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Roma, 13.7.2016
Egregio
Lettore,
di seguito riporto gli elementi significativi
pertinenti alla moneta di figura::
Cento litre1,
zecca di Siracusa, BMC II
168 (pag. 170), c. 400 a. C.
Descrizione sommaria:
D. ΣΥRAKOSIΩN2,
sul lato sinistro a scendere. EΥAI, sul lato destro a
salire.3
Testa femminile (Arethusa)4 con collana
di perle, orecchino a pendenti, capelli raccolti in
uno sphendone (fascia) ornato di stelle.
R. Ercole in ginocchio a destra nudo, strangola il
leone di Nemea stante a sinistra sulle zampe
posteriori.5
La ricerca nel web di monete della tipologia di
figura ha prodotto i seguenti risultati:
- https://monetaoro.unicatt.it/images_monete/economia_10.jpg
Sicilia, Siracusa, 100 litrai, 400 a. C. ca. D/
Testa di Aretusa, a s., con collana di perle,
orecchino a pendenti, capelli raccolti in uno
sphendone ornato di stelle. A s., ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ a d.,
ΕΥΑ. R/ Eracle, nudo, lotta in ginocchio con il
leone di Nemea. AV; mm 15; gr 5,75. From auction
Gorny & Mosch 190 (2010), no. 65. Estimate:
7,500 Euros. Realized price: 66,700 Euros. (v. Coinsweekly);
(v. anche, EYAI (per il
confronto con la moneta di figura).
- https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=42902
Sale: Triton VII, Lot: 94. Estimate $7500. Closing
Date: Monday, 12 January 2004. Sold For $7750.
This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.
SICILY, Syracuse. Time of Dionysios I. 405-367 BC.
AV Double Dekadrachm - 100 Litrae (5.78 gm).
Struck circa 396 BC. [S]URAKOSIWN, head of
Arethusa left, hair in ampyx and sphendone
decorated with stars; star behind / Nude young
Herakles strangling the Nemean lion, club below.
C. Boehringer, "Zu Finanzpolitik und Münzprägung
des Dionysios von Syrakus" in Essays Thompson, pl.
38, 15 var. (obverse symbol); Bérend 43.7 = SNG
ANS 339 (same dies); cf. SNG Lloyd 1420; SNG
Copenhagen -; Jameson 825; Rizzo pl. 53, 11 (same
dies); Gulbenkian 325; cf. Pozzi 1265; cf. Weber
1609. EF. ($7500). From the James A. Ferrendelli
Collection. Ex Coin Galleries (16 February 1994),
lot 1. Boehringer, citing Jenkins and Kraay's
analysis of the Avola Mammanelli Hoard (ICGH
2122), argues against the traditional dating of
circa 405-400 BC for this issue. Instead, he
proposes a date of 396 BC, based on the obverse
type of Anapos found on the concurrent
half-denomination, the dekadrachm - 50 litrae
issue (see lot 95 below), as it was that year that
Dionysios acheived his great victory over the
Carthaginians at the river Anapos.
- http://auctions.bertolamifinearts.com/en/lot/4509/sicily-syracuse-100-litrae-dionysios-i-/
Starting price: 2.800,00GBP Estimate: 3.500,00 GBP
Current bid: 3.000,00 GBP. Category: Greek world
and ancient Near East. Sicily, Syracuse, 100
Litrae, Dionysios I (405-367), c. 405-367 BC; AV
(g 5,79; mm 14; h 5); ΣYPAKOΣIΩN, head of Arethusa
l., wearing sphendone, earring and necklace; on
r., star, Rv. Herakles strangling lion. Rizzo, pl.
L, n.11; SNG ANS 330. Rare and lustrous. Unsigned
but by Euainetos: about extremely fine - extremely
fine. Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker, Auction 100 (21 June
2005), lot 8.
- https://www.numisbids.com/n.php?p=lot&sid=286&lot=724
Lot 724 Estimate: 25000CHF Lot unsold Greek Coins
Syracuse Double decadrachm circa 400, AV 5.73 g.
ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙ[ΟΝ] Head of goddess l., hair elaborately
waved and caught up behind in star-ornamented
sphendone and wearing necklace, bar and
triple-pendant earring; behind, KA. Rev. Naked
young Heracles kneeling r. on rocky ground, head
to front, strangling the Nemean lion with both
arms. De Ciccio – (DVIII/RXIV). SNG ANS 331.
Bérend 33. A very attractive specimen of this
desirable issue in fine Classical style. Well
struck and centred on a full flan, minor area of
weakness on reverse, otherwise extremely fine. Ex
NAC sale 10, 1997, 149.
- https://www.sixbid.com/browse.html?auction=2722&category=57267&lot=2301321
Hess Divo Auction 330 21 May 2016 Lot 2 Estimate:
10'000CHF tarting price: 8'000CHF Price realized:
22'000 CHF. CLASSICAL COINS SICILY SYRACUSE 100
Litrae, gold, about 405-400 BC. AV 5.80 g.
SURAKOSIWN Head of Arethusa l., wearing sphendone
decorated with stars, and ampyx, triple
pendant-earring and a necklace; below chin,
pellet, in field r., A and K. Rev. Heracles
kneeling r. on rocky ground, strangling the Nemean
lion. SNG ANS 331 (this obv. die). Bérend, Or 127,
33 (these dies). Rare. Excellent classical style.
Insignificant die break on obverse. Extremely
fine. Provenance: "Ancienne collection Feuardent"
and auction Maison Bourgey, Paris Nov. 26, 2009,
1.
- link01 Museum
number 1891,0506.8
Description: Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars: border of
dots. (reverse) Herakles kneeling on right knee,
and strangling lion with both arms; in front,
club. Producer name. Engraved by: Kimon biography
Culture/period Greek term details Date 4thC
BC(early) Minted in: Syracuse; Materials gold term
details Dimensions Weight: 5.79g. Die-axis: 2
o'clock.
- link02 Museum
number 1891,0506.1
Description: Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars; behind, a
star: border of dots. (reverse) Herakles kneeling
on right knee, and strangling a lion with both
arms; in front, a club. Producer name Engraved by:
Kimon
Dimensions Weight: 5.79 grammes Die-axis: 5
o'clock.
- link03 Museum
number 1891,0506.2
Description Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars; behind, a
star: border of dots. (reverse) Herakles kneeling
on right knee, and strangling a lion with both
arms; in front, a club. Producer name Engraved by:
Kimon Dimensions Weight: 5.78 grammes Die-axis: 7
o'clock.
- link04 Museum
number 1891,0506.4
Description Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars; behind, a
star: border of dots. (reverse) Herakles kneeling
on right knee, and strangling a lion with both
arms; in front, a club. Producer name Engraved by:
Kimon Dimensions Weight: 5.77 grammes Die-axis: 12
o'clock.
- link05 Museum
number 1891,0506.3
Description Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars; behind, a
star: border of dots. (reverse) Herakles kneeling
on right knee, and strangling a lion with both
arms; in front, a club. Producer name Engraved by:
Kimon Dimensions Weight: 5.77 grammes Die-axis: 11
o'clock.
- link06 RPK,p249B.1.Syr
Description: Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars; behind, a
barley-corn: border of dots. (reverse) Herakles
kneeling on right knee, and strangling lion with
both arms; behind, a club; in front, ivy-leaf.
Producer name Engraved by: Kimon biography
Dimensions: Weight: 5.76g Die-axis: 12 o'clock.
- link07 1987,0649.168
Description: Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars; in front,
dot; behind, retrograde kappa: [border of dots].
(reverse) Herakles kneeling on right knee, and
strangling lion with both arms; in front, club.
Engraved by: Kimon 4thC BC(early) Minted in:
Syracuse; gold Dimensions Weight: 5.78 grammes
Die-axis: 3 o'clock.
- link08 Museum
number 1946,0101.1421
Description: Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars; in front
and behind, dots: border of dots. (reverse)
Herakles kneeling on right knee, and strangling
lion with both arms; in front, club. Engraved by:
Kimon 4thC BC(early) Minted in: Syracuse; gold
Dimensions Weight: 5.79 grammes Die-axis: 2
o'clock.
- link09 Museum
number 1946,0101.1423
Description. Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars; border of
dots. (reverse) Herakles kneeling on right knee,
and strangling lion with both arms. Engraved by:
Kimon 4thC BC(early) Minted in: Syracuse;
Materials gold Dimensions Weight: 5.82 grammes
Die-axis: 12 o'clock.
- link10 Museum
number 1946,0101.1422
Description: Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars: border of
dots. (reverse) Herakles kneeling on right knee,
and strangling a lion with both arms; in front, a
club.Engraved by: Kimon biography 4thC BC(early)
Minted in: Syracuse; gold Dimensions Weight: 5.78
grammes Die-axis: 9 o'clock.
- link11 Museum
number 1891,0506.9
Description: Gold coin.(obverse) Female head left
(Arethusa?), wearing earring, necklace, and
sphendone, upon which are three stars; two dots on
either side of the neck: border of dots. (reverse)
Herakles kneeling on right knee, and strangling a
lion with both arms: behind, club. Engraved by:
Kimon 4thC BC(early) Minted in: Syracuse; gold
Dimensions Weight: 5.79 grammes Die-axis: 3
o'clock.
- https://cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=27222
Sale: Triton VI, Lot: 110. Estimate $4000. Closing
Date: Monday, 13 January 2003. Sold For $3500.
SICILY, Syracuse. Circa 405-400 BC. AV 100 Litrae
- Double Dekadrachm (5.78 gm). SV[RAKOSI]WN, head
of Arethusa left, hair in ampyx and sphendone
decorated with stars; globule before and behind /
Nude young Herakles strangling the Nemean lion.
Bérend 11; SNG ANS 329 (same dies); SNG Lockett
985 (same dies); Good VF, some light die rust on
reverse. ($4000) The turbulent reign of the
Syracusan tyrant Dionysios I (405-367 BC) brought
forth a spectacular array of coinage designed to
meet the heavy expenses of his numerous military
campaigns, principally against the Carthaginians
who had recently invaded western Sicily. Best
known in this series are the famous medallic
silver dekadrachms, most of which were issued at
this time from dies produced by the master
engraver Euainetos and his school. This coinage
was augmented by a significant output of beautiful
gold pieces in two main denominations, the 100
litrae and the 50 litrae. The litra, an early
Sicilian bronze standard, came to be issued as a
small silver coin weighing 0.86 grams, making it
the equivalent of one-twentieth of the Attic
silver tetradrachm. Thus, a gold coin valued at 50
Sicilian litrae was the same as an Attic silver
dekadrachm, and one of a 100 litrae was a double
dekadrachm. The dies for these small gold coins
were engraved with a gem-like precision and some
bear the signatures of the artists Kimon and
Euainetos. The heroic theme of the reverse type
should be interpreted as symbolizing the struggle
between the Greeks, led by Syracuse, and their
Carthaginian enemies.
In
conclusione, per quanto consentito da una
valutazione a distanza, la moneta in esame è, a
mio avviso, un riconio moderno della 100 litre di
Siracusa. Un riconio simile è presente in rete
all'indirizzo http://www.forumancientcoins.com/fakes/displayimage.php?pos=-9897
(per l'accesso all'immagine potrebbe essere
necessario registrarsi sul sito).
Un saluto cordiale.
Giulio De Florio
Note:
(1) 100 Litre
ovvero Doppio Decadrammo. La Litra (pl. litre),
in greco: λίτρα, era una monetina d'argento in
circolazione nelle antiche colonie greche e
sicule in particolare. Come moneta d'argento, la
litra pesava 0,87g ed equivaleva ad un quinto di
dracma (v. link).
Dunque 100 litre d'argento pesavano 87g ed
equivalevano a 20 dracme (due decadrammi).
Se si suppone che la proporzione di valore tra
l'oro e l'argento sia 1:15, 87g d'argento
corrispondono a 87/15 grammi d'oro, cioè 5,8g.
Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche fisiche
dei doppi decadrammi presenti nei link sopra citati:
| Riferimenti |
Peso
(g.) |
Asse
di conio (h) |
Diametro
(mm) |
| Link1 |
5,75 |
- |
15 |
| Link2 |
5,78 |
- |
- |
| Link3 |
5,79 |
5 |
14 |
| Link4 |
5,78 |
- |
- |
| Link5 |
5,80 |
- |
- |
| Link6 |
5,79 |
2 |
- |
| Link7 |
5,79 |
5 |
- |
| Link8 |
5,78 |
7 |
- |
| Link9 |
5,77 |
12 |
- |
| Link10 |
5,77 |
11 |
- |
| Link11 |
5,76 |
12 |
- |
| Link12 |
5,78 |
3 |
- |
| Link13 |
5,79 |
2 |
- |
| Link14 |
5,82 |
12 |
- |
| Link15 |
5,78 |
9 |
- |
| Link16 |
5,79 |
3 |
- |
| Link17 |
5,78 |
- |
- |
Si evince dalla tabella che la moneta di figura
(5,6g, 14,42mm) ha un peso del 2-2,5% inferiore
rispetto a quello delle monete autentiche del
periodo. Inoltre il colore del metallo della
moneta di figura tende al marrone invece che al
giallo che ci si aspetta da una moneta d'oro
quasi puro. Si veda in proposito l'analisi
minuziosa di confronto che è stata realizzata
nei link01..link11,
relativi alle monete della tipologia di figura
custodite nel British Museum.
(2) ΣΎRAKOΣION
(=dei Siracusani) è l'etnico che indica il
popolo nel nome del quale la moneta è stata
battuta. Per una sintesi degli eventi storici
del periodo rimando alla pagina, https://www.gmcoinart.de/upload/auction_190_2010_euainetos_engl_664.pdf.
(3) EΥAI
sono le iniziali di Euainetos (in greco
Ευαινετος), Eveneto in italiano che, insieme a
Kimon (in greco Κίμων), Cimone in italiano, fu
uno dei più famosi incisori dell'antichità. Da
notare che mentre le monete d'oro di Cimone sono
per lo più firmate, recando la sigla
dell'incisore, quelle di Eveneto non lo sono e
vengono riconosciute solo dallo stile. Dunque la
moneta di figura, incisa e firmata da Eveneto, è
davvero rara talché la ricerca effettuata ha
evidenziato il solo esemplare di
cui al link.
(4) Aretusa è il simbolo
dell'autorità statuale di Siracusa impresso
sulla moneta (come è avvenuto nel passato
italico recente quando il simbolo statuale
dell'Italia era rappresentato da un personaggio
femminile con il capo coperto da corona turrita
- v. link).
Nel caso dell'antica Siracusa la scelta come
simbolo dell'Aretusa trova ispirazione nel mito
di cui di seguito fornisco una breve sintesi (v.
anche il link):
"Aretusa, ninfa al seguito di Artemide, mentre
si bagnava nelle acque del fiume Alfeo del
Peloponneso (v. mappa),
fu ammirata dall'omonimo dio fluviale che,
invaghitosene, intendeva tenerla con sé. Per
sfuggirgli, Aretusa riparò ad Ortigia,
l'isoletta che fronteggia Siracusa; lì Artemide,
nell'intento di proteggere la sua seguace, la
trasformò in fonte. Alfeo allora, non volendo
perderla, attraversò il mare nella forma di
fiume e unì le sue acque a quelle che sgorgavano
dalla fonte".
(5) Il tema eroico del
rovescio andrebbe interpretato come simbolo
della lotta tra i greci, guidati da Siracusa, e
i loro nemici cartaginesi. |
