Ancients: SICILY. Syracuse. Hieron II, as King (274-215 BC). AV hemistater or decadrachm (?) (15mm, 4.26 gm, 5h). NGC MS 4/5 - 4/5....

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SICILY. Syracuse. Hieron II, as King (274-215 BC). AV hemistater or decadrachm (?) (15mm, 4.26 gm, 5h). NGC MS 4/5 - 4/5. Ca. 217-215 BC. Head of Persephone left, wreathed with grain ears; wreath behind / IEPΩNOS, Charioteer driving fast biga left, reins in left hand, kentron in right; E below. HGC 2, 1541 (Attic standard, hemistater or drachm). BMC 515. Well-centered and sharply struck from fresh dies.

Ex Heritage Auctions, Auction 3040 CICF (9 April 2015), lot 29024

Hieron II was a military adventurer who fell in with the army of Pyrrhus during his great Western expedition of 280 BC. When Pyrrhus pulled out of Syracuse in 275 BC, Hieron remained behind as commander of the garrison. He cannily married Philistis, daughter of a prominent Syracusan noble, and a major victory against the Mamertines in 270 BC convinced the grateful populace to name him King. He reigned for the next 55 years with strength, intelligence, and justice. His gold coinage follows Syracusan tradition, with the wreathed head of Persephone on this lovely piece recalling the coinage of his predecessor Agathocles.

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