SICILY. Syracuse. Hiketas II, 287-278 BC. Hemistater (Gold, 16 mm, 4.24 g, 12 h), signed on the reverse by The..., circa 279/278 BC. ΣΥΡΑΚΟΣΙΩΝ Head of Persephone to left, wearing wreath of grain ears, pendant earring and a pearl necklace; in the field to right behind Persephone's neck, cornucopia. Rev. EΠI IKETA Nike driving a biga galloping to right, holding the reins in her left hand and a kentron with her right; above, fibula; in the field to right, Φ; below the horses, Θ. BAR issue 41. Basel 516 (same dies). Buttrey, Morgantina, dies 4/I. Gulbenkian 345 (same dies). HGC 2, 1277. Clear and well-centered. Die rust on the obverse and minor marks on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine. From a Swiss collection, ex Nomos 35, 15 June 2025, 181. Shortly after this coin was struck Hiketas was overthrown by a number of his officers after the battle of the Terias river, where the Syracusan forces were beaten by the Carthaginians. In order to continue issuing gold to the city's mercenaries, the mint authorities continued using this die pair in the name of Hiketas, but erased the tyrant's name from the die! This is one of the rare pieces with the original name intact. https://cdn.nomosag.com/auctions/95/video00101.mp4?sv=2023-01-03&ss=b&srt=co&st=2025-03-10T16%3A25%3A27Z&se=2099-03-11T16%3A25%3A00Z&sp=rl&sig=i7RzFAqwYGMJUp3u71BbRyL3HhIAtR%2F8cUnRnTVQfyU%3D&rsct=video%2Fmp4