Watch List notes:

Sicily, Messana, silver tetradrachm, 420-413 BC, ΜΕΣ-ΣΑΝΑ (retrograde), biga of mules driven right by the nymph Messana who wears long chiton and holds whip and reins in both hands, rev., ΜΕΣΣΑΝΙΟΝ, hare springing right with dolphin below, 17.31g, die axis 8.00, good extremely fine, well centred and lightly toned. References: Caltabiano 534; BMC 40, same dies; SNG ANS 362, same reverse die. Provenance: Roma Numismatics II, London, 2 October 2011, lot 149. Note: The designs on this coin go back to the period when Anaxilas of Rhegion took control of Messana in 480 BC when both cities adopted the same general types of a mule-biga and a springing hare. The obverse commemorated Anaxilas's victory in the mule-biga event at the Olympic Games in that year. The same general types continued to be utilised with variations throughout the 5th century with the crouching figure of Anaxilas himself on the earlier issues replaced, as here, with the more elegant and upright figure of the nymph Messana. (6000 - 8000 GBP)