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Nomos 1

6 May 2009
Widder Hotel, Zürich
overview

Nomos AG, 16

Estimate: 10000 CHF
Hammer Price:  Unsold
Lot 22

SICILY, Messana. 420-413 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 17.29 g 8). ΜΕΣΣΑΝΑ 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. ΜΕΣΣΑΝΙΟΝ Hare springing to right; below, fly seen from above. Caltabiano 516. SNG ANS 373. Struck from a rusty obverse die and with a minor die break on the reverse, otherwise, one of the best known examples, extremely fine.


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: 6 May 2009, 14:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 17 Apr 2024, 01:43:34 CEST Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:Unsold

Pre-Bidding closes on 6 Mai 2009 at 14:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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