Hieron II Bronze of Syracuse — A Coin from the Age of Archimedes

Own a Coin from Hellenistic Syracuse

A genuine Greek bronze coin of Hieron II of Syracuse, struck during the long reign of the king who guided Syracuse through the age of the First Punic War and maintained a durable alliance with Rome.

✓ Guaranteed Authentic
✓ Carefully Sourced and Verified
✓ 30-Day Returns

📷 Coins shown are representative examples. You will receive one authentic bronze coin of Hieron II. Each coin is unique and will vary in type, strike, centering, patina, preservation, and overall appearance.

🏛 Issued under Hieron II (c. 275–215 BC), one of Syracuse’s longest-ruling monarchs
⚓ From Syracuse during the lifetime of the mathematician and engineer Archimedes
🤲 A genuine artifact from one of the major Greek cities of the western Mediterranean

Own This Piece of History

Why This Coin Matters

In the third century BC, Syracuse remained one of the most important Greek cities in Sicily and the western Mediterranean.

Hieron II rose to power amid warfare in Sicily and ruled for roughly six decades. During the First Punic War, he initially fought Rome but soon reached an agreement with the Romans and thereafter became a long-standing ally. That policy helped preserve Syracuse’s autonomy and prosperity for the remainder of his reign.

Hieron died in 215 BC, shortly after the beginning of the Second Punic War. The political alignment of Syracuse changed under his successors, ultimately leading to the Roman siege and capture of the city in 212 BC.

Hieron’s Syracuse was also the city of Archimedes, one of antiquity’s greatest mathematicians and engineers. Ancient sources connect Archimedes with Hieron and his family, including the famous story in which he was asked to investigate the composition of a crown. The later 'Eureka' version of that episode is part of the Archimedes tradition and should not be treated as a verbatim eyewitness account.

Archimedes certainly lived and worked at Syracuse, but describing Hieron’s court as formally becoming Archimedes’ 'home' or asserting a specific patronage relationship beyond the ancient evidence goes further than necessary.

Bronze coinage issued under Hieron circulated in the same Syracuse that Archimedes knew. Depending on the specific type supplied, these coins can carry royal, divine, military, equestrian, or other Syracusan imagery.

That makes this an accessible connection to a remarkable historical setting: Hellenistic Sicily at the intersection of the Greek world, Carthage, and the expanding Roman Republic.

Perfect For

• Collectors of Greek and Sicilian coinage
• History enthusiasts interested in Archimedes
• Collectors of Hellenistic bronze coins
• Students of the Punic Wars and ancient Sicily
• Anyone seeking an accessible coin of Hieron II

What You’ll Receive

• One authentic Greek bronze coin issued under Hieron II
• City: Syracuse, Sicily
• Ruler: Hieron II
• Reign: c. 275–215 BC
• Metal: Bronze
• Guaranteed authentic
• Representative example (each coin is unique)

Buy with Confidence

• Guaranteed authentic ancient coin
• Carefully sourced and verified
• 30-day return policy
• Secure shipping from the U.S.

Learn More

Continue the story in the Kinzer Coins Journal: Hieron II Coins: Syracuse, Archimedes and the King Who Kept Sicily Out of Rome's Hands.