Syracuse Hieron II AE23 Poseidon left / Trident & Dolphins 265–215 BC

Hieron II, AE23, bronze, reign 265–215 BC, minted 265–215 BC, 9.6 g, 23 mm. Syracuse mint. Anepigraphic obverse with diademed head of Poseidon left. Reverse with IEPΩNOΣ in exergue; ornate trident head with volutes, flanked by two dolphins. Broad, centered strike on a substantial flan; moderate circulation wear with light surface roughness typical of the issue. Reference: HGC 2, 1550.

Hieron II stabilized Syracuse during the Punic Wars, allied with Rome in 263 BC, and issued extensive bronze coinage to support the local economy. The Poseidon and trident-dolphin motif reflects Syracuse’s maritime orientation and control of its harbors, while the legend IEPΩNOΣ names the ruler, marking the issue as royal rather than civic during the final decades before the Second Punic War.