Roma Numismatics Ltd
Auction XI 7 April 2016
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Sicily, Zankle-Messana AR Diobol. Samian occupation, circa 493-488 BC. Facing lion's scalp / Prow of a Samaina (Samian galley) left, Corinthian helmet before. SNG ANS 309. 1.14g, 10mm, 3h.
Very Fine. Very Rare.
From the Dr. Murray Gell-Mann Collection;
Ex Classical Numismatic Group 64, 24 September 2003, lot 53.
In 493 BC emigrants from Samos along with some Milesians and other Ionians were invited to Sicily by Skythes, the ruler of Zankle, to assist with the founding of a new city. When the Ionian settlers were already in Italian waters, Skythes marched out with the forces of Zankle to besiege a nearby city of the native Sikels, presumably in aid of the enterprise. However at this point the Samians, who had now reached Lokroi, were persuaded by Anaxilas the tyrant of Rhegion to take advantage of the absence of the Zanklaians, and that rather than endure the hardships of founding a new colony they should take over Zankle itself while its men were away. The Samians agreed and did so; by the time Skythes had hurried back to his city he found the walls held against him.
The Samians, having thus taken for themselves a new city, elected to strike coins on the Euboic standard bearing the types of the lion's scalp used at Samos and a Samian galley, though without an ethnic – presumably because they were a mixed body of Samians, Milesians and others, and thus had not yet determined a collective identity.
Very Fine. Very Rare.
From the Dr. Murray Gell-Mann Collection;
Ex Classical Numismatic Group 64, 24 September 2003, lot 53.
In 493 BC emigrants from Samos along with some Milesians and other Ionians were invited to Sicily by Skythes, the ruler of Zankle, to assist with the founding of a new city. When the Ionian settlers were already in Italian waters, Skythes marched out with the forces of Zankle to besiege a nearby city of the native Sikels, presumably in aid of the enterprise. However at this point the Samians, who had now reached Lokroi, were persuaded by Anaxilas the tyrant of Rhegion to take advantage of the absence of the Zanklaians, and that rather than endure the hardships of founding a new colony they should take over Zankle itself while its men were away. The Samians agreed and did so; by the time Skythes had hurried back to his city he found the walls held against him.
The Samians, having thus taken for themselves a new city, elected to strike coins on the Euboic standard bearing the types of the lion's scalp used at Samos and a Samian galley, though without an ethnic – presumably because they were a mixed body of Samians, Milesians and others, and thus had not yet determined a collective identity.