275-215 B.C. Sicily, Syracuse Heiron II Bronze Poseidon/Trident

Syracuse, located on the island of Sicily, was a thriving center of trade in the ancient Mediterranean. When Hieron II (275-215 B.C.)defeated the Mamertine pirates to the West, the city-state named him king. His victory shifted the balance of power between Rome and Carthage, who vied for control of the waterways between mainland Italy and Sicily.
At first, Hieron sided with Carthage, but soon switched his allegiance to Rome. He provided ships, supplies, men and money, and even employed the great Archimedes to make weapons. His generosity and loyalty helped Rome defeat Hannibal. These thick bronze coins may have been used to help finance that war effort. The Greek sea god Poseidon on the obverse recalls Syracuse's naval strength, while the reverse shows the god's trident with dolphins on either side. A collector favorite, these coins are so hard to find in quantity that it isn't often we're able to feature them in our catalogs – get yours while supplies last!,