Decadramma¹, zecca di Siracusa, c. 405 a. C, SNG Cop Italy-Sic 689-694

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1. https://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=15986 Sale: Triton V, Lot: 1227. Estimate $10000. Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002. Sold For $12500. SICILY, Syracuse. Circa 405-400 BC. Unsigned dies by Kimon. AR Dekadrachm (42.43 gm). Charioteer driving galloping quadriga left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; Nike flying above and crowning charioteer; below heavy exergual line: a military harness, shield, greaves, cuirass and Attic helmet all connected by a horizontal spear, AQL[A] below / SURAK-OSIW, head of Arethusa left, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace, hair restrained at back of head in an open weave sakkos; all surrounded by four dolphins swimming. Jongkees, "The Kimonian Decadrachms," 12 (C/l); SNG ANS 360 (same dies); Gulbenkian 309 (same dies). Near EF, moderate obverse die rust. ($10,000). From the Robert Schonwalter Collection.
2. http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=15985# Sale: Triton V, Lot: 1226. Estimate $15000. Closing Date: Wednesday, 16 January 2002. Sold For $9000. SICILY, Syracuse. Circa 405-400 BC. Unsigned dies by Kimon. AR Dekadrachm (43.21g). Charioteer driving galloping quadriga left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; Nike flying above and crowning charioteer; below heavy exergual line: a military harness, shield, greaves, cuirass and Attic helmet all connected by a horizontal spear, AQLA below / [SURAK-OSIW], head of Arethusa left, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace, hair restrained at back of head in an open weave sakkos; all surrounded by four dolphins swimming. Jongkees, "The Kimonian Decadrachms," 12 (C/l); SNG ANS 360 (same dies); Gulbenkian 309 (same dies). Toned, good VF, fairly early die state with only a trace of obverse die rust. ($15,000).
3. http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=19677 Sale: CNG 60, Lot: 209. Estimate $12500. Closing Date: Wednesday, 22 May 2002. Sold For $13000. SICILY, Syracuse. Circa 405-400 BC. Unsigned dies by Kimon. AR Dekadrachm (42.76g). Charioteer driving galloping quadriga left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; Nike flying above and crowning charioteer; below heavy exergual line: a military harness, shield, greaves, cuirass and Attic helmet all connected by a horizontal spear / Head of Arethusa left, wearing single-pendant earring and necklace, hair restrained at back of head in an open weave sakkos; all surrounded by four dolphins swimming. Jongkees, "The Kimonian Decadrachms," 8 (B/h). Lightly toned, good VF, lamination on neck, some light corrosion behind head, moderate obverse and reverse die rust, reverse die breaks. ($12,500). From the William N. Rudman Collection.
4. http://www.cngcoins.com/Coin.aspx?CoinID=96506 Wonderful Pedigreed Dekadrachm // Ex Sandeman and Subhi Pacha Collections. Sale: Triton X, Lot: 93. Estimate $15000. Closing Date: Monday, 8 January 2007. Sold For $22000. SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. 405-367 BC. AR Dekadrachm (43.05g, 8h). Unsigned dies in the style of Euainetos. Struck circa 405-400 BC. Charioteer driving fast quadriga left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath; below heavy exergual line, [a military harness, shield], greaves, cuirass, and Attic helmet, all connected by a horizontal spear / S-URA-K-O-S-IWN, head of Arethusa left, hair bound in wreath of grain ears, wearing triple-pendant earring and necklace; surrounded by four dolphins; scallop shell behind neck. Gallatin dies R.XIV/F.VIIA (this coin listed as example 16 = Collection des médailles grecques autonomes de Son Excellence Subhy Pacha [Constantinople : H. A Boyadjian, 1874], 219); SNG ANS 373 (same dies); SNG Lloyd -; Dewing 912 (same dies); Pozzi 617 (same dies). Good VF, toned. Well struck on good metal. Ex Ars Classica XVI (3 July 1933), lot 775; R. Ratto (13 may 1912), lot 497; John Sandeman Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge, 13 June 1911), lot 62; Subhi Pacha Collection (Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge, 20 February 1878), lot 426.
5. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1486478 Gemini, LLC http://www.geminiauction.com/ Auction X 22 13. January 2013 20'000 USD 17'000 USD. Description: Sicily. Syracuse. c. 400-380 BC. Decadrachm, 43.08g. (h). Obv: Quadriga galloping left, driven by a charioteer holding reins and directing the horses with a goad. Above, Nike flying right to crown the charioteer. In exergue, panoply of arms on two steps: cuirass, two greaves, and a Phrygian helmet. Border of dots. Rx: ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Head of nymph Arethusa left, wearing a reed wreath, triple ear pendant, and necklace. Beneath her chin, Δ; around, four dolphins; on the lower one, signature ΕΥΑΙΝΕ. Gallatin R IX/D I. SNG Fitzwilliam 1277 (same dies). Signed die. Obverse struck with a rusty die but well centered. Extremely beautiful head of Arethusa. Because of the centering the complete name of the city shows above the head of Arethusa but none of the master's signature which is below Arethusa's neck. Only two reverse dies with the delta symbol were produced. VF/EF. “Beyond these coins, human comprehension cannot go”, Winckelmann wrote about Sicilian coins. He may well have had in mind the Syracusan decadrachms designed by the master engravers Kimon and Euainetos. Especially the series of the latter, which is also the larger one, became renowned in the whole Mediterranean for the beauty of its head of the nymph Arethusa, and was therefore copied by numerous mints in Italy and mainland Greece. Despite its serenity, the series was issued in gloomy times, when Dionysios I had to finance large-scale campaigns against the Carthaginians. Hoard evidence suggests that the decadrachms were not struck before c. 400 BC, i.e after the first five years of Dionysios’ rule when he had consolidated his empire and was about to undertake another campaign against the Carthaginian armies, conquering Motye in 397 BC, though thereby risking the survival of Syracuse. The decadrachms are thought to have been payment for his army of mercenaries. One wonders whether these Campanian professional soldiers appreciated the artistic value of what they got. Maybe they did; at least the Campanian pottery workshops did so when the mercenaries came back home, and adopted the head of Arethusa for a new series of black-glazed cups with a medaillon in the center, featuring the decadrachm Arethusa.
6. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1537298 Roma Numismatics Limited http://www.romanumismatics.com/ Auction 5 132 23. March 2013 75'000 GBP 90'000 GBP Description: Sicily, Syracuse AR Dekadrachm. Sicily, Syracuse AR Dekadrachm. Time of Dionysios I, circa 400-370 BC. Charioteer driving galloping quadriga to left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; above, Nike flies to right, a wreath in her outstretched arms to crown the charioteer; in the exergue, a panoply of arms is set on two steps: a cuirass, two greaves, and a Phrygian helmet / Head of the nymph Arethusa to left, wearing a reed wreath, triple-pendant earring, and a pearl necklace; below her chin, a pellet, ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ behind, four dolphins playing around her. Gallatin V-XXII (five examples recorded from this pair of dies); Dewing Coll. 923 (same obverse die). 43.38g, 36mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine. Ex Rarcoa auction, CICF 1985, lot 10 and coverpiece, from the estate of a Chicago collector who had owned it for forty years. The dekadrachms of Syracuse have been called ‘the admiration of the ancient and modern world’, and ‘perhaps the most famous of all ancient coins’; rightly so, for by virtue of not only their impressive size and weight, but more importantly the incredibly detailed artistry of exquisite style which they bear, they represent the zenith of cultural and numismatic technological achievement at ancient Syracuse, and are among the most beautiful coins ever struck for circulation. Produced at the apex of Syracuse’s power and glory, the dekadrachm issue began circa 405 BC, following the election of Dionysios as supreme military commander of Syracuse for his achievements in the war against Carthage, and his subsequent seizure of total power. Syracuse had only recently defeated an Athenian invasion of Sicily that resulted in the utter destruction of Athens’ expeditionary force and ultimately contributed significantly to Athens’ defeat at the hands of Sparta in the Peloponnesian War. Then under Dionysios in 405, despite the ruin of great cities such as Akragas and Gela, Syracuse repulsed a Carthaginian invasion that might have resulted in a complete conquest of the island. Such glory was short-lived however, as the rule of Dionysios’ son and successor was to bring only civil strife that would weaken the power of Syracuse. Never again would the city issue coinage on such a grand scale, and with the cessation of tetradrachm production in c.400 BC, the dekadrachms represent the last great flourishing of classical numismatic art at Syracuse before two centuries of steady decline and eventual conquest at the hands of the Romans. This astounding example is struck from the freshest dies with uncommon precision, and has been preserved in near mint state, such that the level of detail is virtually unparalleled. Features such as the delicate folds and pleats in the chiton of the charioteer, her facial details, and the manes of the horses are very rarely encountered with this level of sharpness and clarity. A truly stunning and choice specimen of the Euainetos series.
7. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1537299 Roma Numismatics Limited http://www.romanumismatics.com/ Auction 5 133 23. March 2013 30'000 GBP 24'000 GBP Description  Sicily, Syracuse AR Dekadrachm. Sicily, Syracuse AR Dekadrachm. Time of Dionysios I, circa 400 BC. Charioteer driving galloping quadriga to left, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left; above, Nike flies to right, a wreath in her outstretched arms to crown the charioteer; in the exergue, a panoply of arms is set on two steps: a cuirass, two greaves, and a Phrygian helmet / Head of the nymph Arethusa to left, wearing a reed wreath, triple-pendant earring, and a pearl necklace; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ behind, four dolphins playing around her, a star below the rearmost. Gallatin XXIII-KII. 43.27g, 35mm, 5h. Good Extremely Fine. Very Rare. From a private Belgian collection. This type with a star behind Arethusa’s head and below the rearmost dolphin is one of the most infrequently encountered in the dekadrachm series. Struck from a remarkable reverse die, not only on account of the excellent style of the Arethusa portrait, but also because of the astonishing high relief in which it was engraved. Standing proud from the fields 33% more than the majority of its counterparts including the preceeding lot, this nymph commands reverence and admiration. The fortuitously superb metal quality and lustre of the fields further complement the appearance of this sculptural marvel.
8. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1390132 Numismatica Ars Classica NAC AG http://www.arsclassicacoins.com/ Auction 66 12 (« | ») 17. October 2012 80'000 CHF 170'000 CHF Description: Syracuse Decadrachm signed by Kimon circa 404-400, AR 43.33g. Fast quadriga driven l. by charioteer, holding reins and kentron ; in field above, Nike flying r. to crown him. On the exergual line, in minute letters, KIMΩN. In exergue, display of military harness set on two steps and below l., AΘΛA. Rev. ΣΥ[RAKOSIWN] Head of Arethusa l., wearing earring with pendant and beaded necklace; wavy hair bound in front with ampyx , on which the signature K, and caught up behind by net. Around three dolphins, while a fourth makes dorsal contact with neck truncation; on its body, the signature KIMWN. Regling Syrakus 3. AMB 479 (these dies). Rizzo pl. LII, 3 (these dies). Gulbenkian 303 (these dies). Dewing 869 (these dies). SNG Lloyd 1409 (these dies). Kraay-Hirmer pl. 42, 118 (this reverse die). Jongkees 3. Extremely rare. A magnificent specimen of this celebrated issue with the usual reverse die break on the eye at a very early stage. Struck on very broad flan and exceptionally well-centred, light iridescent tone. Minor metal flaws and a die break on the hair on reverse, otherwise about extremely fine Ex Sotheby’s sale 21-22 June 1990, Hunt part II, 266. Scholars have long attempted to ascribe Kimon’s decadrachms to an historical event as they seem in every way to be commemorative medallions. The Syracusan defeat of the Athenian navy in 413 at first seems an ideal choice, though current thought on the dating of this issue favours the victorious actions of Syracuse in the otherwise devastating invasion of Sicily by the Carthaginians from 406 to 405 B.C. The most compelling reason to associate the Kimonian decadrachms with a military victory is the display of armour and weaponry that appears in the exergue along with the inscription AQLA , which indicates 'prizes', or at least 'agonistic contests'. Since it was a common practice of Greek soldiers to engrave dedicatory inscriptions on captured armour, a connection might be drawn between that practice and what we observe here. The obverse scene of a charioteer guiding his team through a bend is devoted entirely to victory. Despite their inherent dissimilarities, the four elements of the scene exist in harmony: the driver is calm and composed, the horses toss their heads wildly as they charge forward, Nike floats above as if undisturbed by the great contest below, and the display of arms and armour is fixed, as if monumental. If possible, the head of Artemis-Arethusa on the reverse is even more impressive. This die is especially important, as it is signed twice by Kimon: his initial K on the ampyx near her forehead and his full name KIMWN on the body of the dolphin below her neck. Considering his signature also occurs in miniature letters on the exergual line on the obverse, we have a coin that the artist must have considered to be among his best creations.
9. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=435667 Stack's http://www.stacks.com/ Stack & Kroisos Collections 2117 (« | ») 14. January 2008 - - Description: SYRACUSE. Time of Dionysios I, 405-367 B.C. Decadrachm, ca.400-390 B.C. Signed by Euainetos. Fast quadriga driven l. by female charioteer leaning forward with kentron in r. hand and reins in l. hand, Nike above flying r. to crown her; heavy exergual line and panoply of arms below. Rv. Head of Arethusa l. wearing barley wreath, four dolphins around, EYAINE below, ethnic not visible. 41.44 grams. Gallatin C.XII/R.IV. Slightly granular surfaces, darkly toned. Sharply detailed on both sides. Choice Very Fine, nearly Extremely Fine. (25,000-30,000) The Dekadrachms of Syracuse are undoubtedly the most famous of ancient Greek coins, both in modern and in ancient times. Kraay notes (ACGC, p.232) "Italian pottery cups have a facsimile [of the decadrachm] set in the base, no doubt imitating silver vessels which incorporated actual decadrachms." The design was copied or adapted for coin issues in such far-flung places as North Africa, Spain, South Italy, Lokris Opuntia, the Peloponnese and Crete. Their size and dignified majesty have always made them the centerpiece of any Greek collection. The treatment of the head of the goddess Arethusa defines classical beauty. In this treatment the Dekadrachms can be divided into two main types. The first, smaller issue shows her hair confined in an ornate net. Many of these dies bear the initial or signature of Kimon. These coins were struck ca.405 B.C. from three obverse and thirteen reverse dies. The second, much larger issue shows the hair free but bound with a reed, appropriate for a water-goddess. The earliest dies of this series bear the signature of Euainetos and were struck ca.400-390 B.C., probably closer to 400 B.C. This was a fairly large emission, with twenty-four known obverse and forty-four known reverse dies, twenty-one carrying the name Euainetos. Kraay (ACGC, p.232) estimates that this second issue would have been struck over no more than a ten to fifteen year period.  Silver Dekadrachms, like the gold fractions that were produced at approximately the same time, were high value coins struck for a specific purpose other than ordinary commerce. It seems most likely they were a war issue, intended to pay for or provide the financial backing to pay for mercenary soldiers, ships and supplies for major military operations, in this case the on-going war against Carthage. That so much care should have been taken to glorify civic pride and the human form on what was otherwise a very utilitarian item is perhaps what most separates the ancient from the modern world. From the Lawrence R. Stack Collection of Ancient Greek Coins.
10. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=1650657 Ponterio & Associates http://www.ponterio.com/ August 2013 Chicago ANA World\'s Fair of Money 11026 (« | ») 13. August 2013 10'000 USD 15'000 USD Description Syracuse SICILY. Syracuse. AR Decadrachm (42.96g), ca. 405-367 B.C. Gallatin-D.ll/RlX. Charioteer driving fast quadriga left, Nike flying right above, military implements in exergue; Reverse: Head of Arethusa face left wearing earring and necklace, four dolphins around, artist's signature below. Graffiti on neck. Toned.VERY FINE.
11. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=353569 Stack's http://www.stacks.com/ Ancient & World Coin Auction January 2007 4179 15. January 2007 - 15'000 USD Description SYRACUSE. End of the Second Democracy and Dionysios I. Dekadrachm, ca. 400-390 B.C. In the manner of Euainetos. Fast quadriga l., Nike above crowning the charioteer; panoply of arms in ex. Rv. Head of Artemis-Arethusa l., hair bound with corn-leaves; [ΣY]PAKOΣIΩN above, pecten shell behind, four dolphins around. 43.40g. SNG ANS 372 (same dies), Gallatin 28. E.I/R.XI. Well and evenly struck, the obverse from a somewhat rusty die. Clear and sharp rendition of a justly famous coin. Extremely Fine with an attractive pale gray, slightly iridescent toning. (15,000-20,000).
12. http://www.acsearch.info/search.html?id=357961 Stack's http://www.stacks.com/ Coin Galleries February 2007 33 (« | ») 21. February 2007 - - Description SYRACUSE. Dionysios I, 405-367 B.C. Dekadrachm, 405-400 B.C. Style of Euainetos. Charioteer driving fast quadriga l. holding goad, Nike above flying r. crowning charioteer with wreath; panoply of armour below. Rv. Head of Artemis-Arethusa l., hair bound with wreath of corn-leaves, scallop shell behind, four dolphins around. 42.10 grams. SNG ANS 372, Gallatin R.XV/F.IX. Medium gray tone. Very Fine and impressive. (10,000-15,000).
13. https://auctions.bertolamifinearts.com/it/lot/204/sicilia-dionigi-i-405-367-decadramma-/#gallery LOTTO 204 - ASTA 12 Sicilia, Dionigi I (405-367), Sicilia, Dionigi I (405-367), Decadramma, Siracusa, conio non firmato nello stile di Euainetos, c. 405-400 a.C.; AR (g 41,70; mm 34; h 11); Auriga conduce quadriga veloce verso s.; sopra, Nike in volo a d., nell’atto di incoronarlo; in ex., panoplia, Rv. [ΣYPAKOΣIΩN], testa della ninfa Aretusa a s., indossa corona di grano, orecchini e collana; intorno, quattro delfini. Rizzo tav. LIV, 8; Gallatin C. XIV/R. VII; SNG Copenhagen 690; SNG ANS 369. Rara, patina di medagliere, bb+. Ex Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Asta 104, lotto 94. Euainetos fu uno dei maggiori incisori antichi, operando a Catania, con il disegno della divinità fluviale Amenano, a Camarina, con il bozzetto del dio fluviale Ippari, e a Siracusa con la famosissima testa della ninfa Aretusa. L’artista fu il modello per altri famosi incisori tra cui Cimone. Forse questo decadramma fu realizzato per celebrare la vittoria della flotta Siracusa contro quella di Atene nel 413 a.C.
14. archeo.piemonte.beniculturali Decadramma firmato Euainetos Siracusa, 405-400 a.C. Argento, 43,21g Inv. n. F1648. D/ Quadriga in corsa. L'auriga tiene sferza e redini e viene incoronato da Nike in volo sopra di lui. In esergo: scudo, schinieri, corazza, elmo e lancia orizzontale. R/ SYRAKOSION (in greco) [= "(moneta) dei Siracusani"] Testa di Arethusa coronata di spighe; intorno: quattro delfini. In basso: EYANE(tos). Nella seconda metà del V secolo a.C. operano in Sicilia alcuni incisori di coni che realizzano probabilmente le più belle monete dell’antichità. Sui coni è presente il loro nome come firma, fatto del tutto inusuale anche nelle epoche successive. Durante il regno di Dionigi I (405-367 a.C.) lavorano a Siracusa due straordinari artefici, Kimon ed Euainetos. Di quest’ultimo sono celebri i decadrammi (= da 10 dracme), che portano al rovescio l'immagine di Arethusa, una nereide trasformata da Artemide in fonte sull'isola di Ortigia per farla fuggire al figlio di Oceano, Alfeo. Il modello è talmente celebre che fu riportato sulle banconote da 500 lire della repubblica italiana degli anni ‘60 e ‘70. Al diritto è la quadriga vittoriosa nella corsa dei carri, specialità olimpica nella quale gli aristocratici e i tiranni sicelioti eccellevano, gareggiando nei giochi in rappresentanza della propria città.
15. https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/C_1841-0726-288 Museum number 1841,0726.288. Denomination decadrachm. Description Silver coin. Producer name Engraved by: Kimon. cultures/periods Greek. Production date 400BC-390BC. Production place Minted in: Syracuse (Sicily - archaic) Europe: Italy: Sicily: Siracusa (province): Siracusa (city): Syracuse (Sicily - archaic). Materials silver. Dimensions Diameter: Diameter: 36 millimetres Weight: Weight: 43.47 grammes. Bibliographic references BMC Greek (Sicily) / Catalogue of Greek coins: Sicily (p176.201) Location On display (G73/dc69/p2/no34) (G73/dc69/p2/no34) Associated names. Representation of: Arethusa. Acquisition name. Purchased from: Claude Scott Steuart. Acquisition date 1841. Department Coins and Medals. Registration number 1841,0726.288. C&M catalogue number GC2 (BMC Greek (Sicily)) (176) (201) (176). Conservation Treatment.
    

Un saluto cordiale
Giulio De Florio
 

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(1) Decadramma (argento), ovvero moneta del valore di dieci dracme. Raccolgo in tabella le caratteristiche fisiche delle monete della tipologia di figura descritte nei link di cui sopra: