Ancients: SICILY. Syracuse. Timoleon, Third Democracy (ca. 344-317 BC). AV 30-litrai or hemidrachm (12mm, 2.16 gm, 3h). NGC AU★ 5/...

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Sole Star 30-Litrai

SICILY. Syracuse. Timoleon, Third Democracy (ca. 344-317 BC). AV 30-litrai or hemidrachm (12mm, 2.16 gm, 3h). NGC AU★ 5/5 - 4/5, Fine Style. Ca. 344-335 BC. ZEYΣ EΛEY-ΘEPI-OΣ, laureate head of Zeus left / ΣYP-A-KOΣIΩN, Pegasus flying left; AP monogram to left, three pellets in a pyramidal arrangement below. HGC 2, 1284. SNG ANS 493. Very rare and the only Syracusan 30-litrai to have been awarded the star designation. The highly detailed portrait and elegant Pegasus both come to life on the bright and lustrous fields. A magnificent and nearly unimprovable specimen.

From the Wetmore Collection of Gold and Electrum. Ex Tkalec, October Auction (24 October 2003), lot 41; Numismatica Ars Classica, Auction 10 (9 April 1997), lot 158.

Timoleon, a Corinthian statesman and general, holds a distinguished place in the history of Syracuse for his instrumental role in reshaping the city's political landscape in the late 4th century BC. Against a backdrop of political instability and foreign threats, Syracuse sought aid from Corinth, its mother-city, to restore order and democracy. Timoleon was dispatched in this critical mission. His tenure in Syracuse was marked by transformative military victories, notably the decisive win over the Carthaginians at the Battle of Crimissus in 341 BC, which significantly re-established Syracuse's influence in Sicily. Timoleon was also recognized for his contribution to revitalizing Syracuse's civic life. Implementing effective democratic reforms, he aimed to limit the power of oligarchy and worked towards the city's economic resurgence. His pro-people governance enabled the city to flourish during his rule and subsequently, his legacy was honored in Syracuse even centuries later, with a monument erected in his honor in the city's theatre.

Zeus Eleutherius, whose name translates to 'Zeus the Liberator,' was an important deity in the Syracuse religious landscape. This deity was revered for symbolizing liberty and freedom, principles that were deeply ingrained in the civic identity of Syracuse, particularly in its democratic periods. Zeus Eleutherius was often represented on Syracusan coinage, demonstrating how the city state used currency both as a medium of exchange and a tool of propagandistic expression. Struck in high relief, these coins presented a detailed and dignified portrait of the deity, showcasing the city's wealth and the refined artistry of Syracusan engravers.

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