116.  Syracuse . Circa  480-475 BC.  AR Tetradrachm (17.34  gm). Charioteer
driving quadriga right, holding  kentron in right hand, reins in left; Nike
flying  above, crowning  horses  / Head  of Arethusa  right,  wearing pearl
diadem  and  ribbon  in  her hair,  surrounded  by  four dolphins  swimming
clockwise. Cf. Boehringer 110; SNG ANS -; Randazzo -. Good VF, obverse flan
flaws. ($500)

An unusual reverse die, with a ribbon in Arethusa’s hair in addition to the
usual diadem of pearls. There are a few dies with this design variation,
all grouped within Boehringer 104-121. These are likely the work of a
single engraver, whose individual artistic expression stands out among the
products of the "Massenprägung", as Boehringer called his group III.


CNG Mail bid sale #58, lot 116.
 
 Lot sold for $675.


Used by permission of CNG, www.historicalcoins.com