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Dekadrachm - Hieron II
| Issuer | Syracuse (Ancient Greece) |
|---|---|
| Year | 275 BC - 215 BC |
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| Shape | Round (irregular) |
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| Obverse description | Diademed and laureate head of Persephone (or a deified queen) facing left, rendered in refined Hellenistic style with flowing curly locks adorned with a wreath of grain ears and an elaborate stephane. The facial features are idealized and finely modeled, with a delicate profile characteristic of Syracusan coinage of the Hieronian period. A beaded border frames the design along the coin's irregular periphery. |
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| Reverse description | A charioteer (Nike or the king's chariot driver) races a biga at full gallop to the right, leaning forward with reins taut and a kentron (goad) raised, conveying vigorous forward movement. The two horses are depicted with animated musculature and elaborately braided manes, their hooves raised above a ground line. Below the biga, the Greek legend ΙΕΡΩΝΟΣ appears in the exergue, with the monogram ΑΓ beneath, identifying the issuer as Hieron II. The composition fills the flan dynamically, consistent with the high artistic standards of mid-third-century BC Syracusan die-engraving. |
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| Additional information |
Hieron II ruled Syracuse for roughly six decades, navigating the city through the First Punic War by initially allying with Carthage, then pivoting decisively to Rome after early military reversals — a realignment that secured Syracuse's autonomy and prosperity well into the third century. His long reign produced an unusually coherent coinage series, but gold issues of this type were struck in limited quantities, likely for specific diplomatic or ceremonial payments rather than routine commerce. The multiple "var." citations across the major references suggest die linkage studies remain incomplete.