Nomos 26

SICILY. Messana (as Zankle). Samian occupation, 493-488 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 6.5 mm, 0.33 g, 5 h). Lion's scalp facing. Rev. Prow of a Samaina galley to left; in field to left, three pellets (= Trias). Barron 1 = Gielow 91. Buceti 11. SNG ANS 310. Very rare. Well-struck, toned and most attractive. Extremely fine.

From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions.

In 494 BC Anaxilas, then tyrant of Rhegium, encouraged a force of Samian and Ionians, refugees from the Persian suppression of the Ionian revolt, to cross the strait and take Zankle. They did so, and issued coins using the types from their home city of Samos: the lion scalp, which had already appeared on Samian coins; and the galley prow, in commemoration of how they arrived in the West. Unfortunately for the Samians, in the spirit of the times some five years later Anaxilas threw them out, replaced them with Peloponnesian colonists, and renamed the city Messana in honour of his own native city, Messene in Messinia.