Featured Hieron II (Hiero) of Syracuse

Hieron II (Hiero) born 308 BC, and ruled Syracuse, Greek Sicily, from 275 BC until he died in 215 BC. The fact that he lived over 90 years and ruled for 60 is even more incredible knowing he was born an illegitimate child to a Syracusan nobleman.


Hiero served under Pyrrhus, who was considered one of the greatest of the ancient generals. When Pyrrhus left Sicily in 275 BC, Hiero was appointed commander-in-chief.


Hiero was more keen in ruling Sicily than his predecessors. He married the daughter of one the the leading citizens in Syracuse (the capital of Sicily), ruled according to their laws, acknowledged the will of the assemblies, and never purged his opponents. He also signed and honored a treaty with Rome that led to peace and prosperity.


Hiero was known for his close relationship with Archimedes, whom he commissioned to build innovative war machines (like the Claw of Archimedes). Hiero once charged Archimedes to determine if the gold he provided to the goldsmith to commission a crown for a temple had been used as they claimed. It’s said that Archimedes was taking a bath when he realized he could use displacement to measure the gold amount of the irregularly shaped crown. This led to him running through the town naked shouting “eureka, eureka!”


Just a couple of years after Hiero died, the treaty with Rome dissolved, his successor was assassinated, Rome sacked Syracuse, and Archimedes was killed by a Roman soldier. Sicily never regained its glory as a 500-year long independent Greek city-state, and became a minor Roman provincial town.


Hiero’s legacy as a tyrant of Syracuse is quite positive. His long reign improved Syracuse’s infrastructure, maintained a strong navy, and fostered cultural enrichment. 1700 years later, Hiero was cited by Machiavelli as a great example of a new prince who successfully navigated the complexities of rule, consolidating power, and having a long rule.


The coins struck under Hiero’s rule often depicted Poseidon. This was to showcase the city’s deep connection to the sea and their dependence upon it for prosperity. Many sought Poseidon’s favor to protect their sailors and ships.



SICILY, SYRACUSE

Hieron II, c.275-215 BC

AE

Poseidon/trident+dolphins

The Poseidon Collection


Obverse: Poseidon facing left

Reverse: trident with dolphins

 

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Nice! Do you know the reference number for the coin? Also, do you know what the Greek inscription on the reverse has/stands for?

 

Here is about all I know:

SICILY, SYRACUSE, HIERON II
AE19
OBVERSE: Head of Poseidon left
REVERSE: IEP-ONOS, ornamented trident of Poseidon
Struck at Syracuse, Sicily 275-216 BC
6.5g; 19mm
SG 1223

 

I spent a decent time on Wildwinds. Mine doesn’t have the owl behind the head. I had a hard time distinguishing AE18 C 530 and AE19, Calciati 197. I’ve decided that the only clear difference is the “border of dots” description for the BMC 530. My only issue now is my slab doesn’t match my conclusion… thoughts?

SICILY, SYRACUSE, HIERON II

AE18, 274-216 BC

Obverse: Diademed head of Poseidon left

Reverse: IEΡΩ-NOΣ, trident head, with scrolls decoration between prongs; lotiform shaft, flanked by dolphins. IEΡΩNOΣ translates to IERONOS (Hierōnos) in English, meaning belonging to Hieron.

Ref: BMC 530, SNG Cop 850

Bronze


Syracuse, Sicily, Hieron II - Ancient Greek Coins - WildWinds.com

 

SICILY Syracuse Hieron II 274-216 BC Æ26 15.9g diademed Left - ΙΕΡΟΝΩΣ Hrsemn gallping r hldng spear HGC 2 1548 CNS II 193

 

Sicily Syracuse Hieron II 275-269 BC AE 22 Persephone Bull LEFT


Sicily Syracuse Hieron II 275-269 BC AE 15 Persephone Bull RIGHT Rare



Sicily Syracuse Hieron II compare Butting Bulls Right and Left Rev

 

This is a repost, but shows where a lot of Hieron II money had gone:

My overstrikes were intentional, as the Victors in these wars repurposed the money:

Here is one, that was sold to me as JANUS...

(I knew that it was not a Janus As... but had to learn what it was all about.)


RR Anon AE Sextans-Hieron II Overstrike 214-212 BCE S1211 Cr69-6

This was sold as a Roman Republic Janus Head... none were ever this small. It turns out to be an overstrike of a Roman Sextans over a Syracuse Hieron II.

A) Sicily, Syracuse, Hieron II, 275-215 BCE AE head of Poseidon left, rev. IEP-ÙNOÓ, trident flanked by dolphins, Ó[?] below (SNG Morcom 828 var.), dark green patina.
Obv. Diademed head of Poseidon left.
Rev. IEPΩNOΣ, Ornamented trident head flanked by two dolphins; below, N.

OVERSTRUCK by:

B) Anonymous AE-Sextans, Sicily, 211-208 BC.
Head of Mercury right wearing winged petasos; • • above. Rev. Prow of galley right; grain ear above, IC before, ROMA below.
Crawford 69/6b; Sydenham 310d; BMCRR 280.

19mm / 5.3g



Sicily Syracuse Hieron II 275-215 BCE AE20 Poseidon Trident Dolphin Left


Then Rome conquered them, and overstruck their AE's to make Sextans:


RR Anon AE Sextans 211-206 BCE Prob Sicily-Katana mintage Cr 69-6a Sear 1211


But some of the overstrikes were not "too perfect". The Dealer tried to tell me this was a Janiform! It was a cool deal for me... He did not know

 

I love the comparison with those two butting heads!

Also, thanks for sharing the overstrikes, very cool! I’d love to own one someday.

 

Thank you. The two bulls were fun to find.

overstrikes can be interesting. Sometimes, there is some interesting history behind them.