Rhegium tetradrachm
Around the 290s BC, Agathocles of Syracuse undertook a poorly documented campaign in Bruttium, during which he successfully captured Hipponium and Croton. Given Rhegium's historical animosity toward Syracuse—stemming from the burning of Rhegium nearly two centuries prior—it is likely the city played a role in these events. The coin in question bears notable similarities to certain issues from Syracuse and Punic Sicily and features Apollo, the solar deity, along with a lion. While these symbols were long-standing emblems of the city, they align strikingly with the typological preferences of Hellenistic rulers like Agathocles.
The artistry of the coin’s dies suggests they may have been crafted by the same master engraver responsible for the finest examples of Agathocles' Kore coinage. It is also plausible that this engraver produced the exceedingly rare Ptolemaic-style gold staters attributed to the same ruler. These connections highlight the sophisticated craftsmanship and the strategic use of symbolic imagery employed under Agathocles’ rule to project power and align with the evolving aesthetic of the Hellenistic world.
Tetradrachm circa 300-280, AR 17.29 g. PHΓINOΣ Laureate head of Apollo l., long hair falling in curls over neck. Rev. Lion's head facing. SNG ANS 676. Historia Numorum Italy 2501 (these dies). SNG Lloyd 700 (these dies). AMB 229 (these dies). Herzfelder 115bis. Historia Numorum Italy 2501.
Ex NAC sale 8, 1995, 115