★ A splendid tetradrachm of Agathokles ★

SICILY. Syracuse. Agathokles, 317-289 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 27 mm, 17.31 g, 10 h), circa 317-310. Head of Arethusa to left, wearing wreath of grain leaves, triple pendant earring and pearl necklace; around, three dolphins; below neck, NI. Rev. ΣYPAKOΣIΩN Charioteer driving quadriga galloping to left, holding kentron in his right hand and reins in his left; above, triskeles running left; in exergue, monogram of AI. HGC 2, 1348. SNG ANS 633-4. A splendid, beautifully toned example. Light deposits, otherwise, good extremely fine.

Ex Elsen 130, 10 September 2016, 11.

This tetradrachm was struck in the early years of Agathokles' long reign, before he assumed the kingship. The types are those of the famous dekadrachms of Euainetos, although with the obverse and reverse inverted, and the legend still names the plain ethnic without any reference to the tyrant.