Numismata hellenica: a catalogue of Greek coins; with notes, a map ...

Size
1
6
10-
6
6
6i
3-
3-
2
2
2
2
1
^1
6+
10
Weight
17-7
267-5
680
265-8
265-5
259
268-3
265-3
132
64-3
64-3
12-4
10
9-6
10-2
268-6
260-2
661
Another similar.
SICILY AND ADJACENT ISLANDS. 71
Chariot, drawn by three horses, charioteer holding in each hand three reins ; horses,
stepping or walking to r. ; above, . YRA. R. Quad, incus, divided into four,
with circular incuse in centre ; in which, female head to I., of archaic style,
with long plaited hair.
Female head to n, of later archaic style, laureate, with necklace and earring ;
hair, wavy over forehead; behind, tied up, and hanging over neck (Cora, or Pro-
serpine), all in linear circle, surrounded by SVRAKOSION ; around the legend,
four dolphins. R. Triga to r., horses
walking, and crowned by Victory, flying
to r, ; in exergue, lion, with open mouth, running to r.— This and the one preceding
are Electrotypes from the B. M.
Note.—This raedallion is one of the coins Isnown to the Greeks by the name of Damaretia, from
their having been coined from the proceeds of a present given to Damareta, wife of Gelon, by the
Carthaginians, on occasion of their peace with Gelon, after his victory over them at Himera, in
the year B.C. 480. The Carthaginians were so well satisfied with that treaty, that besides the
money wliich they agreed to pay to Gelon, they made a voluntary present of 100 talents of gold to
his wife Damareta. As Gelon died in 478, we have the exact date of this coin, which is peculiarly
valuable therefore, as sliowing the style of art and form of letters at Syracuse in the year 479.
We here perceive that the horses, as on the early coins of Messana, Catana, and Gela, are stepping
gently forward. Art had probably not yet attained that wonderful perfection, required for representing
the extreme animation of the horses, as expressed on many Sicilian coins of later date. On
the most ancient, the car is generally drawn by two mules or horses ; on this coin, of the time of
Gelon, it is evidently a triga. A comparison of the early coins of Syracuse, with those of other
Sicilian cities, which record victories in the chariot-race, leads to the belief, that in Sicily the three-
horse chariot, if not peculiar to Syracuse, was at least more common there than in any other city.
On coins of the time of Dionysius, on the contrary, we find none but quadrigse, and horses in
full action.
Similar head of Cora to r., but with diadem of beads (pearls ?) ; same legend, but
from r. io I. B. Same type ; exergue plain.
Another similar ; but legend from I. to r.
Same ; types legend less dispersed ; the A thus V. B. Same type ; Victory, with
both wings expanded.
Same types ; SVRAKO^ION, in single
wings as usual.
curved line.
Same types, legend dispersed. B. Same type ; in exergue, serpentine sea-monster
to r.
Head of Proserpine as before, surrounded by three dolphins, and the same legend
dispersed. ^.. Bearded naked horseman, with a rein in each hand; horse,
stepping
to r.
Same type ; same legend, in continued curve ; no dolphins. B. Same type.
Another.
SVPA. Same type. B. Sepia, or polypus.
Seven others ; average weight 10-7 grains.
Same type. B. Wheel of four spokes.
Another similar.
Same type. B. Same type ; in the four intervals of the spokes, SVRA.— Electrotype
from
the B. M.
B- Same type ; Victory, with
Female head to r. ; neck bare ; hair bound four times round with cord ; around,
SVPAKO^ . O .
; in field to r., two dolphins. B. Biga to r. ; Victory, flying
to r., crowning the horses.
Same type ; around, SYPAKO . . ON ; in field to r., three dolphins. B. Same type ;
but Victory flying
to I., crowning charioteer.
Head of Cora to I. ; in the hair, leaves of corn ; head surrounded by four
dolphins, of
which the two to I. almost off" the coin ;
[E]Y[A]INE (Evajnetus,
above, ;
[CYPjAKO^IiiN below,
_
artist's name). B. Quadriga to /. ; horses, in veiy