Syracuse.
Double-decadrachm signed by Euainetos circa 405-400, AV 5.77 g. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΟΝ Head of nymph Arethusa l., hair elaborately waved and caught up behind in sphendone ornamented with stars, wearing necklace and bar and triple-pendant earring; behind head, EYAI. Rev. Naked young Heracles kneeling r. on rocky ground, head to front, strangling the Nemean lion with both arms. De Ciccio 23 (these dies). Berry, A Numismatic Biography 200 (this coin illustrated). SNG Ashmolean 2030 (these dies). SNG ANS 324 (these dies). Bérend 11, II.5 (this coin).
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly one of
the finest specimens known. A wonderful portrait of masterly
style struck in high relief. Good extremely fine

Ex Numismatic Biography, 1971, 200; Leu 20, 1978, 48; NFA XX, 1980, 638 and NAC Spring 2020, 157 sales.

Graded Ch AU Strike 5/5 Surface 5/5, Fine style, NCG certification number 6558855-007

Before this series, gold coinage in the Western Mediterranean was episodic, and was only issued in times of emergency. Syracuse had traditionally set trends for coinage in Sicily, so it comes as no surprise that it led the way on the issuance of gold. The need for gold coinage in such quantity must have been military, and we can speculate that these coins were used to pay the mercenaries who Dionysios I hired to promote his ambitions. This coinage was probably introduced sometime around 400 B.C. and appears to have been struck in parallel with the silver decadrachms of the Kimon and Euainetos types. Though the precise date of this gold coinage is not known, the best opinions range from c. 406 to c. 390 B.C. as the starting point, and c. 370/65 B.C. as the end. Of particular value in establishing the context of this coinage are the Avola Hoards (ICGH 2122 and 2124) found not far south of Syracuse, which contained examples of this type in superb condition. Since other gold coins were found with them, including Persian darics and Lampsacus staters, these hoards probably were deposited by c. 370 or 360 B.C. Dozens of military actions are spread over the decades of Dionysius' reign, so it is impossible to isolate one that explains the genesis of this series. However, a theory was put forth by Boehringer, who associated these coins with Dionysius' great victory over the besieging Carthaginians in 396 or 395. He suggested that because the Carthaginians were routed at their encampment on the plain at the Anapus river, to the south of Syracuse, it was meaningful that the half-denomination of this series, the gold decadrachm (50-litra), portrays the river-god Anapus. Perhaps fortifying this idea is a report by Diodorus (14.75.1-3) that Dionysius collected 300 talents from the Carthaginian commander Himilco as a term of surrender after the defeat. That influx may have been converted into coinage to pay his troops. It is not clear why the Heracles-and-lion type was introduced with this issue, though it may be emblematic of the Greek struggle against the Carthaginians, with the lion being symbolic of that culture.