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Tetradrachm
| Issuer | Syracuse |
|---|---|
| Year | 413 BC - 405 BC |
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| Engraver(s) | Kimon |
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| Obverse description | Head of the nymph Arethousa in three-quarter face turned slightly left, rendered in high relief in the masterful style attributed to the engraver Kimon; her hair, swept back in flowing locks radiating outward, is secured by an ampyx inscribed KIMON, and she wears a single-pendant earring and a beaded necklace. Four dolphins are interspersed among her tresses: on the left, one swims downward while a second emerges above it; on the right, one descends toward another that appears from behind the nymph's neck. The composition exemplifies the finest period of Syracusan die engraving, combining naturalistic portraiture with accomplished decorative detail. |
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| Obverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
This issue falls within one of the most turbulent decades in Sicilian history. The Athenian expedition of 415–413 BC — the largest military operation Athens ever launched — ended in catastrophic defeat at Syracuse, with the destruction of an entire fleet and the death or enslavement of tens of thousands of men. Syracuse emerged not merely intact but emboldened, and the coinage of this period reflects a city suddenly conscious of its own power and prestige among the Greek world.
The years immediately following saw fierce competition among Syracusan die engravers — Kimon, Euainetos, and others signed their work openly, an exceptional practice for the ancient world.