Sicily, Agathokles, Tetradrachm
317-289 BC - Syracuse - Silver - EF(40-45)
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Head of Kore (Persephone), wearing wreath made of grain, a single pendant earring and necklace, right, name on left field.
Nike, draped from the waist, standing right, holding hammer in lowered right hand, nail in raised left, about to attach helmet to trophy on the righ; name in left field, monogram AI between her legs and trophy, triskeles in right field.
A magnificent, well-centered tetradrachm with a beautiful cabinet patina, a few iridescent highlights and sublime iconography. The type of our specimen is rarely seen for sale due to the position of the monogram! Our specimen is in very good condition, but shows traces of wear, particularly on the highest reliefs. Nevertheless, this wear has enabled us to preserve the details of the lower elements. The obverse, in fact, shows a portrait of Persephone with absolutely perfect features, similar to those found on statues. Her hair is particularly interesting because of the many details still present. Each strand has many fine lines, defining virtually every hair and revealing her complex hairstyle. The curls left loose and falling to her shoulders are numerous, beautiful and still well defined. The legend on the left, KOPAΣ, translates as “the young maiden”, equivalent to Kore, which is both her name and her epithet. The obverse die used for our specimen is the same as the one illustrated in reference 334 of Gulbenkian's work. The reverse is perfectly centered, revealing every detail. The feathers of Nike's open wings are magnificent and entirely preserved, revealing the delicacy of the die engraving. The drapery is also perfectly preserved for the lower reliefs. Every fold is visible and finely marked with a delicate line. The trophy on the right is also splendid, revealing a shield in perfect condition and armor showing slight signs of wear. The triskeles is on the left. It is typical of this type of coinage, and particularly of Agathocles' tetradrachms, on which it appears systematically. The monogram is well known, but its position, between the goddess and the trophy, is almost never seen on sale. To our knowledge, less than five specimens have been offered for sale in the last twenty years. The monogram on Agathocles tetradrachms tends to be in the left field, making our type rarer. The reverse die used is the same as that of SNG München's reference 1267, which can be recognized by the die break on the tip of the wing of the goddess also featured on our coin. Our tetradrachm was minted during the tyranny of Agathocles, before he became King of Syracuse, and more specifically during the Carthaginian War. The iconography of the reverse is therefore not insignificant. Nike is depicted in action, attaching the helmet to the trophy. This scene can be interpreted as a victory recently won by the tyrant whose name is written on the left. The issue of this type is therefore an additional propaganda tool used by Agathocles to demonstrate his ambition and achievements. The dies used are among the oldest of the Kore/Nike type, and are exceptionally well engraved. A splendid coin with interesting iconography, a witness to the historical context of its minting and a masterpiece of ancient engraving! A must-have! HGC 2, 1536; Ierardi 91; Gulbenkian 334 (same obverse die) and SNG München 1267 (same reverse die). Faune d'Argent Collection.
KOPAΣ
ΑΓΑΘΟΚΛΕΟΣ
17.02 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “EF(40-45)” quality
As in numismatics it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
Extremely Fine
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has circulated well from hand to hand and pocket to pocket but the impact on its wear remains limited: the coins retains much of its mint luster, sharp detailing and little sign of being circulated. Closer examination with the naked eye reveals minor scratches or nicks.
