Unexpected horse detail

Very very nice @AncientJoe !

My little ole guy


Syracuse Tyrant Gelon 478-458 BCE AR Tet 24mm 16.7g Slow Biga Victory Artemis-Arethusa 4 dolphins Sear-Greek 914

 

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The amazing thing to me about this one is how well the eyelashes survived wear.

 

Found my new desktop background pic.

 

Wow, a truly beautiful example. The portrait is the important part of the coin, a few missing dolphins don't bother me at all.

Great acquisition, you never know what you will find sometimes.

John

 

Wow. Just wow. Purely a work of art

 

That's an absolutely beautiful coin. The detail is amazing. I'm drawn the the horses faces. Wow.

 

I have always loved the sakos type Syracusian tetradrachms but have never been able to purchase one as they are very often in less than ideal condition. Ancient Joe yours is superb. I cannot remember seeing one even remotely as nice.

 

The problem with you @AncientJoe, is everytime I see a coin of yours, I think "there can't be a better one coin than that".

But, yes it can....every next time
This is pure beauty

Q

 

That coin is a jewel, and ditto what everyone else said.

 

@AncientJoe : congrats that's a coin to keep for ever!

Here's mine from similar dies, nothing exceptional of course

 

What are you talking about? That reverse is exceptional! Gorgeous

 

I agree with @TIF, this is an exceptional piece. I've had a meander pattern reverse on my wantlist for ages - yours is a wonderful example. I prefer it over a few of the recent coins which have sold for 5x as much.

 

Exceptional piece, like it is fresh from the mint, congratulations for getting this beauty. Also, many other great Syracuse tetradrachms on here! I still need to get one, but they are quite pricey unfortunatly.

 

One word to describe your coin.....MAGNIFICENT!!! absolute beauty
John

 

@TIF @AncientJoe : thanks! it is however struck on a short flan and the nymph is distorted by flan faults. I mainly liked the expression of the face of the horse which you could notice with a bit of an effort in my coin... Here's a similar sculpture

 

Reference.
RPC III, 3805/6; Prieur 1109; Adra 1562-5; Paris 1157

Issue Year 170 (OP)

Obv. ΑΥΤΟΚΡ ΚΑΙСΑΡ ΤΡΑΙΑΝΟС ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟС СΕΒΑСΤ
Laureate and cuirassed bust of Hadrian right, with gorgoneion on breastplate

Rev. ΙΟΥΛΙΕωΝ ΤωΝ ΚΑΙ ΛΑΟΔΙΚΕωΝ
Turreted and draped bust of Tyche, right; in field, right, ΟΡ, soldiers arming the battlements/towers on Tyche's head

13 gr
25 mm
12h

Note.
From the Michel Prieur Collection. Ex Robert O. Ebert Collection

 

Eric, Nice score ! Your example is far superior to the coin illustrated in Prieur's book that was struck on an undersized flan & most of the inscriptions missing. I noticed CNG graded the coin "Good VF" ? It looks more like a choice XF....

 

Oki... that is a spectacular coin-- absolutely heartbreakingly awesome! That may be my favorite portrait of Hadrian I've ever seen and it's definitely the most detailed and interesting depiction of Tyche I've ever seen! Congratulations

 

That is a CNG norm, they grade very strict. Their supberb EF will usually if slabbed go for MS-65/66 or in ancients GEM MS 5/5 5/5
We have a TPG company up here in Canada named CCCS/ their grading is about on par with CNG/ Kunker/ Elsen/ DNW etc.