Sicily, Hieron I, Tetradrachm
ca. 474-450 BC - Syracuse - Silver - AU(55-58)
PLEASE NOTE: this collector's item is unique. We therefore cannot guarantee its availability over time and recommend that you do not delay too long in completing your purchase if you are interested.
Charioteer driving slow quadriga to right, holding kentron in right hand and reins in both; above, Nike flying to right, crowning horses. In exergue, ketos.
Head of the nymph Arethusa right, hair tied upwards on the back of her head and rolled up, wearing pearl diadem, single pendant earring and pearled necklace with pendant; around, four dolphins swimming clockwise.
Tetradrachm of remarkable classic style. Struck on a wide flan, with the 4 apparent dolphins around the nymph on the reverse, a rare and much appreciated detail. The flan is regular and well shaped, with the engravings very well struck, many details visible on the reverse and a representation of the nymph very pleasing to the eye with her hair and expression. The obverse is also very well centered, with only the sea creature in the exergue, the ‘Cetus’ (or ‘Ketos’), not visible due to a slight misalignment of the strike, and a slight double-strike also visible. Interestingly, the engraver chose to depict only two horses for his quadriga, the other two being more implicit with the horses' legs slightly doubled. The conservation of this face of the coin is excellent, with minimal circulation wear overall. Boehringer, Group IV, Serie XVIa, 563 (V284/R385E); Rizzo pl. XXXVII, 14 (same dies); HGC 2, 1311; SNG ANS 182 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1328 and BMC 97 (same dies). Ex Daniel Féret Collection (Vinchon, 24-25 November 1994, lot 206). Faune d'Argent Collection.
ΣVRAKOΣI - ON
16.97 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 “AU(55-58)” 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:
About Uncirculated(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.
