Ancients: SICILY. Syracuse. Agathocles (317-289 BC), as Tyrant. AV decadrachm or 50-litrai (16mm, 4.29 gm, 5h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5,...

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"King of Sicily"

SICILY. Syracuse. Agathocles (317-289 BC), as Tyrant. AV decadrachm or 50-litrai (16mm, 4.29 gm, 5h). NGC Choice MS 5/5 - 5/5, Fine Style. Ca. 317-310 BC. Laureate head of Apollo left; Σ (retrograde) below / ΣYP-A-KO-ΣIΩN, charioteer driving rearing biga right, kentron in right hand, reins in left, triskeles counterclockwise below. SNG ANS 550. SNG Copenhagen 745 (same dies). A stunningly attractive specimen of this highly artistic issue, and tied for finest certified. The fiery red-orange toning magnifies the appeal of what was already a remarkably detailed and arresting masterpiece.

From the Wetmore Collection of Gold and Electrum. Ex Triton VIII (11 January 2005), lot 90.

This beautiful gold decadrachm falls into the first series of coins struck under Agathocles, who ruled Syracuse as a military strongman or "tyrant" and later styled himself "King of Sicily." In many ways he was a western counterpart to the Hellenistic rulers who carved up Alexander the Great's vast empire to the east. The son of a simple potter, he joined the army and rose through the ranks to become a strategos, or general. Ambitious, audacious and unscrupulous, he was banished for attempting to overthrow the democratic government of Syracuse, but returned in 317 BC leading an army of mercenaries, seized the city, and banished or murdered all of his opponents. War with Carthage followed; with Syracuse under siege, he staged a daring attack on the African hinterlands of Carthage that turned the tide of war in his favor. Though ultimately defeated in Africa, Agathocles returned to Sicily strengthened and was able to conclude a treaty with Carthage on favorable terms.

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