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  4. Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4

Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4

Date: 2025-01-14 15:00:00 (3 weeks from now)

Lots: 1152

Total starting: $ 3,093,540.00

In this auction, Numistats has matched 120 coins, providing AI-powered purchase recommendations and detailed analysis. View more.

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Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 101
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Near EF
SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. AV Drachm – Hemistater (16mm, 4.30 g, 9h). Struck circa 317-310 BC. Head of Apollo left, wearing laurel wreath / Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand, reins in left, driving fast biga right; triskeles below, ΣYP-A-[KO]-ΣIΩN around. Bérend, l’or, pl. 9, 1; BAR Issue 1; HGC 2, 1276; SNG ANS 549; Dewing 935; Gulbenkian 328; McClean 2813; Pozzi 639–40. Trace deposits, a little off center on reverse. Near EF.


Ex Stack’s Bowers Galleries (16 August 2021), lot 42057; Auctiones AG 13 (23 June 1983), lot 94.

Agathokles was born in Himera circa 361 BC, the son of a potter who moved the family to Syracuse in the 340s BC. Tiring of his father's trade, Agathokles became a soldier and quickly established himself as an able leader. Agathokles seized power at the head of a mercenary army in a bloody coup in 317 BC. Over the next few years, he strengthened his army and created a formidable navy, and used them to expand his power base throughout Sicily. This inevitably led him into conflict with Carthage, which still controlled territory in western Sicily. The war lasted from 311-306 BC and only resulted in each side becoming more entrenched in their respective parts of Sicily, with the border between them established along the Halycus River. In 304 BC, imitating the famous Diadochs in the east, Agathokles declared himself king of Sicily, though his power only extended across the eastern part of the island. His later years were more concerned with the consolidation of his power than with expansion. Seeing that none of his progeny could effectively rule in his place, in 289 BC, upon his death bed, Agathokles restored the Syracusan democracy.

The coinage of Syracuse during Agathokles' reign saw a flowering of new types and denominations. While he retained some of the traditional Syracusan types, such as the head of Arethousa surrounded by dolphins, many of his coins presented new types that were more in line with the royal issues throughout the Greek kingdoms to the east. Herakles, Apollo, and Athena were commonly found on his issues, and he even issued an unprecedented series of electrum, a metal that had not been used before at Syracuse. As would be expected, his final phase of coinage saw the royal title used for the first time on coins of Syracuse, a trend that continued on many issues under the city's subsequent monarchs.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 102
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Good VF
SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. AV Drachm – Hemistater (15.5mm, 4.25 g, 12h). Struck circa 317-310 BC. Head of Apollo left, wearing laurel wreath; grain ear to right / Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand, reins in left, driving fast biga right; triskeles below, ΣYP-A-KO-ΣIΩN around. Bérend, l’or, pl. 9, 1 var. (no symbol on obv.); BAR Issue 1; HGC 2, 1276; SNG ANS 553; SNG Lloyd 1472; SNG München 1189–90; BMC 338; Boston MFA 457; Jameson 858; McClean 2814. Minor marks and some light scratches on obverse. Good VF.


From the Gerald F. Borrmann Collection, purchased from A. Kosoff, March 1968.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 103
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Near EF
SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 16.82 g, 2h). Struck circa 317-310 BC. Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; three dolphins around, NK monogram below neck / Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; counterclockwise triskeles above, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN and A in exergue. Ierardi 12 (O2/R8); BAR Issue 2; HGC 2, 1348; SNG ANS 635/637 (same rev./obv. dies); SNG Ashmolean 2064 (same obv. die); SNG Lloyd 1477 (same obv. die); Boston MFA 459 = Warren 401 (same obv. die); Jameson 861 (same rev. die). Toned, minor double strike, a few marks. Near EF.


From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection, purchased from Freeman & Sear, May 2007.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 104
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Good VF
SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 17.07 g, 6h). Struck circa 317-310 BC. Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; three dolphins around, ΦI below neck / Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; counterclockwise triskeles above, ΣYPAKOΣIΩN and A in exergue. Ierardi 56 (O11/R34); BAR Issue 2; HGC 2, 1348; SNG ANS 642 (same obv. die); SNG Lloyd 1480 (same obv. die); Sartiges 145 (same obv. die); Pozzi 642 (same obv. die). Lightly toned, a few marks. Good VF.


From the Henry A. Sauter Collection. Ex Superior (29 January 1979), lot 18.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 105
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Near EF
SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. Æ Dilitron (30mm, 21.43 g, 11h). Struck circa 310-306 BC. Head of Artemis Soteira right, hair tied in back, wearing single-pendant earring and pearl necklace, drapery at base of neck; quiver over shoulder; ΣΩTEIPA to right / Winged thunderbolt; ΣYPAK-OΣIΩN above and below. CNS 137 (this coin illustrated); BAR Issue 19 (this coin illustrated); HGC 2, 1437 (this coin illustrated); SNG Morcom –; Basel 519 (this coin). Beautiful dark forest green patina, slight roughness, minor die break on reverse. Near EF. Extremely rare, apparently one of two known.


From the John Morcom Collection. Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 64 (17 May 2012), lot 745; Numismatica Ars Classica 21 (17 May 2001), lot 128; A. D. Moretti Collection (Numismatica Ars Classica 13, 8 October 1998), lot 519; Münzen und Medaillen AG 64 (30 January 1984), lot 50.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 106
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Good VF
SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. EL 50 Litrai – Hemistater (13.5mm, 3.66 g, 1h). Struck circa 306/5 BC. Head of Apollo left, wearing laurel wreath; behind neck, small Corinthian helmet left / Tripod; ΣYPAK-OΣIΩN around. Jenkins, Electrum, Group B, obv. die O14; BAR Issue 10; HGC 2, 1294; SNG ANS 629 (same obv. die); SNG München 1202 (same obv. die). Lightly toned, trace deposits, a few light scratches, scrape on reverse. Good VF.


From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection, purchased in 1968.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 107
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: EF
SICILY, Syracuse. Agathokles. 317-289 BC. AV 100 Litrai – Double Dekadrachm (16.5mm, 5.64 g, 6h). Struck circa 304-289 BC. Head of Athena right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet decorated with a griffin, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace / Winged thunderbolt; AΓAΘOKΛEOΣ above, BAΣIΛEOΣ and Φ in two lines below. Bérend, l'or – (D5/R2 [unlisted die combination]); BAR Issue 29; HGC 2, 1535; SNG ANS 702–3 (same rev. die) and 704 (same obv. die); SNG Copenhagen 778 (same obv. die); Gulbenkian 339 (same obv. die). Underlying luster, a few hairlines on obverse, a little die wear on reverse. EF.


From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection, purchased from Dr. Arnold Saslow, May 1987.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 108
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Good VF
SICILY, Syracuse. Hiketas II. 287-278 BC. AV Hemistater – Drachm (16mm, 4.24 g, 3h). Struck circa 279/8 BC. Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of grain ears, single-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ to left, cornucopia to right / Nike, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast biga right; fibula above, Θ below, EΠI IKETA in exergue. Buttrey, Morgantina 35 (dies 4/G); BAR Issue 41; HGC 2, 1277; SNG ANS 777 (same dies); SNG Copenhagen 798 (same dies); Hunterian 184 (same dies); Prospero 192 (this coin). Light die wear on obverse, minor double strike on reverse. Good VF.


From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection. Ex Prospero Collection (New York Sale XXVII, 4 January 2012), lot 192; Foreign Amateur Collection (Glendining, 13 December 1963), lot 181.

Little is known of Hiketas beyond his coinage, but Buttrey pieces together a history based on the numismatic evidence. Following his defeat of Phintias, tyrant of Akragas, Hiketas set out against the Carthaginians. This campaign ended in disaster at the Terias river, northwest of Syracuse. Buttrey, based on his die analysis, concludes that this gold issue was struck very hurriedly towards the end of the reign of Hiketas, and theorizes that this series was issued to pay for his Carthaginian campaign.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 109
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: fine
SICILY, Syracuse. Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AV Drachm – Hemistater (16.5mm, 4.27 g, 1h). Struck 269-263 or 217-215 BC. Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of grain ears and necklace; cornucopia to right / Nike, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in right hand, reins in left, driving fast biga left; A below, IEPΩNOΣ in exergue. Carroccio 22 (D22/R28); BAR Issue 55; HGC 2, 1539; SNG Fitzwilliam 1388 (same dies); BMC 517 (same obv. die). Lustrous, tiny deposit on obverse, minor doubling on reverse. Superb EF. Struck from fresh dies. Among the finest known.


From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection, purchased from Frank Kovacs, December 2003.

Hieron II started life as the illegitimate son of a noble father, allegedly a distant descendant of the Syracusan tyrant Gelon I. Later legends claim Hieron was exposed as an infant, but swarms of bees fed him honey until his father, warned by an astrologer, came and rescued the boy. As a young man, he served as a mercenary soldier in the army of Pyrrhos of Epeiros. When his commander elected to abort his Sicilian expedition in 275 BC, Hieron stayed behind and convinced a cabal of fellow soldiers to choose him as leader and seize power in Syracuse. He went on to rule the city and much of Sicily, first as a military tyrant, later as an enlightened and successful king, for nearly 50 years. He is most famous as the king who patronized the brilliant polymath Archimedes in his “eureka!” discovery, the principle of displacement. Hieron’s coinage is widely varied, interesting, and in many ways inspired by that of his Hellenistic ally, the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 110
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Near EF
SICILY, Syracuse. Philistis, wife of Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AR 16 Litrai – Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 13.37 g, 11h). Struck circa 217-215 BC. Diademed and veiled head left; torch to right / BAΣIΛIΣΣAΣ ΦIΛIΣTIΔOΣ, Nike, wearing long chiton, holding reins in both hands, driving fast quadriga left; E to lower left. CCO 42 (D11/R25); BAR Issue 65; HGC 2, 1553; BMC 552 (same dies); McClean 2916 (same dies); Pozzi 658 (same dies). Beautiful old cabinet tone, hairline flan cracks, minor deposits and faint cleaning marks on obverse. Near EF. Rare with quadriga left.


From the Columbus Collection. Ex New York Sale XI (11 January 2006), lot 97.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 111
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Near EF
SICILY, Syracuse. Philistis, wife of Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AR 16 Litrai – Tetradrachm (26mm, 13.40 g, 6h). Struck circa 217-215 BC. Diademed and veiled head left; spearhead to right / BAΣIΛIΣΣAΣ ΦIΛIΣTIΔOΣ, Nike, wearing long chiton, holding reins in both hands, driving slow quadriga right; MI above. CCO 181 (D19/R31); BAR Issue 65; HGC 2, 1556; Ars Classica XVII, lot 294 (same dies). Deep iridescent tone, minor scratches, flan flaw on obverse, deposits on reverse. Near EF.


From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection, purchased, 1987.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 112
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Good VF
SICILY, Syracuse. Gelon, son of Hieron II. 275-215 BC. AR 8 Litrai – Didrachm (20mm, 6.66 g, 12h). Struck circa 217-215 BC. Diademed head left / ΣYPAKOΣ[IOI] [Γ]EΛΩNOΣ, Nike, wearing long chiton, holding reins in both hands, driving slow biga right; BA above, A to right. CCO 279.4 (D5/R7 – this coin); BAR Issue 66; HGC 2, 1562; Boston MFA 481 (same dies); Hermitage Sale II 400 (same dies); Weber 1703 (same dies). Toned, some find patina, minor deposits. Good VF. Fine style.


Ex Lanz 24 (25 April 1983), lot 183.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 113
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: EF
SICILY, Syracuse. Hieronymos. 215-214 BC. AR 10 Litrai (24mm, 8.44 g, 10h). Diademed head left; retrograde K to right / BAΣIΛEΩΣ IEPΩNYMOY, winged thunderbolt; KI above. Holloway 41 (O21/R33); BAR Issue 79; HGC 2, 1567; SNG ANS 1029–30 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1565 (same dies); Dewing 962 (same dies). Iridescent tone, traces of find patina, hairline flan crack, edge marks, minor double strike on obverse. EF.


From the 1930’s Collection of Robert W. Hubel of Michigan.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 114
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: EF
SICILY, Syracuse. Hieronymos. 215-214 BC. AV Quarter Stater – Hemidrachm (13mm, 2.12 g, 10h). Head of Persephone left, wearing wreath of grain ears and single-pendant earring / BAΣIΛEΩΣ IEPΩNYMOY, Winged thunderbolt; ΞA above. Holloway 53 (O25/R42); BAR Issue 77; HGC 2, 1565 (this coin illustrated). Lustrous. Superb EF. Extremely rare, only one other in CoinArchives.


From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection. Ex James A. Ferrendelli Collection (Triton VII, 13 January 2004), lot 118; George & Robert Stevenson Collection (Classical Numismatic Group XXVI, 11 June 1993), lot 41.

Belonging to Hieronymos' second issue of gold, this specimen was probably a presentation piece distributed at the beginning of Hieronymos' move to expel the Romans from their garrisons in Syracuse. With possibly only six specimens of hemidrachms known for his gold coinage, such a small number of surviving examples would seem to indicate either a limited mintage or a subsequent recoinage by later authorities. Due to the extreme rarity of gold from the Fifth (or Syracusan) Democracy with only one undisputed gold hemistater, a limited mintage seems more likely. Hieronymos retained Persephone on the obverse but replaced the biga on the reverse with a winged thunderbolt, perhaps alluding to his Pyrrhic ancestry.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 115
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: EF
SICILY, Syracuse. Fifth Democracy. 214-212 BC. AR 8 Litrai (22mm, 6.77 g, 9h). Head of Athena left, wearing crested Corinthian helmet, single-pendant earring, necklace, and aegis / Winged thunderbolt; ΣYPAKOΣIΩN above, ΞA below. Burnett, Enna 25 (dies 9/C); BAR Issue 88; HGC 2, 1414; SNG ANS 1045 (same dies); SNG Ashmolean 2122 (same dies); SNG Lloyd 1563 (same dies); BMC 654 (same dies); Jameson 893 (same dies). Faintly toned. Superb EF.


From the Gerald F. Borrmann (Northern California Gentleman) Collection.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 116
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Near EF
SICULO-PUNIC, “Ṣyṣ”. Circa 370-360 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23mm, 17.13 g, 11h). Likely Panormos mint. Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand, reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath she holds with both hands; sign of Tanit in central field, in exergue, swan flying left / Head of Arethousa right, hair in band, wearing single-pendant earring and linear necklace; four dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 39 (O10’/R33); HGC 2, 1014 corr. (some are anepigraphic); Jameson 1070 (same dies); Weber 1486 (same dies). Iridescent tone, compact flan, a couple of light scratches on reverse. Near EF.


Ex Vilmar Numismatics FPL II (Winter 2021), no. 14; Father & Son Collection (Classical Numismatic Group 118, 13 September 2021), lot 69; Classical Numismatic Review XLVI.1 (Winter 2021), no. 564480; Morton & Eden 108 (22 October 2020), lot 126; Aes Rude [1] (4 November 1977), lot 62.

Founded by the Phoenicians in the eighth century BC, Panormos was established along the northern coast of Sicily as a trading post with the indigenous Sicani of the region. The people of Panormos, although active traders like the other Phoenician settlers in Sicily, felt little need for striking their own coinage; instead, they relied upon the regional Greek coinages for their transactions. By the late fifth century, however, as Carthage and its Punic allies were expanding control of the western Mediterranean, it became necessary to begin striking coins in order the pay the mercenaries used to assert Punic power. As a result, cities like Panormos began striking coins which could be integrated into the existing monetary system, and which derived their types for the most part from the Greek city-states in Sicily. This coin copies Syracusan coins of the late Eukleidas style with a Punic twist added to the design.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 117
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: VF
SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 350-310 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.76 g, 12h). Probably Lilybaion mint. Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; [RŠMLQRT (“Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue] / Head of female right, wearing single-pendant earring; barley grain behind neck, two dolphins to right. Jenkins, Punic 3 (O2/R2’ – this coin referenced and illustrated); CNP 295a; HGC 2, 743; SNG Lockett 740 var. (same dies, but before barley grain added to rev. die). Old collection tone, minor marks. VF. Extremely rare; the only published example from these dies after barley grain added.


Ex Counseils Placement 1994, purchased from Bank Leu, 1965 (per Jenkins).

Lilybaion, modern day Marsala, was a Punic city in Sicily founded in the fourth century BC. The destruction of the chief Punic stronghold Motya in 397 BC by the Syracusan tyrant Dionysios I left the denizens of Motya without a home and Carthage without a primary military base on the island. In order to remedy both of these issues, the city of Lilybaion was founded by the survivors from Motya. The new port town would become a thriving trade hub and the most important military base in Sicily. The strong new walls that were built to defend the city were able to fend off both Pyrrhos of Epiros and the Romans. It was the last bastion of Punic rule in Sicily during Pyrrhos’ conquest of the island, beating back his attempts to take the city before his campaign unraveled entirely. The Romans placed the city under a nine year siege with numerous assaults during the First Punic War, but they were never able to capture the city and only gained control of it after Carthage’s surrender at the end of the war.

The issue of tetradrachms that are purportedly from Lilybaion were all struck in the later half of the fourth century BC. While many show strong affinity for Syracusan styles from the same period, Jenkins notes that this series relies heavily on prototypes from the Entella series.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 118
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Near EF
SICULO-PUNIC, “Cape of Melkart”. Circa 330-305 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 16.65 g, 3h). Probably Lilybaion mint. Charioteer, wearing long chiton, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga left; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath held in extended hands; RŠMLQRT (“Raš Melqart” in Punic) in exergue / Head of female right, wearing wreath of grain ears, ttriple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; three dolphins swimming around. Jenkins, Punic 69 (O24/R52); CNP 344; HGC 2, 743; BMC 4 (same dies); Hirsch 821 (same dies); de Luynes 925 (same dies). Lightly toned, edge split, some die wear. Near EF.


Ex Classical Numismatic Group 117 (19 May 2021), lot 41.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 119
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Good VF
SICULO-PUNIC, “The Camp”. Circa 345/38-320/15 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25.5mm, 16.82 g, 11h). Possibly Entella mint. Head of Arethousa right, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; thymiaterion to right / Horse stepping left; above, Nike, wearing long chiton, flying right, crowning horse with wreath held in extended hands; palm tree in background, kerykeion to left, Ḥ (in Phoenician) below raised foreleg; B (in Phoenician) below. Jenkins, Punic, Series 2c, 99 (O33/R90); CNP 210; HGC 2, 284; SNG Lockett 1042 (same dies); Bement 586–7 (same dies). Toned, die wear and small nick at edge on obverse, scuff on reverse. Good VF.


Ex Gorny & Mosch 284 (7 March 2022), lot 162.
Classical Numismatic Group, LLC - Triton XXVIII – Sessions 1-4 . 120
2025-01-14 (3 weeks from now)
Grade: Good VF
SICULO-PUNIC, “The Camp”. Circa 320/15-300 BC. AR Tetradrachm (23.5mm, 16.94 g, 6h). Possibly Entella mint. Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; four dolphins around / Head of horse left; palm tree to right, MM (“People of the Camp” in abbreviated form, in Punic) below. Jenkins, Punic, Series 3b, 216 (O65/R188); CNP 267; HGC 2, 284; J. Hirsch XIX, lots 645–6 (same dies). Lightly toned, slightly compact flan. Good VF.


From the Henry A. Sauter Collection.