Ancient Greece Syracuse Sicily Drachm, Tetradrachm, Decadrachm with Fast Quadriga (Fakes are possible) 405BC to 367BC

Ancient Greece Syracuse Sicily Drachm, Tetradrachm, Decadrachm with Fast Quadriga (Fakes are possible) 405BC to 367BC

If you have a coin like this, you must have it checked out by a knowledgeable collector, a professional coin dealer, or, better yet, an authentication service such as PCGS, NGC, ICG, or ANACS (look them up on the Internet, do not use other services). For top-notch, reliable coin dealers, see the PNG web site [Press Here].

These silver coins have an impressive rendition of a quadriga, or chariot drawn by four horses abreast, and a special portrait of Arethusa, a mythological nymph. They come in three denominations: extra large decadrachms (or dekadrachms), large tetradrachms, and small drachms:

DECADRACHM: about 42 grams, about 33 mm diameter
TETRADRACHM: about 18 grams, about 26 mm diameter
DRACHM: about 4 grams, about 15 mm diameter

The drachm was a unit of weight equal to about 4.2 grams of silver. Hence the decadrachm was ten drachms, and the tetradrachm four drachms in value.

Values are very high and are scattered quite a bit. This is why it is important to get a thorough analysis of your specific coin. The example in our picture (upper right) comes from Stack's Bowers and Ponterio where it is scheduled for auction with a starting price of $21000 US dollars. (As always, CoinQuest thanks Stack's Bowers and Ponterio for use of their coin photo.)

The best we can do is give a broad range of values for this coin, as follows:

GENUINE COINS
DECADRACHM: $20000 to $150000 US dollars
TETRADRACHM: $1000 to $20000
DRACHM: $500 to $10000

To reach high values, the coin must have good eye appeal and be free of major problems such as large scratches, stains, spots, nicks, and gouges.

Here is a technical description of the coin, taken from Heritage Auctions:

SICILY, Syracuse. Dionysios I. Silver Dekadrachm (35 mm, 42 grams). Struck 405-390 BC. With charioteer, holding kentron in extended right hand and reins in left, driving fast quadriga, Nike flying above. Below exergual line a shield, greaves, cuirass, and crested helmet, connected by a horizontal spear. Head of Arethousa left, wearing wreath of grain ears, triple-pendant earring, and pearl necklace; four dolphins swimming around.

There are many replicas of these coins that would never fool a seasoned collector, but there are also better counterfeits that require serious inspection to be revealed as such. With coins of this value, it is never a good idea to buy from a market stand on a street while on holiday in the Mediterranean -- trust only professional dealers!

Now, as one of the most beautiful coins ever, the Syracuse dekadrachm has been copied many times over, and a curious thing has happened: collectors spend money, sometimes big money, to buy the fakes. Most fakes are worth zero. But not fakes of this coin. Very roughly:

FAKE COINS
Appealing coins made before 1900: $1000
Known fakes made before 1900: $500
Modern fakes made in silver: $100
Modern fakes made in base metal: $10

To help evaluate these coins, check the composite image to the right. The coin marked (A) is the genuine specimen from Roma. Catalog values appear above. But coins marked (B), (C), and (D) are replicas, as follows.

Coin (B) is a super-attractive copy in bronze. It comes from Stack's Bowers who describe it as a German 'Bronze Imitation of Syracuse Decadrachm by Euainetos.' It sold for $1650 US dollars during a 2007 auction.

Coin (C) is a good 19th century electrotype taken from a coin in the British Museum. It was sold by Spink for $600 US dollars during a 2008 auction.

Finally, the mass-produced modern base-metal replicas labelled (D) sell for about $6 each. You can see them at Antiuanova.

Coin: 17557, Genre: Ancient, Timeline: Ancient
Created (yyyymm): 201407, Last review: 202006
Appearance: Unusual or irregular shape Metallic gray Letters: Block style
Years: sort: -405, filter: -405 to -367
Image: syracuse_decadrachm.jpg

Tags: escutcheon spearing headed hat shiled greco spear military god garland draxmai reif bracelet fake spears deum dolphins fishes lance diety galloping dpachmai crests forges paxmai kentron dolfin helmets syracruse chariot jewelry crest goddess insignia apaxmae tetradrachm nike chevrons forge headband dei fez hooded decadrachma siciliar drachme forgery ehnikh stallion mounted dolphin arm jeweler quadriga reef octadrachm necklace divine bonnet horseman neckless shields riding sicilies drachmai brooch paxme wreah fish apaxmee reins sicilie pin apachmai harpoon evvhnikh rein greeks coats helmet arethusa syracuse fakes charioteer replicas forger gods pendent counterfeit ewhnikh tetradrachme jewel sicily dekadrachma hood earrings rider wreath drachamas repro pendant heads prance dekadrachm equestres dom catfish drachma headdress chevron oneheaded harness araxmai coat deo apaxmai replica decadrachm lionfish equestrian buggy logo salmon horse deus ride arms mountie bevel dpaxmh deity head dachm greece drachm wreathed drachmes apaxme helmit creast counterfiet encased sicilly broach wreth counterfet sypakosiwn sheild reproduction tetradrachma prancing caps sici horses earring rief sicil cap mount greek dpaxmai horsehead pony crested salmen devm bezel helmeted sicilian counterfeits dios horseback wreaths wreathe buggies godess wreat svrakosion shield escucheon ancient hmokpatia shild reproductions javelin

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