SICILIAN GREEK COINS
(Naxos-Tyrrhenoi)

Collection L - Reasonable Offers Welcomed!



Many with 1907 Thomas Virzi Provenance


NAXOS PANORMOS PETRA PIAKOS
ROMAN RULE SEGESTA SELINOS SILERALOI
SOLUS SYRACUSE TAUROMENION THERMAE
TYNDARIS TYRRHENOI


NAXOS


PANORMOS

11851. SICILY, PANORMOS, (as Ziz). Circa 340-320 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 16.85 g, 10h). Charioteer, holding kentron and reins, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; Punic SYS (Ziz) in exergue / Wreathed head of female left; four dolphins around, pellet to left. Jenkins, Punic 63 (O17/R50); HGC 2, 1022; SNG Lloyd 1586 (same dies); Boston MFA 325 (same dies). VF, toned. Provenance: The Continental Collection.


PETRA

7894. RARE & CHOICE LITRA OF PETRA: SICILY, PETRA, AE33 Litra, Sear 1169. Hd. Zeus r., PETRINON. /Aphrodite std. r. holding dove in l. hand. VF. An excessively rare large Sicilian bronze. Remarkable style and condition for the issue with all letters of the legend present. Much superior to the Sear plate coin.

SOLD.



PIAKOS


ROMAN RULE

4073. SICILY, ROMAN RULE, after-212 BC. AE20 As, Copenhagen 1048. Hd. Janus/Spear head and jawbone of boar. VF. Rare. Excellent example with fine dark forest green patina. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


SEGESTA


SELINOS

11852. SICILY, SELINOS, Circa 440-420 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 16.26 g, 3h). Artemis, holding reins, driving quadriga left; beside her, Apollo standing left, drawing bow; barley grain in exergue / Selinos standing left, holding branch and phiale over altar to left; before altar, cock standing left; to right, selinon leaf above bull standing left on basis. Schwabacher 25 (Q8/S19); HGC 2, 1221; Bement 438 (same dies). VF, toned, areas of corrosion on obverse, 'hair' added to Silenos' head, light scratches (possibly graffiti) in field before him. Provenance: The Continental Collection.


THE SILERALOI

11983. SICILY, THE SILERALOI, 354/3-344 BC. AE (30mm, 31.19 g, 6h). Forepart of man-headed bull left / Warrior advancing right, holding shield and spear. Castrizio Series I, 1; Campana 1; CNS 1; HGC 2, 1242. Near VF, green-brown patina, areas of light tooling. Rare. Provenance: From the Fairfield Collection.


SOLUS


SYRACUSE

UNIQUE!

8130. EXTREMELY INTERESTING INSCRIPTION FROM GREEK SYRACUSE, c. 5th-4th century BC. Consisting of a thick heavy bronze segment of a circle, engraved with the Greek letters SYRAKO, a triangle and a swastica, one possible archaic letter below and other engraved short lines. Set at the right side with a large blue cabachon glass, and at the left with what appears to be a silver coin of Syracuse, at least a silver disc with the head of a lady, likely Arethusa, facing left. 1.5 x 3.75 inches. A fascinating object that deserves further study. Any additional information on what this object might be and its function would be welcomed. Extremely rare one of a kind artifact. All ancient Greek inscriptions are eagerly sought especially one inscribed with the name of such a famous city. Unique!



8172. SICILY, SYRACUSE, time of Timoleon, ca. 344-317 BC. Gold 30 litrae. SURAKOSIWN, laureate head of Zeus of superb classical style l./Pegasos flying l. VF+. Very rare!

SOLD.



9333. SICILY, SYRACUSE, TIME OF AGATHOKLES, 317-289 BC. Gold Drachm, 4.20 gm, ca. 317-310 BC, Dewing 934v. Laur. hd. Apollo l./Fast biga r. driven by male charioteer, triskeles below. EF. Typical slightly rusty obverse die, tiny rim nick. Beautiful fine classical style. Rare.

$5500.



8035. SUPERB SYRACUSE DEKADRACHM BY EUAINETOS. Sicily, Syracuse, Dionysos I, 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm, 34 mm, 41.14 g. SNG Copenhagen 691. Gallatin (Syracusan Dekadrachms of the Euainetos Type) R.WVII / G.I (plates VI and XI), citing 11 specimens from this die combination, including de Luynes Collection 1246, de Nanteuil Collection 359, Warren Collection 362, and Du Chastel Collection 144. Struck from unsigned dies by the master engraver Euainetos. Obverse: Charioteer driving racing quadriga left holding goad in right hand, reigns in left; Nike flying right above to crown the charioteer. crowning charioteer. Below heavy exergue line on two steps a military harness, shields, greaves, cuirass and attic helmet all connected by a horizontal spear. Reverse: Head of Artemis Arethusa left wearing triple pendant earrings and necklace surrounded by 4 swimming dolphins, scallop shell behind. Slight discoloration on Persephone's cheek and neck. Extremely high profile strike. An exceptional example worthy of the finest collection. EF. Extremely rare. Comes with a David Sear Certificate of Authenticity.

Widely accepted as one of the most beautiful coins ever struck. Sadly these magnificent coins were struck from iron dies which seem to have quickly rusted, cracked and abraded so that very few remain with excellent surfaces such as this example.



11853. SICILY, SYRACUSE, Hieron I. 478-466 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 16.80 g, 12h). Struck circa 478-475 BC. Charioteer driving quadriga right, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses / Diademed head of Arethusa right; four dolphins around clockwise. Boehringer Series VIIIb, 137 (V62/R94); HGC 2, 1306. VF, toned, minor roughness. Provenance: The Continental Collection.

SOLD.



CHOICE PEDIGREED SYRACUSE TETRADRACHM

7704. SICILY, SYRACUSE, 480-475 BC. Boehringer 239E (V 107E/R 162E), 17.22 gm. Charioteer driving walking quadriga r., Nike flying abv. crowning horses. /Diademed hd. of Arethusa r, four dolphins around, SVRAKOSION. EF. Very rare die variety. Ex. Knobloch Collection (Stacks June 1970, lot 137).

SOLD.



11854. SYRACUSE, Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.03 g, 2h). Struck 450 BC. Charioteer driving quadriga right, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses; in exergue, ketos right / Diademed head of Arethusa right; four dolphins around. Boehringer Series XV, 540 (V275/R378); HGC 2, 1311. VF, toned, some roughness. Provenance: The Continental Collection.

$2450.



8187. SYRACUSE, 465-425 BC. Tetradrachm, Cop.646. Quadriga, Nike crowning horses, pistrix below/Hd Artemis- Arethusa, 4 dolphins swimming clockwise around. VF. Scarce variety with beautiful head.

$2450.



SIGNED BY EUMENOS AND EUKLEIDAS

11855. SYRACUSE, Second Democracy. 466-405 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.15 g, 9h). Obverse die signed by Eumenos, reverse die signed by Eukleidas. Struck circa 413-405 BC. Charioteer driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer; signature EVMHNO[V] in exergue / Head of Arethusa left; below chin, diptych with signature [EVKΛ/EIΔA]; four dolphins around. Tudeer 24 (dies 9/16); HGC 2, 1328. VF, toned, some iridescence. Provenance: The Continental Collection. Provenance: The Continental Collection.



11857. SICILY, SYRACUSE, GELON, son of Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AR 4 Litrai (15mm, 3.35 g, 12h). Struck circa 218/7-215 BC. Diademed head of Gelon left / Eagle standing right on thunderbolt; K to left, BA to right. CCO 288 (D4/R3); BAR Issue 67; HGC 2, 1563. VF, toned, light deposits on reverse, a couple of minor cleaning marks under tone. Rare. Provenance: The Continental Collection.


7906. SICILY, SYRACUSE, HIERONYMOS, 215-214 BC. AR 10 Litrae. Diademed head of Hieronymos l./Thunderbolt, BASILIOS IERWNYMOU (King Hieronymos). EF. Choice example.

SOLD.



8543. SICILY, SYRACUSE, REPUBLIC, 214-212 BC. AR 12 Litrai, Sear 997. Head Athena wearing Corinthian helmet l./Artemis drawing arrow l., hound leaping behind. EF+. Choice sharp example with unsurpassed fineness in small details such as the griffin adorning Athena's helmet, or the sharp rendering of her earring, also an excellent sensitive rendering of Artemis with every detail of her garments and features sharp. An exceptional example, compare eg. the ungainly Artemis of the Sear plate coin.

$12,500



7899. SICILY, SYRACUSE, 409 BC. AE20 Hemilitron. Hd. Athena l./Hippocamp l. Choice EF example.


7900. SICILY, SYRACUSE, time of Dion, 357-354 BC. AE18. Laur. hd. Zeus Eleutherios l./Thunderbolt. VF. Extremely rare!


4012. SICILY, SYRACUSE, Time of Timoleon, 344-336 BC. AE25 Hemilitron, Sear 1192. Laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios r./Thunderbolt, eagle to r. EF. Choice example with very fine patina. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.

$1250.



8539. SICILY, SYRACUSE, Time of Timoleon, 344-336 BC. AE28 Litra, BMC.2.311, SNG Copenhagen 725, Sear 1191. Laureate head of Zeus Eleutherios l., ethnic around/Prancing horse l. Nice VF+. A choice example and rare this nice with a wonderful high profile heavily bearded head of Zeus.


11856 SICILY, SYRACUSE, Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AE Drachm (29mm, 32.73 g, 7h). Head of Athena left, wearing Corinthian helmet / Sea-star between two dolphins. Holloway, Further, Series 4, fig. 8; CNS 62; HGC 2, 1436. VF, green patina, minor roughness. Provenance: The Continental Collection.


4020. SICILY, SYRACUSE, AGATHOKLES, 317-289 BC. AE15, Copenhagen 758v, Sear 1196v. Hd. Persephone l., wreathed with corn/Bull butting l. EF. Excellent example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4021. SICILY, SYRACUSE, AGATHOKLES, 317-289 BC. AE17, S1199v. Laur. hd. Apollo l., lyre behind/Pegasos flying l. VF+. Excellent example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4027. SICILY, SYRACUSE, AGATHOKLES, 317-289 BC. AE17, Sear 1202v. Hd. Athena r. wearing crested Corinthian helmet/Horseman wearing Phrygian helmet, cantering r. with couched spear. EF. Rare. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4024. SICILY, SYRACUSE, AGATHOKLES, 317-289 BC. AE22, BMC.2.422, Sear 1200. Bust Artemis r., quiver over shoulder/Thunderbolt. VF. Nice example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4919. SICILY, SYRACUSE. 317-289 B.C. Calciati, vol II, pag.284, n°149 Ds 73 Rs 96 Rl 2, AE13, Cop. 744 similar, Weber 1664 similar. Hd. Apollo l., traces of legend before/Hound lying l., hd. reverted, SW in ex. EF. Rare. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4930. SICILY, SYRACUSE. 317-289 B.C. Head of Apollo on Obverse. Calciati, vol. II, pag.241, n°114. AE18. Hd. Apollo? or ruler? l./Bull butting l., club above. EF. Could be a rare 'mule' of two coins of Hieron II. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4964. SICILY, SYRACUSE, ca. 310-304 BC. AE13, Copenhagen 776. Hd. Athena l./Thunderbolt. VF. Rare. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


8542. SICILY, SYRACUSE, FOURTH REPUBLIC, 289-287 BC or later. AE25, SNG Copenhagen 789v. Laureate head of Zeus Hellanios r./Eagle with spread wings stg. l., star to l. AEF. A choice example struck on a very wide flan, this die with a superb rendering of the head of Zeus Hellanios in the finest Classical style with long flowing hair.


7904. SYRACUSE, PYRRHOS, 278-276 BC. AE24 Litra. Veiled head Phthia/Thunderbolt. Rare depiction of his mother. EF+. Choice example of this rare coin.

SOLD.



4036. SICILY, SYRACUSE, RULE OF PYRRHOS, 278-276 BC. AE27, Copenhagen 807. Hd. Persephone l., wreathed with corn, barley stalk behind/Flaming torch within oak wreath. AEF. Rare. Choice example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.

SOLD.



4037. SICILY, SYRACUSE, RULE OF PYRRHOS, 278-276 BC. AE23, Sear 1213. Hd. young Herakles l. in lion skin/Athena Promachos adv. r., brandishing spear and holding shield. EF. Choice example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.

$850.



4041. SICILY, SYRACUSE, RULE OF PYRRHOS, 278-276 BC. AE19, Sear 1217v. Hd. Athena l., no owl behind/Cornear in oakwreath. EF. Choice example. Scarce. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.

SOLD.



4044. SICILY, SYRACUSE, HIERON II. 274-215 BC. AE34, THE THOMAS VIRZI SPECIMEN, Sear 1220. Diademed head left / CNS 196 R1 4; SNG Morcom 816; SNG ANS 908 var. (A below); SNG Lloyd 1553; Laffaille 89; Virzi 1841. Diademed head of Hieron left. /IERWNOS, Nike, holding reins in both hands, driving galloping biga right; N below. VF. Excessively rare example of the largest of Syracusian bronzes and one of the most sought after. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907. Struck circa 265 BC.

In 265 BC, Hieron II routed the Mamertines at the river Longanus, west of Messana. This rare issue of about 36 grams may commemorate this victory and, if comparison is made with Mamertine bronze coins, is the equivalent of an octuple bronze piece (cf. SNG ANS Mamertini 401 [double of about 9 grams] and 402-409 [quadruples of about 18 grams]).

Hieron was sufficiently realistic to abandon his early imperial ambitions in favour of loyalty to Rome and the prosperity and well-being of his people. His system of taxation, adopted by Rome after her annexation of Sicily in 241 BC, and monetary reforms on both the international Attic and local litrai standards, eventually led to the introduction of the Roman denarius (equivalent of an Attic drachm of about 4.3 grams) at the time of the siege of Syracuse in 212/1 BC, and the abandonment of large cast bronze aes grave in favour of Greek-like fiduciary struck bronze.



4045. SICILY, SYRACUSE, HIERON II. 274-216 BC. AE27, Sear 1221. Diad. hd. Hieron l./Horseman galloping r. with lance. EF. Choice example with a superb styled portrait with the hint of a smile. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4043. SICILY, SYRACUSE, HIERON II. 274-216 BC. AE19, Sear 1218v. Hd. Persephone l., hair rolled and wreathed with corn/Bull butting l., club above, EI in ex. EF. Choice example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4048. SICILY, SYRACUSE, HIERON II, 274-216 BC. AE22, Sear 1223. Diad. hd. Poseidon l./Ornamented trident between two dolphins. EF. Choice sharp example with fine forest green patina and superb style. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4050. SICILY, SYRACUSE, HIERON II, 274-216 BC. AE15, Sear_, Copenhagen_. Diad. hd. Poseidon l./Ornamented trident between two dolphins. VF. Extremely rare much smaller variant of Sear 1223. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


10361. SICILY, SYRACUSE, PHILISTIS, wife of Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AR 16 Litrai = Tetradrachm. 13.83 g. SNG Cop. 822; SNG ANS 869. Struck circa 218/7-214 BC. Diademed and veiled bust of Philistis left; branch to right / BAΣIΛIΣΣAΣ ΦIΛIΣTIΔOΣ, Nike, holding reins in both hands, driving slow quadriga right; A below feet of leading horse. Good VF, toned, a little surface roughness but much better than the photo in the hand. Ex. Gorny. A beautiful finely styled portrait.


10362. SICILY, SYRACUSE, PHILISTIS, wife of Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AR 16 Litrai = Tetradrachm. 13.82 g. SNG Cop. 822; SNG ANS 869. Struck circa 218/7-214 BC. Diademed and veiled bust of Philistis left; branch to right / BAΣIΛIΣΣAΣ ΦIΛIΣTIΔOΣ, Nike, holding reins in both hands, driving slow quadriga right; A below feet of leading horse. Good VF, toned, a little surface roughness but much better than the photo in the hand. Ex. Gorny. A beautiful finely styled portrait.


4917. SICILY, SYRACUSE. 275-216 B.C. Calciati, vol II, pag.406, n°201, AE22. Hd. Arethusa? l./Pegasos flying r. VF. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4031. SYRACUSE, HIKETAS, 288-279 BC. AE24, Sear 1210. Head Demeter r. wreathed with corn, flaming torch behind/Galloping biga driven r. by charioteer, star abv. EF. Choice example with excellent detail and centering, especially on the rv. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4032. SYRACUSE, HIKETAS, 288-279 BC. AE24, Sear 1210v. Head Demeter r. wreathed with corn, corn stalk behind/Galloping biga driven r. by charioteer, star abv. EF. Nice example with excellent sharp detail, especially on the rv. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4033. SYRACUSE, HIKETAS, 288-279 BC. AE24, Sear 1211. Laur. and beardless hd. of Zeus Hellanios l., thunderbolt behind/Eagle stg. l. on thunderbolt, star to l. EF. Choice example. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4034. SYRACUSE, HIKETAS, 288-279 BC. AE24, Sear 1211v. Laur. and beardless hd. of Zeus Hellanios l., trophy? behind/Eagle stg. l. on thunderbolt, star to l. EF. Nice example with choice emerald patina.Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4035. SYRACUSE, HIKETAS, 288-279 BC. AE24, Sear 1212. Laur. and beardless hd. of Zeus Hellanios r./Eagle stg. l. on thunderbolt, star to l. EF. Choice example of beautiful classical style. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.

$1250.



4051. SICILY, SYRACUSE, HIERONYMOS, 215-214 BC. AE22, Sear 1224. Diad. hd. Hieronymos l.,/Winged thunderbolt. AEF. Rare. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


4053. SICILY, SYRACUSE, UNDER ROMAN RULE, after 212 BC. AE23, Sear 1229v. Laur. hd. Zeus l./Galloping biga driven l. by Nike, crescent abv. VF. Rare. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


TAUROMENION

11858. SICILY, TAUROMENION, Campanian mercenaries. 354/3-344 BC. AE Hemilitron (27mm, 26.90 g). Bull butting left; TA monogram above / Star with pellet-in-annulet in center. Castrizio series I, 1; Campana (Kampanoi) 2; CNS III p. 327, 1 OS; Puglisi -; HGC 2, 1606. VF, attractive dark green patina. Choice for issue. Rare. Provenance: The Continental Collection


7907. SICILY, TAUROMENION, after 357 BC. AE26 Hemidrachm. Laur. hd. Apollo l./Man-headed bull walking l. EF.


THERMAE HIMERENSIS


TYNDARIS

4946. SICILY, TYNDARIS, ca. 344 BC. AE12, Weber 1754. Hd. Apollo l./Forepart horse r. EF. Rare. Beautiful patina. Provenance: The Thomas Virzi collection, 1907.


TYRRHENOI

11859. SICILY, TYRRHENOI, 354/3-344 BC. AE Litra (30mm, 31.72 g, 10h). Helmeted head of Athena right / Athena standing left, holding spear and shield. Castrizio series I, 1; Campana 1; CNS 1; HGC 2, 1657. VF, dark green, red, and brown patina, minor edge split, small flan flaw in reverse field. Exceptional for issue, very rare thus. Provenance: The Continental Collection.