Description

Timoleon and the Third Democracy (344-317 BC). Denarius. circa 344-339/8 BC, Syracuse. 25.00 mm. 3h
Obv. Pegasos flying left.
Rev. ΣYPAKOΣIΩN. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with griffin on bowl.
SNG Lloyd 1442; SNG Ashmolean 2032; SNG ANS 504; AMB 495; Pegasi 2; HGC 2, 1400.
A gorgeous and outstanding coin with a lovely light tone. Struck on excellent metal, minor die shift on reverse, otherwise superb extremely fine .
Ex Schweizerischer Bankverein sale 41, 1996, lot 26. Ex NAC Auction 150, 2 September 2024, Lot 566 (From a Scandinavian private collection).

NGC is included with this lot. Graded Ch AU strike 4/5, surface 4/5 - die shift, NGC certification number 8230102-015. In the middle of the fourth century, Syracuse was oppressed by the tyrants Dionysius II and Hiketas and threatened by the Carthaginians. The Syracusans finally sent a delegation to Corinth to ask their mother city for help. Timeleon, a member of a prestigious Corinthian family, was chosen to take back control of Syracuse. He defeated and expelled the tyrants Dionysius II and Hiketas from the city, carried out extensive democratic reforms and brought many new settlers from Greece. He finally defeated the Carthaginians decisively and thus severely limited Carthage's influence in Sicily for many years. At the beginning of his mission, there were not enough Greek coins in Syracuse. For several decades, no coins had been minted and the circulating coins must have been very worn. In order to finance his expedition to restore freedom and prosperity, he had to reform the coinage system. He decided to adopt the denomination and iconography of his Corinthian homeland, the silver stater with the images of Athena and Pegasus, except the ethnicon, style and the design were based on Syracuse.