2016-06-04 Sat

During the Spink’s auction that would be held on 21st June, an extremely rare gold 60 decadrachm coin of Syracuse is expected fetch anything between $4,000 and $5,000.

The turning point in the turbulent history of Sicily was Maenon’s assassination of Agathokles. After this event, the people of Syracuse selected Hiketas as their general who ruled for the following nine years. He was then defeated by the Carthaginians in 278 B.C. A powerless Hiketas was expelled from his position by Thoinon, one of his officers. Sosistratos another future-leader took this opportunity to attack Thoinon after which the city became a hotspot for civil war.

The two Greek rulers then agreed upon fighting Carthaginians together and looked for assistance from Pyrrhos. Pyrrhos lifted the siege after landing his army in Sicily. But then he executed Thoinon and forced Sosistratos to flee so that the peace prevails in Syracuse.

Due to shortage of time, instead of issuing new coins, Thoinon and Sosistratos erased the name of Hiketas (appearing as E?I IKETA) from the reverse die and minted the older coins when they were waiting for Pyrrhos.

The coin features a portrait of Kore-Persephone, wearing a pendant earring and pearl necklace. The reverse features Nike on a two-horse chariot.

It was earlier sold on June 24, 1998, when it realized $1,430 with buyer’s fee.