Sicilië, Syracuse, Dionysius ! (405-367 voor Chr.) bronzen drachme

Sicilië, Syracuse, Dionysius ! (405-367 voor Chr.) bronzen drachme. Vz: Linksgewend hoofd van Athena met Corintische helm Kz: Zeester tussen twee dolfijnen. (Verkocht)

Sicily, Syracuse*. Dionysios I. 405-367 B.C. AE drachm, (28/30 mm, 31.49 g, 1 h). Ca. 380 B.C. Head of Athena left, wearing laureate Corinthian helmet / Sea-star between two dolphins. CNS II pp. 111ff, 62; SNG ANS 454-69. F, dark patina. (sold)

*Syracuse was one of the first Greek cities of the west to experiment with coins struck in bronze, to create "small change" suitable for everyday commerce. The value of the bronze issues and their relation to silver and gold denominations is as yet poorly understood. This large bronze piece is believed to represent the same value as a silver drachm, a coin weighing just over 4 grams, which would suggest a roughly 9/1 ratio of relative value for bronze to silver at this early stage.