SICILY. Syracuse. Dionysios I, 405-367 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 23 mm, 17.42 g, 4 h), circa 405-400. Charioteer driving quadriga galloping to left, holding kentron in his right hand and reins in his left; above, Nike flying right, crowning the charioteer with a wreath; in exergue, grain ear to left. Rev. [ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙ]-ΩΝ Head of Arethousa to left, her hair in ampyx and sphendone decorated with stars, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace; around, two dolphins swimming downward, one upward, a fourth emerging from neck truncation. Fischer-Bossert 85 (O31/R57). SNG Delepierre 676 (same dies). Tudeer 85 (V31/R57). Beautifully toned and with a wonderful reverse. The obverse struck from the usual worn die and with minor flan faults and the reverse struck slightly off center and with some die breaks, otherwise, about extremely fine.



A subtle but enchanting touch on this splendid reverse die is the dolphin emerging from the neck truncation, a motif that recalls the dolphin nestled in the tresses of Kimon’s celebrated facing head of Arethousa.