SICILY, SYRACUSE
Time of Dionysios I, 405-367 BC
AE Hemilitron (18.22mm, 2.95g, 6h)
Struck 405-400 BC
Obverse: Head of Arethusa left, with hair in sphendone; branch behind neck
Reverse: ΣΥΡΑ, dolphin swimming left, cockle shell below
References: Favorito 15
Dark green patina. Well preserved with good reverse details. Dionysius I (b. 432, d. 367 B.C.) was a Greek tyrant of Syracuse from 405 - 367 B.C. Beginning his career as a clerk in public office, he soon rose to prominence through his military achievements and was elected supreme military commander in 406 B.C. In the following year he seized total power and became tyrant. His reign was marked by ruthlessness and caprice; he was regarded by the ancients as an example of the worst kind of despot—cruel, suspicious and vindictive.
Even so, Dionysius was one of the major figures in Greek history. He was a champion of the struggle between the Greeks and Carthage for Sicily and was the first to bring the war into the enemy's territory. He transformed Syracuse into the most powerful city in the Greek world and made it the seat of an empire stretching from Sicily across to Italy.
Collection : Sold Coins