Sicily. Panormos (as Ziz). Siculo-Punic Coinage, circa 320-310 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 26.11 mm, 17.08 g). 'SYS' (in Punic), Charioteer driving quadriga galloping left on a broad exergue line, holding kentron and reins; above, Nike flying right, crowning him; border of dots. Rev. Wreathed female head (Tanit-Arethusa) left, wearing triple pendant earring and pearl necklace; around, six dolphins; all within shallow incuse circle. Jenkins, SNR 50 (1971), pl. 13, 62 (O17/R49”) = SNG Ashmolean 2138 (same dies). Viola CNP 324 (same dies). SNG ANS -. SNG Copenhagen -. SNG Lloyd -. Buceti 74 (this coin illustrated). HGC 2, 1021 (same reverse die). Wonderful old cabinet tone with iridescence. Near Extremely Fine. Extremely Rare, known in very few specimens.

Ex Gemini V, 6 January 2009, lot 503. From Robert O. Ebert Collection.

The wonderful head of the nimph (Tanit-Arethusa) on reverse of this issue is clearly influenced by the Syracusan engravers of the last decades of the fifth century, and its most plausible model is an imitation of the style of Euainetos.