Sicily. Panormos (as Ziz). Siculo-Punic Coinage, circa 390-330 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 25.16 mm, 16.52 g). Charioteer driving quadriga galloping left, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying right, crowning him; in exergue, ketos (not visible); border of dots. Rev. Female head of nymph (or Tanit-Arethusa) right, wearing ampyx, triple pendant earring and pearl necklace; around, four dolphins; within shallow incuse circle and thin linear border. Jenkins, SNR 50 (1971), pl. 10, 35 (O9/R30) = SNG Lockett 1031 = HGC 2, 1012 (same dies). Viola CNP 339 (same dies). SNG ANS -. SNG Lloyd -. McClean 2845 (same dies). Buceti 63 (same dies). A female portrait of an unusually fine style, struck on fresh metal. Attractively toned with iridescence. Slightly off center on obverse, otherwise, Extremely Fine. Very Rare.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 30 September 2024, lot 210; Numismatica Ars Classica 25 May 2020, lot 165; iNumis 29, 2 June 2015, lot 32.

In the Jenkins cataloging, the obverse O9 and O10 have no legend (sys) but symbols, ketos and swan respectively. The style of the reverses in this group is Late Classical Greek, but as so often it is difficult to point to any precise model. Anyway they certainly imitate the mintings of the best master engravers of Syracuse. The engraver of the dies used for the present coin was certainly a master himself, and unlike many of the rather stylised Punic issues, the naturalistic representation presented here is clearly the work of a superior artist.