bgr_577690 - SICILY - MESSANA Litra

380.00 €(Approx. 406.60$ | 323.00£)

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Type : Litra

Date: c. 343-338 AC.

Mint name / Town : Sicile, Messine

Metal : copper

Diameter : 24,5 mm

Orientation dies : 9 h.

Weight : 9,90 g.

Rarity : R2

Coments on the condition:

Exemplaire sur un flan large et irrégulier. Très beau portrait, de haut relief, bien venu à la frappe. Joli revers de style fin. Patine marron, hétérogène

Catalogue references :

BMC.- - ANS.388 - MIAMG.4446 (R2) (750€) - GC.1134 - Cop.-

Predigree :

Exemplaire provenant de la collection Luc Corso

Obverse

Obverse legend : ANÉPIGRAPHE.

Obverse description : Tête diadémée de la nymphe Messana à gauche.

Obverse legend : MESSAN(IWN].

Obverse translation : (des Mésséniens).

Reverse

Reverse legend : T SOUS LE BIGE.

Reverse description : Bige au pas à droite, conduit par la nymphe Messana drapée, tenant les rênes de la main droite et une grande palme de la main gauche.

Historical background

SICILY - MESSANA

(4th century 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.