Lot 3452

Description

Sicily, Messana, (455-451 B.C.), silver tetradrachm, (14.08 g), obv. biga of mules driven to right by seated male charioteer, Nike flying above, in exergue bay leaf with fruit, rev. MESSAN I ON (some letters reversed), hare running to right, crescent below, (cf.S.843, Caltabiano 326 [obv.die 143, rev. die 135, 8 specimens known], SNG Cop.395). Good fine and rare.

Ex Alan Jordan Collection and purchased from Noble Numismatics Sale 77 (lot 3110). An unusually light example but struck from genuine known dies. This was a period of uncertain weight control as Caltabiano records a dozen genuine examples of similar weights down to 12.60 g. The specimen comes from a hoard found over a decade ago as is another example in this sale.