v19_0028 - SICILY - MESSANA Tétradrachme

MONNAIES 19 (2004)
Starting price : 350.00 €
Estimate : 550.00 €
unsold lot

Type : Tétradrachme

Date: c. 460-450 AC.

Mint name / Town : Messine

Metal : silver

Diameter : 26 mm

Orientation dies : 4 h.

Weight : 17,05 g.

Rarity : R2

Coments on the condition:

Flan irrégulier et légèrement oblong, décentré des deux côtés. Usure importante, mais exemplaire parfaitement identifiable

Catalogue references :

ANS.- - MIAMG.- - Rizzo- pl. - Dewing- - Cop.- - GC.847 var.

Obverse

Obverse legend : ANÉPIGRAPHE.

Obverse description : Bige de mules à droite, conduit par un aurige, tenant les rênes et le kentron, couronné par Niké volant à gauche ; à l'exergue, une feuille d'olivier.

Reverse

Reverse description : Lièvre bondissant à droite.

Reverse legend : MESS[AN]-I-ON/ G

Commentary

Une cassure de coin est bien visible sous le corps du lièvre.

Historical background

SICILY - MESSANA

(461-450 BC)

Messina was founded by the Chalcidians around 725 BC under the name of Zancle, sickle, a name that comes from the shape of the port of the city. The Samians, fleeing the Persian yoke, seized the city in 493 BC and kept it for four years until Anaxilas, tyrant of Rhegion, chased them away and renamed the city, Messina. Anaxilas and his son were overthrown in 461 BC and Democracy established. Messina was destroyed by the Carthaginians in 396 BC. Messina, after regaining some prosperity during the second half of the 4th century BC, was once again ravaged by an invader, this time- here, Oscan mercenaries who destroyed the city and massacred its inhabitants in 288 BC. The new masters, the Mamertines, maintained their autonomy under the control of the Romans until the 1st century BC. Coinage ceased in 38 BC.

cgbfr.com numismatists