Agathokles Tetradrachm
SmEagle1795
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I've had this coin for a while and have posted it before but have never officially "announced" it or given it a proper writeup. Aesthetically, it's one of my favorites, and has a rather interesting history as well. Post any other coins minted by Agathokles if you have them!
Agathokles was the last of the larger-than-life rulers of Syracuse but he was not merely given the right to the throne. He was born in Thermae in 361 BC to a Greek manufacturer of pottery but he quickly tired of his father’s trade. Upon leaving home and moving to Syracuse, he became an officer within the Syracusan army, establishing himself as a skillful leader.
In 317 BC, he overthrew the Syracusan rulers, banishing or murdering all of those who opposed him and, with the support of the common people, he inserted himself as dictator.
He formed a large navy and strengthened his army, significantly expanding the power of Syracuse. This growth caused his territory to bump against that of the Carthaginians, a force which would shape and consume the majority of his life.
Carthage controlled a large territory in western Sicily and had been enemies of the Sicilian Greeks since the 6th century. Their forces posed a formidable challenge for Agathokles and after a bloody battle, the boundaries were largely unchanged, with a border established along the Halycus River.
In the summer of 311 BC, the Carthaginians managed to surround Agathokles by land and sea but his quick thinking allowed him to escape when, in August 310 BC, the Carthaginians briefly relaxed their naval blockade. Agathokles immediately sailed from the Syracuse harbor with 60 ships and an army of 13,500 men, set to invade Carthage itself. Although he was successful in the field, defeating the Carthaginian armies in North Africa, he did not capture their capital city. Nonetheless, the strategic attacks were highly successful and widely celebrated.
Syracuse was maintaining its stronghold against the Carthagainians while Agathokles was at battle in Africa but at the same time, he learned that his other cities in Sicily had claimed independence. This forced him to return to Sicily and leave his African army under the control of his son Archagathus.
The Carthaginians had split their army into thirds, each controlling a separate area. Archagathus did the same but not quickly enough and several of his factions were destroyed by the Punic forces. By the time Agathokles returned, there wasn’t anything he could do: Archagathus and his brother were killed, and the army was forced to surrender to Carthage.
Many of his soldiers were either recruited into the Carthaginian army, put to work, or crucified. Agathokles made peace with the Carthaginians in 306 BC by giving up large territories in west Sicily in exchange for a fair amount of gold and grain.
This truce did not leave him idle. Following in the footsteps of the successors of Alexander the Great, Agathokles adopted the title of sole king of Sicily, although this control only extended across the eastern portion of the island.
He then extended his power to the Greek areas of south Italy and western mainland Greece, and, in 300 BC, took over Corcyra by driving out the Macedonian king Kassander. Agathokles used Corcyra as a dowry for his daughter Lanassa’s politically influential marriages to Pyrrhus in 295 BC and later to Demetrius Poliorketes in 291 BC.
However, his hopes of extending his dynasty were brought to an abrupt end when his son was murdered by a jealous relative. Agathokles then occupied his time working to consolidate the control over his empire. In recognizing that he had no formal heir, he restored the Syracusan democracy as he lay dying of jaw cancer at the age of 72 in 289 BC.
Although he did not accomplish all of his military goals in his lifetime, he did show that it was possible to invade Carthage, leaving the door open for the Romans to be much more successful in the Second Punic War in 202 BC.
This tetradrachm, from Agathokles’ second series of silver coins, marks the beginning of a series of novel numismatic designs, deviating from the traditional types. By the end of the fourth century BC, the designs of Syracuse tetradrachms and dekadrachms exclusively pictured the local spring nymph Arethusa. The design on this coin is of Persephone, in a complementary style and wearing similar earrings to Arethusa, in an attempt to unite the various Greek factions of Sicily under the new leadership.
Agathokles did not want to change the coinage too dramatically, considering how recognizable it was, but he still replaced Arethusa with the Sicilian goddess who would now show that he ruled the entire island. Whereas Arethusa was adorned with seaweed, Persephone is crowned with grain, paying homage to Sicily’s fame as the wheat-wealthy island of the Mediterranean. In Greek mythology, Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter – the goddess of grain and all of the fruits of the earth. Because of the similarities in design, the artists felt it appropriate to differentiate them by specifically engraving the name Kore, the common name of Persephone in Greek, meaning “the maiden”.
This coin was struck towards the height of Agathokles’ power and the proudly displays his greatest achievements. The reverse shows a gracefully standing, winged figure of Nike - the goddess of victory - putting the finishing touches to a military trophy constructed from the spoils of the war against Carthage, alluding to his successful invasion of Africa. Interestingly, this type is stylistically similar to another issue by Seleukos I, minted at the eastern end of the Greek empire, but it is uncertain which served as the basis of the design for the other.
This coin was part of the Hunt collection, one of the greatest collections assembled in the twentieth century, and was last available to the market in 1990. It is a delicately and attractively toned example, designed with dies of the finest style, believed by most to be the finest known example.
Sicily, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. Silver Tetradrachm (16.90g). Struck ca. 310/08-306/5 BC. Wreathed head of Kore right, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace. Reverse: Nike standing right, and erecting trophy; to left, triskeles; between Nike and trophy, monogram. Ierardi 98 (O20/R59); Gulbenkian 334 (same rev. die); Kraay-Hirmer 137 (same rev. die); SNG Munich 1267 (same obv. die); SNG Manchester 508 (same obv. die). Superb Extremely Fine. Ex Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection, part II (Sotheby's, 21-22 June 1990), 286.
Agathokles was the last of the larger-than-life rulers of Syracuse but he was not merely given the right to the throne. He was born in Thermae in 361 BC to a Greek manufacturer of pottery but he quickly tired of his father’s trade. Upon leaving home and moving to Syracuse, he became an officer within the Syracusan army, establishing himself as a skillful leader.
In 317 BC, he overthrew the Syracusan rulers, banishing or murdering all of those who opposed him and, with the support of the common people, he inserted himself as dictator.
He formed a large navy and strengthened his army, significantly expanding the power of Syracuse. This growth caused his territory to bump against that of the Carthaginians, a force which would shape and consume the majority of his life.
Carthage controlled a large territory in western Sicily and had been enemies of the Sicilian Greeks since the 6th century. Their forces posed a formidable challenge for Agathokles and after a bloody battle, the boundaries were largely unchanged, with a border established along the Halycus River.
In the summer of 311 BC, the Carthaginians managed to surround Agathokles by land and sea but his quick thinking allowed him to escape when, in August 310 BC, the Carthaginians briefly relaxed their naval blockade. Agathokles immediately sailed from the Syracuse harbor with 60 ships and an army of 13,500 men, set to invade Carthage itself. Although he was successful in the field, defeating the Carthaginian armies in North Africa, he did not capture their capital city. Nonetheless, the strategic attacks were highly successful and widely celebrated.
Syracuse was maintaining its stronghold against the Carthagainians while Agathokles was at battle in Africa but at the same time, he learned that his other cities in Sicily had claimed independence. This forced him to return to Sicily and leave his African army under the control of his son Archagathus.
The Carthaginians had split their army into thirds, each controlling a separate area. Archagathus did the same but not quickly enough and several of his factions were destroyed by the Punic forces. By the time Agathokles returned, there wasn’t anything he could do: Archagathus and his brother were killed, and the army was forced to surrender to Carthage.
Many of his soldiers were either recruited into the Carthaginian army, put to work, or crucified. Agathokles made peace with the Carthaginians in 306 BC by giving up large territories in west Sicily in exchange for a fair amount of gold and grain.
This truce did not leave him idle. Following in the footsteps of the successors of Alexander the Great, Agathokles adopted the title of sole king of Sicily, although this control only extended across the eastern portion of the island.
He then extended his power to the Greek areas of south Italy and western mainland Greece, and, in 300 BC, took over Corcyra by driving out the Macedonian king Kassander. Agathokles used Corcyra as a dowry for his daughter Lanassa’s politically influential marriages to Pyrrhus in 295 BC and later to Demetrius Poliorketes in 291 BC.
However, his hopes of extending his dynasty were brought to an abrupt end when his son was murdered by a jealous relative. Agathokles then occupied his time working to consolidate the control over his empire. In recognizing that he had no formal heir, he restored the Syracusan democracy as he lay dying of jaw cancer at the age of 72 in 289 BC.
Although he did not accomplish all of his military goals in his lifetime, he did show that it was possible to invade Carthage, leaving the door open for the Romans to be much more successful in the Second Punic War in 202 BC.
This tetradrachm, from Agathokles’ second series of silver coins, marks the beginning of a series of novel numismatic designs, deviating from the traditional types. By the end of the fourth century BC, the designs of Syracuse tetradrachms and dekadrachms exclusively pictured the local spring nymph Arethusa. The design on this coin is of Persephone, in a complementary style and wearing similar earrings to Arethusa, in an attempt to unite the various Greek factions of Sicily under the new leadership.
Agathokles did not want to change the coinage too dramatically, considering how recognizable it was, but he still replaced Arethusa with the Sicilian goddess who would now show that he ruled the entire island. Whereas Arethusa was adorned with seaweed, Persephone is crowned with grain, paying homage to Sicily’s fame as the wheat-wealthy island of the Mediterranean. In Greek mythology, Persephone is the daughter of Zeus and Demeter – the goddess of grain and all of the fruits of the earth. Because of the similarities in design, the artists felt it appropriate to differentiate them by specifically engraving the name Kore, the common name of Persephone in Greek, meaning “the maiden”.
This coin was struck towards the height of Agathokles’ power and the proudly displays his greatest achievements. The reverse shows a gracefully standing, winged figure of Nike - the goddess of victory - putting the finishing touches to a military trophy constructed from the spoils of the war against Carthage, alluding to his successful invasion of Africa. Interestingly, this type is stylistically similar to another issue by Seleukos I, minted at the eastern end of the Greek empire, but it is uncertain which served as the basis of the design for the other.
This coin was part of the Hunt collection, one of the greatest collections assembled in the twentieth century, and was last available to the market in 1990. It is a delicately and attractively toned example, designed with dies of the finest style, believed by most to be the finest known example.
Sicily, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. Silver Tetradrachm (16.90g). Struck ca. 310/08-306/5 BC. Wreathed head of Kore right, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace. Reverse: Nike standing right, and erecting trophy; to left, triskeles; between Nike and trophy, monogram. Ierardi 98 (O20/R59); Gulbenkian 334 (same rev. die); Kraay-Hirmer 137 (same rev. die); SNG Munich 1267 (same obv. die); SNG Manchester 508 (same obv. die). Superb Extremely Fine. Ex Nelson Bunker Hunt Collection, part II (Sotheby's, 21-22 June 1990), 286.
Learn about our world's shared history told through the first millennium of coinage: Colosseo Collection
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Comments
He obviously employed some highly skilled engravers. I always thought that an Agathokles collection would make a very interesting and beautiful collection.
Phenomenal simply a piece of art
And a very thorough write up
I have a small bronze Agathokles I shared earlier, not in the same universe as your coin
link
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
That's the first treatment of the nude female form I've seen on an ancient that was actually attractive. It's "sexy" both in that sense AND numismatically.
Really a breathtaking piece.
I don't have any from Agathokles, but a few have made their way into my wishlists, so I'll almost certainly be getting one. Not of this caliber, of course, but even in my pricerange there are some appealing possibilities, I think.
As for the coin itself, it is a stunning example of not just the skill, but the refined style that existed in Sicily at this time. People will point to coins like $20 Saints or British Sovereigns as examples of beautiful coins, but they fall far short of this coin in my eye.
WNC Coins, LLC
1987-C Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
wnccoins.com
FOR SALE Items
And I was just reading about Agathokles the Tyrant in one of my books the other night.
World Collection
British Collection
German States Collection
Radiant Collection: Numismatics and Exonumia of the Atomic Age.
https://www.pcgs.com/setregistry/showcase/3232
--Severian the Lame
This Agathokles is the finest coin in my collection at the moment... and it will likely retain that status for quite a long time.
SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles (317-289 BC)
310-305 BC
AR tetradrachm, 17.40 g, 24 mm
Obv: head of the nymph Arethusa left, wearing grain wreath, earring and necklace; around, three dolphins; under, monogram (NK?)
Rev: ΣYPAKOΣIΩN, fast chariot charioteer leads to left, holding reins and kentron; above, triskeles; in exergue, monogram
Ref: Ierardi 9; SNG Copenhagen 573 var., SNG ANS 637
SmEagle was kind enough to drop my picture into his reflection template.
I'm new to this ancients forum and intend to write an introductory post soon but this thread seemed like a good place to jump in.
<< <i>Such a fabulous coin, SmEagle! Fantastic writeup, as usual.
This Agathokles is the finest coin in my collection at the moment... and it will likely retain that status for quite a long time.
SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles (317-289 BC)
310-305 BC
AR tetradrachm, 17.40 g, 24 mm
Obv: head of the nymph Arethusa left, wearing grain wreath, earring and necklace; around, three dolphins; under, monogram (NK?)
Rev: ΣYPAKOΣIΩN, fast chariot charioteer leads to left, holding reins and kentron; above, triskeles; in exergue, monogram
Ref: Ierardi 9; SNG Copenhagen 573 var., SNG ANS 637
SmEagle was kind enough to drop my picture into his reflection template.
I'm new to this ancients forum and intend to write an introductory post soon but this thread seemed like a good place to jump in.
<< <i>......welcome to this side of the universe of coin forums, TIF2!
Yes welcome.
Lovely tetradrachm.
"Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working" Pablo Picasso
PS- I just got word that my latest avatar coin (the Helios pseudo-Rhodian drachm I bought from SE1795) just went "Ch MS" at NGC. No word yet on whether or not it got a star, or what the Strike/Surface ratings are.
<< <i>
PS- I just got word that my latest avatar coin (the Helios pseudo-Rhodian drachm I bought from SE1795) just went "Ch MS" at NGC. No word yet on whether or not it got a star, or what the Strike/Surface ratings are.
I am glad you got a grade you are happy with, but i can not shake the feeling that having an ancient coin slabbed is a little like wearing a Ratt t-shirt to an Easter Sunday service.
WNC Coins, LLC
1987-C Hendersonville Road
Asheville, NC 28803
wnccoins.com
Little did they know at the time just how far the quality of circulating coinage would decline over the next several hundred years.
<< <i>Little did they know at the time just how far the quality of circulating coinage would decline over the next several hundred years. >>
I agree and argue that even with today's advanced technologies, designs are bland. The pride taken in effecting such wonderful designs and in the arts has shifted to other areas in society. It may be that having other means of payment (checks, credit card, wires) or systematically machine produced coins has numbed us all.
Anyone excited by the Jefferson Nickel or Roosevelt Dime designs
and wellcome TIF
<< <i>Seeing these designs, it makes you wonder how hard it was back then to part with your money when it came time to spend the beauties. I would imagine you felt like you really had something special with one of these in your possession.
Little did they know at the time just how far the quality of circulating coinage would decline over the next several hundred years. >>
I've often wondered the same when holding this tetradrachm in particular. I can't imagine what it would have been like to spend this coin. I'd have to assume the average person on the street would recognize the artistic skill involved in executing these designs, perhaps feeling a sense of pride as they received it as part of their paycheck after working a long week.
So this would have been my contribution to this thread, had I been just a little bit quicker:
I like how the lion looks as though he's fleeing the club above him, as if an invisible force had just bopped him with it.
Tom
For a while when I was starting in Romans seven years ago, there seemed to be hardly any threads about ancients.
Or at least that was my perception.
I've seen some trends here, with things like British or Canadian coins, or Conder tokens, but it's nice to see the "World & Ancient" coin forum actually get some more ancient coin threads.
It's ALL good, of course. I'm just glad to see the apparent rise in enthusiasm, is all.
<< <i>SmEagle--You post some of the most beautiful looking ancients I have ever seen. And your write-ups are always informative. This piece is not exception. It is fantastic. >>
Thanks! I appreciate it!
<< <i>SE1795 is probably the primary party responsible for all the attention to ancients going on with this forum at the moment. >>
It's largely due to your pushing in the right direction as well. Had you not convinced me to post, I wouldn't be on here anywhere near as frequently