SICILY. Syracuse. Second Democracy (466-406 BC). Tetradrachm.

Obv: Charioteer driving quadriga right; above, crowning Nike flying right; ketos to right in exergue.
Rev: ΣVRAKOΣION.
Diademed head of Arethusa right; four dolphins around.

Boehringer Series 499 (V263/R356); SNG ANS 158; HGC 2, 1312.

Attractive representation of Ketos, rarely visible almost entirely on the obverse exergue. This is the monster sent by Posidon to punish the pride of Cassiopeia, killed by Perseus and assumed in the Cetus (whale) constellation. When Cassiopeia, wife of the Ethiopian king Cepheus, said in public that she and her daughter Andromeda could claim a beauty superior to their own, they were outraged and asked Poseidon, their lord and protector, to teach their vanity a lesson. The god produced a tsunami that swept over the country and sent the monster Cetus against them. Cepheus asked the oracle of Ammon how to placate the divine wrath and was told that the beautiful Andromeda should be displayed chained on a cliff as a sacrifice to the monster. Perseus, who was flying over those areas, was made aware of the facts and agreed with Cassiopeia to deliver him from the monster in exchange for Andromeda, who was to become his bride. The hero thus beheaded the monster and freed the maiden.

Condition: Very fine.

Weight: 17.09 g.
Diameter: 26 mm.