v09_0020 - SICILY - MESSANA Tétradrachme

XF/VF

MONNAIES 9 (2000)
Starting price : 426.86 €
Estimate : 686.02 €
Realised price : 426.86 €

Type : Tétradrachme

Date: c. 461-450 AC.

Mint name / Town : Sicile, Messine

Metal : silver

Diameter : 27,5 mm

Orientation dies : 12 h.

Weight : 17,30 g.

Rarity : R2

Coments on the condition:

Bien centré au droit avec une usure régulière / Frappe faible au revers. Un coup dans le champ supérieur gauche. Tranche irrégulière

Catalogue references :

ANS.370 - MIAMG.4396

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 droite ; à l'exergue, une feuille d'olivier.

Reverse

Reverse description : Lièvre bondissant à droite ; derrière la tête, un petit croissant.

Reverse legend : MESSAN-I-ON

Commentary

Mêmes coins que l'exemplaire de l'American Numismatic Society (336).

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