The FIRST signed Tetradrachm, EF
US $1,150.00  
Jul-29-03


Syracuse, Sicily, AR tetradrachm, (16.13g) unsigned work by artist A.., c. 420 BC. 

Slow biga to right, charioteer, holding kentron in left hand, 
reins in right, crowned with wreath by Nike flying left, dotted 
border. 
SYRAKOSI-O-N Head of Arethusa right, hair in sakkos drawn together 
at top and decorated with meander pattern above chevrons, A below 
earring, four dolphins around. 

BMC 116; Boehringer 706. SNG ANS 238.
There are three tetradrachms with the A (Boehringer 700, 702 and 
705. There are a number of other (unsigned) dies by the same 
artist. Boehringer regards the A to identify Arethusa, but that 
doesn't fit with the sequence of Syracusian tetradrachms. This 
coin, about a generation before Euanetos and Kimon signed their 
work, seems more likely to be signed A.

Earlier dies are assigned to artists such as the "Demartion 
Master," "The Aetna Master," "The Master of the left-facing 
head," The Master of the Bay Leaf" etc. but NAC May 2001 notes 
this is the first engraver to sign dies with a letter. No dies 
with his complete signature are known.