SICILY. Messana. 478-476 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 30 mm, 16.29 g, 3 h). Charioteer, holding kentron in his right hand and reins in his left, driving biga of mules to right; in exergue, olive leaf. Rev. WESSE-И-IO-И Hare springing right. Caltabiano Serie IIB, - (D41/-). HGC 2, 779. A highly interesting overstrike. Areas of horn silver and with traces of corrosion and overstriking, otherwise, very fine.



On the reverse of this highly intriguing tetradrachm from Messana, an eye, the line of a nose, and a mouth can be discerned to the right, before the hare. The piece was evidently overstruck on an archaic tetradrachm from Athens, which had found its way to the north-eastern corner of Sicily — whether through trade or in connection with the settlement of Messenians under Anaxilas of Rhegion, after whom the city was renamed in the early 5th century BC, having previously been called Zankle, remains unclear. In any case, the coin is a testimony of particular numismatic interest.