Sicily. Syracuse. Deinomenid Tyranny, circa 485-466 BC. 'Barbarische' Hemiobol (Silver, 9.54 mm, 0.25 g). Diademed head of Arethusa right; border of dots. Rev. Wheel of four spokes. Boehringer pl. 29, B 42 = Jameson 751 (this coin illustrated). SNG Ashmolean 1942 (same dies). C. Boehringer, "Die Barbarisierten Münzen von Akragas, Gela, Leontinoi und Syrakus im 5. Jahrhundert V. Chr.," AIIN Suppl. 20 (1975), p. 186, 9 and pl. XXIII, 9 (same dies). Cf. SNG ANS 116 (obol, prototype). Cf. HGC 2, 1371 (obol, prototype). Hemiobol of a very crude style, but beautifully patineted with hints of blue iridescence. Extremely Fine. Rare variety.
Ex Sternberg XXXI, 28 October 1996, lot 736. From the Jameson Collection and A.J.E. Collection.
These barbarous-unofficial coins allude to those from the archaic period, but may well have been produced later.