SICILY. Syracuse. Fifth Republic (Democracy). 214-212 BC. AR 12-litrai (25mm, 10.20 gm, 10h). NGC Choice AU S 5/5 - 5/5. Head of Athena left, wearing crested Athenian helmet / ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ, Artemis standing left, drawing bow, hound leaping left behind at feet, ΞA before. McClean 2957 (same dies). SNG ANS 1040. HGC 2, 1412. Refined and sharp devices with lovely jade and amber toning accentuating the high points. When Hieron II died in 215 BC, he left his kingdom to his fifteen-year-old grandson, Hieronymus. Hieron designed a council of fifteen guardians to supervise Hieronymus and act as his regents, providing guidance until he was of age. One of the counselors, Adranodorus, was the son-in-law of Hieron and wanted to rule himself. He schemed to have the other guardians dismissed and became the chief counselor to Hieronymus. After the Roman defeat at Cannae, he convinced the young king to change Syracuse's allegiance from Rome to Carthage, bringing Syracuse in direct conflict with Rome. In 214 BC, Marcus Claudius Marcellus began besieging the city, during which Hieronymus was assassinated after a reign of only thirteen months. A republican government known as the Fifth Democracy was restored, but the city didn't change its Carthaginian allegiance. A protracted siege of two years ensued, with the Romans finally defeating the mechanical defenses of the great Archimedes in 212 BC. Despite the turmoil and chaos, the Syracuse mint produced incredible works of art, the dies engraved by masterful artists. HID09801242017 © 2023 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved

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