Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 138 18-19 May 2023
View prices realized
► Sale information
Find similar lots
Messana. As Zankle under the Samians
Dilitron circa 455-451, AV 1.45 g. The nymph Messana, holding kentron and reins, driving slow biga of mules r.; in exergue, leaf r. Rev. MESSENIO – N partially retrograde Hare springing r. Rizzo pl. XXV, 9 (these dies). Caltabiano 321.1 (this coin illustrated).
Of the highest rarity, only three specimens known. An issue of tremendous importance
and fascination perfectly centred. Slightly double struck on reverse,
otherwise good extremely fine
Ex NAC sale 9, 1996, 173 and privately purchased in November 1969. From the Athos and Dina Moretti collection and an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s.
The history of Zancle, a city in northern Sicily founded by Chalcidian Greeks took a dramatic turn in c. 488/7 BC when Anaxilos, the tyrant of Rhegium, a city in southern Italy facing Zancle across the strait, plotted its conquest through trickery. After a group of Samian exiles arrived at his city, he advised them that they could easily take Zancle for their own use since the Zanclians were away on campaign and the city lacked defenders. Seeing that Anaxilos had been correct in his advice, the Samians promptly dispossessed the Zanclians of their city. After amassing his military strength for eight years, in c. 480 BC Anaxilos then crossed the strait himself and drove out the Samians. Zancle was now his and he could control shipping through the strait between Italy and Sicily. However, as a Dorian Greek from Messenia in the Peloponnesus, Anaxilos decided to rename the city in honor of his old homeland. Thus, Zancle became known henceforth as Messana and the nearby strait as the Strait of Messana. However, Messana was not permanently tied to the fortunes of Rhegium as Anaxilos may have hoped. About two decades after the tyrant's capture of Zancle, in 461 BC, the dispossessed Zanclians returned and reclaimed their city with the assistance of disgruntled mercenaries previously employed by Anaxilos' successors in the tyranny at Rhegium. Although the Zanclians had regained their city, the name of Messana stuck, although it was rendered as Messena in the Chalcidian dialect. Despite the end of Anaxilid rule at Messana, the period of the Rhegian tyrants left a deep impression on the coinage of the city. Silver and very rare gold issues of the early fifth century feature a biga of mules copied from contemporary coins of Rhegium on the obverse. This type refers to the victory of Anaxilos in the Olympic anape (mule-biga race) in 484 or 480 BC, but was retained for Messanian coinage long after the end of the Rhegian tyranny. The present gold dilitron was struck in the mid-fifth century BC, after the return of the Zanclians, but still features the mule biga of Anaxilos, although it has been updated to a high classical style and the personification of Messana now drives rather than a nameless muleteer. The springing hare of the reverse also originated on the earliest Anaxilid coinage of Messana, but it too continued in use through the fifth century as a badge of the city.
Dilitron circa 455-451, AV 1.45 g. The nymph Messana, holding kentron and reins, driving slow biga of mules r.; in exergue, leaf r. Rev. MESSENIO – N partially retrograde Hare springing r. Rizzo pl. XXV, 9 (these dies). Caltabiano 321.1 (this coin illustrated).
Of the highest rarity, only three specimens known. An issue of tremendous importance
and fascination perfectly centred. Slightly double struck on reverse,
otherwise good extremely fine
Ex NAC sale 9, 1996, 173 and privately purchased in November 1969. From the Athos and Dina Moretti collection and an Exceptional Collection assembled between the early 70s and late 90s.
The history of Zancle, a city in northern Sicily founded by Chalcidian Greeks took a dramatic turn in c. 488/7 BC when Anaxilos, the tyrant of Rhegium, a city in southern Italy facing Zancle across the strait, plotted its conquest through trickery. After a group of Samian exiles arrived at his city, he advised them that they could easily take Zancle for their own use since the Zanclians were away on campaign and the city lacked defenders. Seeing that Anaxilos had been correct in his advice, the Samians promptly dispossessed the Zanclians of their city. After amassing his military strength for eight years, in c. 480 BC Anaxilos then crossed the strait himself and drove out the Samians. Zancle was now his and he could control shipping through the strait between Italy and Sicily. However, as a Dorian Greek from Messenia in the Peloponnesus, Anaxilos decided to rename the city in honor of his old homeland. Thus, Zancle became known henceforth as Messana and the nearby strait as the Strait of Messana. However, Messana was not permanently tied to the fortunes of Rhegium as Anaxilos may have hoped. About two decades after the tyrant's capture of Zancle, in 461 BC, the dispossessed Zanclians returned and reclaimed their city with the assistance of disgruntled mercenaries previously employed by Anaxilos' successors in the tyranny at Rhegium. Although the Zanclians had regained their city, the name of Messana stuck, although it was rendered as Messena in the Chalcidian dialect. Despite the end of Anaxilid rule at Messana, the period of the Rhegian tyrants left a deep impression on the coinage of the city. Silver and very rare gold issues of the early fifth century feature a biga of mules copied from contemporary coins of Rhegium on the obverse. This type refers to the victory of Anaxilos in the Olympic anape (mule-biga race) in 484 or 480 BC, but was retained for Messanian coinage long after the end of the Rhegian tyranny. The present gold dilitron was struck in the mid-fifth century BC, after the return of the Zanclians, but still features the mule biga of Anaxilos, although it has been updated to a high classical style and the personification of Messana now drives rather than a nameless muleteer. The springing hare of the reverse also originated on the earliest Anaxilid coinage of Messana, but it too continued in use through the fifth century as a badge of the city.