democracy-466-405-/ Base d'asta: 300,00€. Offerta attuale: 1.900,00€. Numero offerte: 5. Descrizione: Sicily, Syracuse, Second Democracy (466-405 BC), Tetradrachm; AR (17,65g; 27mm). Syracuse, c.ca 430-420 BC. Charioteer driving quadriga walking to right, holding reins in both hands; above, Nike flying left to crown the charioteer; Rv. ΣΥΡ-Α-KΟ-ΣΙ-[ΟΝ], head of Arethusa to right, her hair tied with a ribbon, wearing pendant earring and simple necklace; around, four dolphins swimming right and left. Boehringer 671; HGC 2, 1320. SNG ANS 221. Refined style. Good very fine / near extremely fine.
  7. noonans Lot № 80. 25 September 2024 Hammer Price: £3,000. Description Greek Coinages, Syracuse: Tetradrachm, struck under the Second Democracy, c. 430-420 Obverse: quadriga stepping slowly right, charioteer holding reins in both hands; wreath-bearing Nike flying right above to crown horses. Reverse: συρακοσιον: head of Arethusa right, her hair pulled up and bound by four bands, wearing hook-shaped earring and plain necklace; framed by four dolphins around. Metal: silver; Attic weight standard; 17.34g/12h. References: Boehringer 651.2, this coin [V329/R446] = Pozzi 1255, this coin; Rizzo pl. XL, 4; Ashmolean 1983. Condition: Very fine and beautifully toned, the portrait better and of refined classical style £900-£1,200. This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Phillips Family Collection of Ancient Greek Coin.
  8. https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=8407&lot=170 Lot 170. Estimate: 400CHF. Price realized: 550CHF. Syracuse Tetradrachm circa 430-420, AR 24mm, 17.31g. Charioteer driving slow quadriga r., holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying r. crowning horses. Rev. ΣYPAKOΣIO[N] Head of nymph Arethusa r., hair tied with ribbon over head, surrounded by four dolphins swimming. AMB 450. SNG ANS 218 (these dies). Boehringer 666. Obverse from a worn die, otherwise very fine / good very fine.
  9. https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-3881084 Sicily, Syracuse (c. 450-439 B.C.), Tetradrachm, 17.359g., slow quadriga driven right by charioteer, Nike flying right above, rev. head of Artemis-Arethusa right, wearing spendone wound four times around head, four dolphins around (cf. B674 but an unpublished reverse die?), very fine. Price realised GBP 345. Estimate GBP 350 – GBP 450 Closed: 27 Mar 2002. Details Sicily, Syracuse (c. 450-439 B.C.), Tetradrachm, 17.359g., slow quadriga driven right by charioteer, Nike flying right above, rev. head of Artemis-Arethusa right, wearing spendone wound four times around head, four dolphins around (cf. B674 but an unpublished reverse die?), very fine.
  10. cngcoins Electronic Auction 518 Lot nuber 31. SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 16.91g, 10h). Struck circa 430-420 BC. Electronic Auction 518. Lot: 31. Estimated: $500. Sold For $700 SICILY, Syracuse. Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. Charioteer driving quadriga right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses / Head of Arethousa right, hair in thin bands; four dolphins around. Boehringer Series XXII, 670 (V338/R457); HGC 2, 1320; SNG ANS 220 (same dies). Old collection tone, flan crack, flan flaws. VF. Ex Classical Numismatic Group 57 (4 April 2001), lot 106. Closing Date and Time: 15 June 2022 at 10:10:00 ET.
  11. https://nomisma.bidinside.com/it/lot/585207/sicilia-siracusa-i-seconda-democrazia-/ Lotto 8 - SICILIA Siracusa – Seconda democrazia - Tetradramma. Descrizione SICILIA Siracusa – Seconda democrazia - Tetradramma (circa 450-439 a.C.) Biga a d. – R/ Testa di ninfa a d. – S.Cop. 659 e segg. AG (16,81g) Grading/Stato: BB.
Veniamo alle conclusioni. Per valutare sotto ogni aspetto la moneta di figura, ho realizzato la tabella di confronto allegata nella quale ho riportato le caratteristiche fisiche e, se disponibile, il valore venale di ciascuna delle monete reperite nel web. Si noterà che le caratteristiche fisiche del campione in esame si collocano all'interno dello spazio di variazione delle monete autentiche reperite nel web. Posto che sia stato escluso che il tondello sia ferromagnetico, vista l'annotazione "metallo AR" di cui sopra, le caratteristiche fisiche, generali e di stile della moneta in esame sono comparabili con quelle delle monete d'epoca reperite nel web. Se così è, nel presente stato di conservazione, il  valore venale della moneta è stimabile, a mio avviso, in quattrocento euro.

Un saluto cordiale
Giulio De Florio

----------
(1) Tetradrammo (argento). Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche fisiche delle monete della tipologia di figura reperite nel web:

Riferimenti Peso(g)  Diametro(mm) Asse di conio (H)
Link1 16,98 22 -
Link2 17,4 25,15 2
Link3 17,08 25,50 -
Link4 17,21 24 6
Link5 17,32 25 2
Link6 17,65 27 -
Link7 17,34 - 12
Link8 17,31 24 -
Link9 17,359 - -
Link10 16,91 25,5 10
Link11 16,81 - -
Dalla tabella si evince che le caratteristiche fisiche della moneta in esame (17g, 25mm, 6h) rientrano nei margini di variabilità delle monete dello stesso tipo reperite nel web.
(2) Boehringer 670, riferimento bibliografico dedotto, in quanto non disponibile per la consultazione online.
(3) I testi di riferimento, descrivono il dritto della moneta come "testa femminile", mentre nei link sopra indicati la testa è associata poprio alla ninfa Aretùsa (Ἀρέθουσα), rappresentando costei l'autorità statuale di Siracusa (come nel passato nostrano lo era l'Italia turrita di certi francobolli - v. link). Nel caso di Siracusa la scelta del simbolo traeva origine dal mito fondativo (v. il link) secondo cui Aretusa, ninfa fluviale al seguito di Artemide, si stava bagnando nelle acque del fiume Alfeo nel Peloponneso (v. wikipedia) quando fu sorpresa dall'omonimo dio fluviale che, invaghitosene, cercò di farla sua. Per sfuggirgli, Aretusa riparò ad Ortigia, l'isoletta che fronteggia Siracusa. Lì Artemide, per proteggerla, la trasformò in una fonte. nella quale Alfeo riversò le sue acque avendo attraversato il mare in forma di fiume".
(4) L'etnico ΣVPΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ (dei siracusani) indica che la moneta è stata emessa nel nome del popolo di Siracusa.
(5) Il tipo del rovescio esalta la partecipazione dell'aristocrazia siracusana alle competizioni olimpiche.
Indice Dietro Avanti