SICILY. Syracuse. Philistis, wife of Hieron II, 275-215 BC. 16 Litrai or Tetradrachm (Silver, 28 mm, 13.34 g, 10 h), circa 240-218/5. Diademed and veiled bust of Philistis to left; behind, star.
Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΙΣΣΑΣ - ΦΙΛΙΣΤΙΔΟΣ Nike driving slow quadriga to right, holding reins in both hands; above, star; to right, K. Burnett, Enna, 39 (
same obverse die). CCO - (D9/R29, unlisted die combination). HGC 2, 1556. Fresh and attractive. Light marks and with very minor die rust on the obverse
, otherwise, extremely fine.
From an American collection, privately acquired from Ariadne Galleries prior to 1982.
Queen Philistis is known only from her coins, which were called Philistideia, and from an inscription in the theatre of Syracuse (IG XIV 3), where her name appears alongside that of Queen Nereis, who was a daughter of Pyrrhos of Epeiros and the wife of Gelon, the son of the king, Hieron II (275-215 BC). Given this connection and the large output of coins in Philistis' name, it is very likely that she was Hieron's wife.
