SICILY. Syracuse. Dionysios I, 405-367 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 24 mm, 17.41 g, 10 h), unsigned but by Parmenides, c. 395. Charioteer, holding reins and kentron, driving a quadriga rushing to left, about to turn; above, Nike flying right to crown the driver; below the hooves of the horse in the foreground, chariot wheel; in exergue, barley ear. Rev. Σ-Υ-ΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Head of Arethusa to left, wearing ampyx and sphendone decorated with stars, triple-pendant earring and simple necklace; around, three dolphins swimming in different directions, with a fourth emerging from under the neck truncation. Jameson 837 (same dies). Tudeer (Fischer-Bossert) 72a (this coin). Very rare. A beautiful and well-struck coin, probably the finest known. Extremely fine.

Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 59, 4 April 2011, 533, from the collection of L. von Hoffmann, I, Sotheby 5 July 1995, 26, ex Bank Leu 36, 7 May 1985, 67 and Monnaies et Médailles 32, 20 October 1966, 58.Sir Arthur Evans believed he could read the signature ΠΑΡ in tiny letters on Arethusa's neck: since then no one else has been able to see it. The likelihood is that he was misled by traces of corrosion or die breaks on the coin he examined. This splendid piece shows no signs of any tiny letters.