Syracuse (Agathocles), gold, drachms (Apollo/biga) (317-314 BCE)
From SILVER
317 BCE - 314 BCE Gold 18,739 kg
Description
| ObverseInscription or printing placed on the obverse.: | Laureate head of Apollo left, below, Σ retrograde |
| ReverseInscription or printing placed on the reverse.: | ΣΥΡ - Α - Κ - Ο - ΣΙΩΝ (Greek).Charioteer driving fast biga right, holding kentron and reins, below horses, triskeles |
Mint and issuing power
| MintIdentifies the place of manufacture or issue of a numismatic object.: | Syracuse | Ancient regionAncient region.: | Sicily | Modern countryModern country: Italy | AuthorityIdentifies the issuing power. The authority can be "pretended" when the name or the portrait of X is on the coin but he/she was not the issuing power. It can also be "uncertain" when there is no mention of X on the coin but he/she was the issuing power according to the historical sources: | Agathocles of Syracuse (tyrant of Syracuse in 317-289 BC and self-styled king of Sicily in 304-289 BC) |
Chronology
| FromIdentifies the initial date in a range assigned in a numismatic context. | 317 BCE | toIdentifies the final date in a range assigned in a numismatic context.. | 314 BCE | PeriodTime period of the numismatic object.: Hellenistic 323-30 BC 
|
Physical description
| MetalThe physical material (usually metal) from which an object is made.: | Gold
|
Median weightMedian of the weights of numismatic objects (in grams). in grams | 4.30 | DenominationTerm indicating the value of a numismatic object. Examples: tetradrachm, chalkous, denarius.: | drachma
|
StandardStandard.: | Attic |
Image
References
| Die study referencePublication of the study: | "[[Die study reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]1Sohard 2025, p. 32-39 | ||
| Coin series referenceReference to coin series study: | "[[Coin series reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]2HGC 2, n° 1276, "[[Coin series reference" contains a listed "[" character as part of the property label and has therefore been classified as invalid.]]1Sohard 2025, p. 32-39 | ||
| Coin series web referenceCoin series web references: | |||
Obverse dies distribution
| FrequencyFrequency of specimen in distribution. ᵖ | Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | % (o) | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | % (n) | Die nameName(s) of the die(s). |
| 1 | 2 | 9.52 | 2 | 1.19 | 6, 13 |
| 2 | 3 | 14.29 | 6 | 3.57 | 8, 9, 12 |
| 3 | 2 | 9.52 | 6 | 3.57 | 2, 21 |
| 4 | 3 | 14.29 | 12 | 7.14 | 3, 5, 7 |
| 5 | 1 | 4.76 | 5 | 2.98 | 17 |
| 6 | 1 | 4.76 | 6 | 3.57 | 4 |
| 7 | 2 | 9.52 | 14 | 8.33 | 1, 20 |
| 8 | 1 | 4.76 | 8 | 4.76 | 11 |
| 9 | 1 | 4.76 | 9 | 5.36 | 19 |
| 13 | 1 | 4.76 | 13 | 7.74 | 14 |
| 15 | 1 | 4.76 | 15 | 8.93 | 16 |
| 19 | 1 | 4.76 | 19 | 11.31 | 10 |
| 30 | 1 | 4.76 | 30 | 17.86 | 15 |
| 23 | 1 | 4.76 | 23 | 13.69 | 18 |
| Total | 21 of 21 | 99.98 | 168 of 168 | 100 |
Reverse dies distribution
no distribution is available
Quantification
| Number of obversesNumber of obverse dies. ᵖ (o) | 21 | Number of singletons (o1)The number of singleton coins. ᵖ | 2 |
| Number of reverse diesNumber of reverse dies. (r) | 26 | Number of coinsNumber of coins. (n) | 168 |
| Coins per obverse dieNumber of coins per obverse die. (n/o) | 8 | Coins per reverse dieNumber of coins per reverse die. (n/r) | 6.46 |
| Reverse per obverse ratioRatio of obverse dies divided by reverse dies. (r/o) | 1.24 | Percentage of singletons (o1)number of coins (n) divided by the number of singletons (o1) ᵖ | 9.52 % |
| Original number of dies (O) (Carter 1983 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to Carter 1983 ᵖ | 21.79 | Coins struck if 20,000 as average productivity per dieCoins made if the average productivity for obverses (according to Carter) is 20,000. ᵖ | 435,800 |
| Original number of dies (O) (Esty 2011 formula)The estimation of the number of coins according to the singleton formula in Esty 2011 ᵖ (O) | 24 | Survival rate if 20,000 as average productivity per dieSurvival rate if average productivity is 20,000. ᵖ | 0.00039 |
| Coverage (o = % of O) (Esty 1984 formula)Esty 1984 - coverage (% of O) ᵖ (o = % of O) | 98.81% | Die productivity if survival rate 1/2,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/2,000. ᵖ | 15,419.92 |
| Weight of silver (in kg) if 20,000 coins per die (O = Carter formula)Carter 1983 * Median weight * 20000 (*10 if gold or electrum) ᵖ | 18,739 kg <br /> 18,739 kg | Die productivity if survival rate 1/5,000Average productivity if survival rate is 1/5,000. ᵖ | 38,549.79 |
Remarks
Most likely two workstations Likely military
References
- a b Sohard, Maxime (2025), "Les monnaies d'or de l'atelier de Syracuse sous le gouvernement d'Agathocle," Revue Numismatique, 182, p. 5-61
- ^ Hoover, Oliver D. (2012), The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series. 2. Handbook of the Coins of Sicily (Including Lipara). Civic, Royal, Siculo-Punic, and Romano-Sicilian Issues. Sixth to First Centuries BC, Lancaster-London, 489 p.
