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Nomos 22

22 June 2021
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zurich

overview
Estimate: 8500 CHF
Hammer Price:  22000 CHF
Lot 48
Video

SICILY. Messana. 420-413 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 28 mm, 16.99 g, 1 h). ΜΕΣΣΑΝ-Α Biga of mules walking to left, driven by the Nymph Messana, standing left and holding goad in her right hand and reins in both; in exergue, two confronted dolphins. Rev. ΜΕΣ-Σ-ΑΝ-ΙΟ-Ν Hare springing to right; below, fly seen from above. Caltabiano 516. SNG ANS 373. An attractive, clear piece, toned and very well-centered. Some die rust on the obverse and a minor die break on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

From a Swiss collection, acquired prior to 2000.

The standard types of the coinage of Messana show a biga of mules, in honor of the Olympic victory won by the tyrant Anaxilas in the mule car races (a short-lived event in the Olympics) and a hare, an animal Anaxilas supposedly introduced to Sicily. The symbol on the reverse, a fly, is particularly realistic, once again testifying to how carefully Greek artists observed the natural world around them.

Online bidding closes: 22 Jun 2021, 10:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 19 Apr 2024, 02:27:25 CEST Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:22000 CHF

Pre-Bidding closes on 22 Juni 2021 at 10:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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