Tetradrachm of Hieron I

A truly fantastic coin! Do you happen to have the pedigree information for it? It looks like the dies of Boehringer 436 but I don't recognize this particular example.

I find it's easiest to count the heads on these, which would indicate that both are depict a quadriga.

 

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I have mine listed as a Gelon (485-478 BC) but do not have the Boehringer number with me. It never particularly struck me that these were Archaic but the date is so I'll just call them ahead of their time.

 

James, I like your OP-coin, but I don't count 4 heads? (ummm dude, you're not allowed to count Nike and the driver)

 

Thanks! I bought it from Tom Cederlind at a coin show several years ago. Otherwise, no idea on a pedigree. It's got old collection toning so it's been out of the ground for a while and I would expect a pedigree lurks. While my catalogue library does have a ton of Greek, I wouldn't even know where to start. Perhaps I'll try to find it at the ANS next time I'm in NY.

 

Actually, I don't see many of these that show four legs per head or anything that suggests that the die cutter had any interest in the question of horse parts. The OP coin is wonderful but shows more front legs than back. Now we have to go looking for any coin of this type that shows the full count.

 

http://www.beastcoins.com/Greek/Sicily-Syracuse/Sicily-Syracuse.htm
Beast, a dealer whom I respect, says that there are two dies that show all four heads.

 

Perhaps I'm imagining things but I see all 16 legs in my coin. The hind legs are depicted side-on and are shown one in front of the other to the perspective of the side viewer. The heads are similarly visible, although it's subtle. On other coin types, I'd interpret it as a double strike but I believe it is intentional and as-designed.

When I get to a computer, I'll annotate the images to outline what I'm seeing.

 

Here's my Microsoft Paint take on it, which may or may not be correct. If this isn't correct, I certainly wouldn't blame the ancient engravers for rounding down from 16 legs when pressed for space:

 

Quite possible. What you see as more legs in perfect alignment I was seeing as muscle detail on one leg. The top heads now seem obvious.