Sale: Triton VIII, Lot: 91. Closing Date: Jan 
10, 2005. Estimate $3000 Sold For $4000 

SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. AV 
Dekadrachm - 50 Litrae (4.30 gm, 3h). Struck circa 
317-310 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left; 
kantharos behind / SUR-AK-O-SIWN, charioteer 
driving biga right, holding kentron in right hand, 
reins in left; triskeles below horses. Cf. Bérend, 
l'or pl. 9, 1; cf. SNG ANS 552; SNG Copenhagen 747 
var. (no obverse symbol); BMC Sicily pg. 191, 339. 
EF. Extremely rare variety with kantharos, only 
one recorded (the BM specimen). ($3000)

There can be little doubt that the prototype for 
Agathokles’ issue of gold dekadrachms is the gold stater 
introduced by the Macedonian Philip II and continued by his successors for at least two decades after his death, down to 
approximately when Agathokles came to power in Syracuse. Agathokles no doubt chose Philip’s design because it 
was familiar to Greek mercenaries, which he often had cause 
to recruit. On some of Agathokles’ coins the portrait of 
Apollo is highly personalized, reminiscent of the 
posthumous issues of Philip II on which Apollo has 
the features of Alexander the Great.

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Used by permission of CNG, www.cngcoins.com