SICILY. Syracuse. Pyrrhus (278-276 BC). AV stater (20mm, 8.54 gm, 9h). NGC Choice AU 5/5 - 3/5, Fine Style, marks. Head of Athena right, hair flowing loose with one tie at neckline and upswept at temple, wearing triple-pendant earring, necklace and crested Corinthian helmet pushed back on head, the bowl decorated with griffin leaping right; owl standing facing behind with spread wings, A below truncation / BAΣIΛEΩΣ-ΠΥPPOΥ, Nike flying left, wearing long chiton, trophy cradled in left arm, oak wreath in right; bucranium at feet to left. BMC Thessaly (Epirus), 1, pl. XX, 7 (these dies). Jameson 1124 (these dies). Buttrey, op. cit. (no. 516), pl. 2, 42 (these dies). From the Penn Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 13 (8 October 1998), lot 522 Pyrrhus was king of the Molossians in Epirus when he married Lanassa, the daughter of king Agathocles of Syracuse, in 295 BC. Pyrrhus aided Tarentum against the Romans in 281 BC, leading his army of 25,000 men in Italy the next year. Next, the Siceliotes lobbied for his support against Roman ally Carthage in 278 BC, resulting in Pyrrhus taking over the island and being acclaimed 'King of Sicily'. He returned to Italy in 276 BC and eventually to Epirus.

HID09801242017

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