NEWP: Syracusian Tetradrachm - My Finest Styled Coin

Zohar · August 22, 2016 7:45AM

I got word of this coin coming up on Stacks ANA auction and went down to pre show lot viewing to have a look. Loved it. Took a few days off and came to see it again. Then decided to take my 7 year old daughter to provide feedback strictly by what appeals to her - ran her through 10 different and attractive ancient coins on my watch list and asked her to pick her favorite. She immediately selected this one. It didn't hurt having Mr. Eureka sitting next to me to validate the appeal of this coin. The coin was highlighted on Stacks ANA Ancients catalog cover page below. Spent a lot yet love this coin, as its quite special.

SICILY. Syracuse. Agathocles (317-289 BC). AR Tetradrachm. 26mm, 17.09gr ca. 310-305 B.C. Pre-royal coinage, Agathocles as Tyrant, ca. 310-305 BC. Obv: Wreathed head of Arethusa facing left wreathed with grain ears, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace, three dolphins around, "NI" below neck truncation. Rev: Charioteer holding kentron and reins driving a fast quadriga left, triskeles above, AI monogram in exergue. An absolutely stunning example, leaving little to be desired. Great centering, allowing for a good portion of the obverse beaded border and the full reverse design evoking the finely styled decadrachms of Euainetos struck a century earlier. What really elevates this exquisite piece is the toning, with gorgeous cerulean toning amongst Arethusa's hair seems to reinforce her presence in an aquatic realm. The reverse also features beautiful toning, with similar cerulean and some azure hues melding with breath-taking sunset and rose surrounding the vigorous horses. NGC Ch. AU* 5/5, 5/5. Fine Style.

bronzemat · August 22, 2016 7:56AM

Speechless really, congrats, Z!

lordmarcovan · August 22, 2016 8:22AM

(Utterly speechless)

RTScott1978 · August 22, 2016 8:23AM

This might be a total newbie question (and I apologize beforehand if it takes away from the discussion on the coin), but what does the 'three-leg cartwheel' at 12 o'clock on the reverse represent?

I've seen plenty of them, of course, on the Isle of Man issues, but not on anything else until this.

I'm sure a Google search would yield results, but I'm also sure that some one(s) on this forum will provide a better description than a Wikipedia entry.

BTW, gorgeous coin! Congrats! Maybe I should follow in your footsteps and ask my five year old son to choose my next purchase for me!

lordmarcovan · August 22, 2016 8:25AM

OK, now that I've caught my breath...

Wow, Z.

I've come to expect the finest from you, but this...

THIS...

Wow.

Iosephus · August 22, 2016 8:26AM

Gorgeous coin!

lordmarcovan · August 22, 2016 8:30AM

Originally posted by: RTScott1978

This might be a total newbie question (and I apologize beforehand if it takes away from the discussion on the coin), but what does the 'three-leg cartwheel' at 12 o'clock on the reverse represent?

I've seen plenty of them, of course, on the Isle of Man issues, but not on anything else until this.

I'm sure a Google search would yield results, but I'm also sure that some one(s) on this forum will provide a better description than a Wikipedia entry.

BTW, gorgeous coin! Congrats! Maybe I should follow in your footsteps and ask my five year old son to choose my next purchase for me!

That is a triskeles.

(Sorry, I gave you Wikipedia after all.)

bronzemat · August 22, 2016 8:31AM

Originally posted by: RTScott1978

This might be a total newbie question (and I apologize beforehand if it takes away from the discussion on the coin), but what does the 'three-leg cartwheel' at 12 o'clock on the reverse represent?

I've seen plenty of them, of course, on the Isle of Man issues, but not on anything else until this.

I'm sure a Google search would yield results, but I'm also sure that some one(s) on this forum will provide a better description than a Wikipedia entry.

BTW, gorgeous coin! Congrats! Maybe I should follow in your footsteps and ask my five year old son to choose my next purchase for me!

A triskelion is the symbol of Sicily, where it is called trinacria, as well as of the Isle of Man, Brittany, and the town of Füssen in Germany.

SmEagle1795 · August 22, 2016 8:32AM

Congratulations!! I wasn't your direct underbidder but I did have a bid on it - a gorgeous example indeed!

Zohar · August 22, 2016 8:36AM

Originally posted by: RTScott1978

This might be a total newbie question (and I apologize beforehand if it takes away from the discussion on the coin), but what does the 'three-leg cartwheel' at 12 o'clock on the reverse represent?

Triskelion

Stork · August 22, 2016 8:51AM

Absolutely gorgeous!

lordmarcovan · August 22, 2016 9:11AM

Originally posted by: SmEagle1795

Congratulations!! I wasn't your direct underbidder but I did have a bid on it - a gorgeous example indeed!

Y'know, I was gonna say "this is a Smeagle-class coin" but didn't want that misinterpreted.

(It would've been intended as the highest of compliments, of course.)

I did make that comparison in a text message to Aethelred a few minutes ago, who should be along shotly to ooh and ahh properly over the latest and greatest Zohar newp.

(When he's done chuckling over my longwinded anecdote about the disastrous time I tried to change my own oil in my old '83 Subaru.)

STLNATS · August 22, 2016 9:14AM

The Syracuse tets (and deks) are generally impressive enough to begin with but this is a beautiful, far superior example of the type. Congrats.

mvs7 · August 22, 2016 9:36AM

Beautiful coin! Congrats...

Aethelred · August 22, 2016 10:09AM

The style represents among the finest that ancient numismatics has to offer. The state of preservation is remarkable. The coin is well centered and delightfully toned.

This coin draws your eye in the way a Van Gogh would and I believe the comparison is a fair one, this coin is every bit the masterpiece that "Starry Night Over The Rhone" or "Cafe Terrace At Night" are. Thank you for sharing it with us!

marcmoish · August 22, 2016 10:26AM

The style represents among the finest that ancient numismatics has to offer. The state of preservation is remarkable. The coin is well centered and delightfully toned.

This coin draws your eye in the way a Van Gogh would and I believe the comparison is a fair one, this coin is every bit the masterpiece that "Starry Night Over The Rhone" or "Cafe Terrace At Night" are. Thank you for sharing it with us!

I could not have said it better.

And I too thought of smeagle at first glance when I saw this a few days ago - Z, you moved up another notch with this spectacular newp.

Zohar · August 22, 2016 4:21PM

Thanks all for the kind words!

Y'know, I was gonna say "this is a Smeagle-class coin" but didn't want that misinterpreted.

That's a huge compliment! Thank you!

amwldcoin · August 22, 2016 10:57PM

What everyone else said! I can't imagine any coin collector specializing in anything not being proud to have this coin in their collection!

Weiss · August 22, 2016 11:07PM

I crapped myself.

lordmarcovan · August 22, 2016 11:38PM

LOL @ Weiss. I managed to restrain myself from doing that... but it was a pretty close thing.

Jackthecat1 · August 23, 2016 1:11AM

An amazing coin.

asheland · August 23, 2016 1:58AM

That's incredible!

PatAR · August 23, 2016 3:14AM

Fantastic!

That quadriga is the nicest and most complete I've seen. The coin's many other impressive qualities combine to be truly breathtaking!

Very well done, indeed!

SYRACUSIAN · August 23, 2016 5:44AM

Magnificent. Great photography too.

Nap · August 23, 2016 11:53AM

A lovely piece

zompels · August 23, 2016 6:06PM

Thats a Great coin , tremendus eye appeal lovely design . Congrats Z.

brg5658 · August 24, 2016 1:02AM

Zohar has really outdone himself this time. This coin is a show-stopper, museum quality, fantastic!

Hopefully Z doesn't mind if I post the images here that I fixed up by removing the prongs (at his request).

Just an amazing piece of history Zohar. The sincerest congratulations!!!

Zohar · August 24, 2016 1:22AM

Of course thank you Brandon for doing what you did to the prongs, still cant figure out how that type of magic is done

brg5658 · August 24, 2016 1:31AM

Originally posted by: Zohar

Of course thank you Brandon for doing what you did to the prongs, still cant figure out how that type of magic is done

Hocus Pocus, and of course a little Adobe Photoshop, layers, and layer-masks.

EVillageProwler · August 24, 2016 2:45AM

Honestly, I wish NGC and PCGS would offer an out-of-holder imaging service, where they would also measure the coin's diameter, weight and other aspects for a fee. Then, just re-holder. For the majority of coins, this service wouldn't be so useful. But, some coins are...

Also, perhaps imaging the rims as well.

Great coin, btw. Congrats!

Zohar · August 24, 2016 8:14AM

Honestly, I wish NGC and PCGS would offer an out-of-holder imaging service, where they would also measure the coin's diameter, weight and other aspects for a fee. Then, just re-holder. For the majority of coins, this service wouldn't be so useful. But, some coins are...

Also, perhaps imaging the rims as well.

Great coin, btw. Congrats!

Thank you. I actually tried asking NGC upon grading of the Dadler medal I sent in, to image it before holdering. Will let you know how images come out.

worldcoinguy · August 24, 2016 11:21PM

Originally posted by: amwldcoin

What everyone else said! I can't imagine any coin collector specializing in anything not being proud to have this coin in their collection!

My thoughts exactly. Is really does not matter what your specialty is across the numismatic spectrum - US/world/ancients/etc - this is a trophy piece.

Zohar - I want to be in the room for one of these auctions in the future to see you sweat it out.

EVillageProwler · August 25, 2016 2:03AM

Originally posted by: worldcoinguy
Zohar - I want to be in the room for one of these auctions in the future to see you sweat it out.

Wear adult diapers. That's what I do when I'm with Z in these situations.

marcmoish · August 25, 2016 2:12AM

Last I heard was regular adult diapers are not absorbent enough for his grand mal situations

Zohar · August 25, 2016 2:15AM

Last I heard was regular adult diapers are not absorbent enough for his grand mal situations

EVP sat next to me twice on such occasion and can attest to the heart palpitations (no diapers though)

BS · August 26, 2016 6:59PM

Congrats, that's an amazing coin.

OldEastside · August 28, 2016 1:43AM

Yup......what everyone else said above plus a couple of holy tamolys and a few WOWZERS
I actually viewed this coin here the other night on my screen in the dark and it like hypnotized
me like I was back in ancient Rome or that period.

It's like if we had a Coin of the Month and a Coin of the Year thing here.......It would definitely
get my vote as COIN of the YEAR................A Great BIG CONGRATS Zohar

Steve

Zohar · August 28, 2016 10:23AM

Thanks a lot Steve.

LochNESS · August 28, 2016 3:16PM

Leaves nothing to be desired, in my opinion.

One question, and this is merely a curiosity of lighting and photographs ... The auction brochure shows a mark on Arethusa's cheek, yet your first image does not. By all other measures, it is the same coin.

I prefer your first image for many reasons. Just wondering.

TwoKopeiki · August 29, 2016 1:47AM

That's a stunner, Z - congrats!

Zohar · October 23, 2019 8:32AM

Thought I would bump this old thread. Coin never gets old (or ancient, no pun intended!)

Senator32 · October 23, 2019 9:10AM

Normally, I am not impressed with ancient coins....but WOW this coin is nice. Great pickup.

Stork · October 23, 2019 11:13AM

@Zohar said:
Thought I would bump this old thread. Coin never gets old (or ancient, no pun intended!)

Pun indeed

I was worried you were bringing this up as it was for sale or something. This one is too amazing.

worldcoinguy · October 23, 2019 5:42PM

Just as amazing 3 years later. True history in your hand with that one.

bidask · October 23, 2019 7:57PM

@Zohar said:
Thought I would bump this old thread. Coin never gets old (or ancient, no pun intended!)

Hope you still own them

Zohar · October 24, 2019 9:09AM

@bidask said:

@Zohar said:
Thought I would bump this old thread. Coin never gets old (or ancient, no pun intended!)

Hope you still own them

Yes!

NEWP: Syracusian Tetradrachm - My Finest Styled Coin

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