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Home ▸ Catalog ▸ |Greek Coins| ▸ |Geographic - All Periods| ▸ |Sicily| ▸ |Messana||View Options:  |  |  | 

Messana, Sicily

Founded in the 8th century B.C., until the 5th century Messina was called Zancle, meaning "scythe" because of the shape of its harbor. The Carthaginians sacked the city in 397 B.C. and then Dionysius I of Syracuse conquered it. In 288 B.C. the Mamertine mercenaries seized the city by treachery, killing all the men and taking the women as their wives. The city became a base from which they ravaged the countryside, leading to conflict with Syracuse. Initially Carthage assisted the Mamertines, but when Syracuse attacked a second time, the Mamertines petitioned the Roman Republic for aid. Although initially reluctant, to limit Carthaginian power, Rome allied with the Mamertines. In 264 B.C., Roman troops were deployed to Sicily, the first time a Roman army acted outside the Italian Peninsula. At the end of the First Punic War, Messana was a free city allied with Rome.

Messana, Sicily, The Mamertini, 220 - 200 B.C.

|Messana|, |Messana,| |Sicily,| |The| |Mamertini,| |220| |-| |200| |B.C.||dichalkon|NEW
Mamertini or "Children of Mars" were a band of Campanian (or Samnite) mercenaries who, about 289 B.C., seized Messana at the north-east corner of Sicily, after having been hired by Agathocles to defend it. The Mamertines held Messana for over 20 years, converting it from a town of farmers and traders to a raiding base for pirates on land and sea. In 265 B.C., after Hiero of Syracuse had defeated them and besieged Messana, the Mamertines appealed to Carthage for aid. Soon after they appealed to Rome to rid them of the Carthaginians. The Mamertini then disappear from history, except even centuries later the inhabitants of Messana were called Mamertines. "Mamertine wine" from the vineyards of north-eastern tip of Sicily was the favorite of Julius Caesar and he made it popular after serving it at a feast to celebrate his third consulship.
GB114421. Bronze dichalkon, Särström Series XVII, Group A, 365-370; Calciati I 44; SNG ANS 452; Carbone RBW 1434; SNG Cop. 466; Hunterian I 32; HGC 2 857; BMC Sicily -, VF, green patina, earthen encrustation, rev. slightly off-center, XII bold, weight 7.394 g, maximum diameter 23.2 mm, die axis 180o, Messana (Messina, Sicily, Italy) mint, c. 220 - 200 B.C.; obverse Head of young Heracles right, wearing a lion’s skin; reverse MAMEPTINON (mostly obscured), Artemis running right, bow and quiver over shoulder, gripping long lighted torch with both hands, hound running behind alongside her; XII (mark of value) in right field; $150.00 SALE PRICE $135.00
 


Messana, Sicily, c. 445 - 439 B.C.

|Messana|, |Messana,| |Sicily,| |c.| |445| |-| |439| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
Founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century B.C., Messina was originally called Zancle, from the Greek meaning "scythe" because of the shape of its natural harbor (though a legend attributes the name to King Zanclus). In the early 5th century BC, Anaxilas of Rhegium renamed it in honor of the Greek city Messene.
SH28062. Silver tetradrachm, Caltabiano, series IX, 364 (D163/R153); SNG ANS 343; HGC 2 783; SNG Cop -, Choice EF, weight 17.257 g, maximum diameter 29.2 mm, die axis 45o, Messana mint, c. 445 - 439 B.C.; obverse charioteer driving mule biga right, Nike flying above crowing mules, laurel leaf in ex; reverse MEΣΣ-ANION, hare leaping right, olive sprig below; nice metal, nice light toning, well struck and centered on a large medallic flan, reverse slightly double struck; SOLD


Messana, Sicily, c. 478 - 476 B.C.

|Messana|, |Messana,| |Sicily,| |c.| |478| |-| |476| |B.C.||tetradrachm|
Founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century B.C., Messina was originally called Zancle, from the Greek meaning "scythe" because of the shape of its natural harbor (though a legend attributes the name to King Zanclus). In the early 5th century BC, Anaxilas of Rhegium renamed it in honor of the Greek city Messene.
SH95922. Silver tetradrachm, Caltabiano Series IIB, 71 (D39'/R37); SNG ANS 319; SNG Cop 390; SNG Tübingen 605; SNG München 629; BMC Sicily p. 100, 11; HGC 2 779, Choice aVF, toned, well centered on a tight flan, bumps and scratches, die wear, weight 17.355 g, maximum diameter 26.5 mm, die axis 0o, Messana mint, c. 478 - 476 B.C.; obverse bearded man seated driving biga of mules walking right, knees drawn up, reins in both hands, goad in left hand, laurel leaf in exergue; reverse MESSA-NIO-N (counterclockwise from lower left, S's inverted), hare springing right; from the Errett Bishop Collection; ex Bowers & Ruddy Galleries auction; Dr. Richard P. Ariagno Collection Part II (9-11 Jun 1980), lot 39; SOLD


Messana, Sicily, c. 450 B.C.

|Messana|, |Messana,| |Sicily,| |c.| |450| |B.C.||litra|
Founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century B.C., Messina was originally called Zancle, from the Greek meaning "scythe" because of the shape of its natural harbor (though a legend attributes the name to King Zanclus). In the early 5th century BC, Anaxilas of Rhegium renamed it in honor of the Greek city Messene.
SH19449. Silver litra, BMC Sicily 63; SGCV I 849, EF, weight 0.711 g, maximum diameter 13.3 mm, die axis 45o, Messana mint, obverse hare leaping right, scallop below; reverse MΕΣ in wreath; toned; SOLD










REFERENCES

Arnold-Biucchi, C. The Randazzo Hoard 1980 and Sicilian Chronology in the early fifth Century B.C. ANSNS 18. (New York, 1990).
Bloesch, H. Griechische Münzen In Winterthur, Vol. 1. Spain, Gaul, Italy, Sicily, Moesia, Dacia, Sarmatia, Thrace, and Macedonia. (Winterthur, 1987).
Calciati, R. Corpus Nummorum Siculorum. The Bronze Coinage, Vol. I. (Milan, 1983).
Carbone, L., et al. Local Coinages in a Roman World, Second Century BC–First Century AD: A Catalogue of the Richard B. Witschonke Collection of Coins in the Early Roman. (New York, 2024).
Carollo, S. & A. Morello. Mamertini Storia E Monetazione. (Formia, 1999).
Castrizio, D. La monetazione mercenariale in Sicilia, Strategie economiche e territoriali fra Dione e Timoleonte. (Soveria Manelli, 2000).
Gabrici, E. La monetazione del bronzo nella Sicila antica. (Palermo, 1927).
Hoover, O.D. Handbook of Coins of Sicily (including Lipara), Civic, Royal, Siculo-Punic, and Romano-Sicilian Issues, Sixth to First Centuries BC. (Lancaster, PA, 2011).
Naville Co. Monnaies grecques antiques; provenant de la collection de feu le prof. S. Pozzi. Auction 1 (4 April 1921, Geneva).
Poole, R.S. ed. A Catalog of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Sicily. (London, 1876).
Rizzo, G.E. Monete greche della Sicilia. (Rome, 1946).
Salinas, A. Le monete delle antiche città di Sicilia descritte e illustrate da Antonino Salinas. (Palermo, 1871).
Särström, M. A Study in the Coinage of the Mamertines. (Lund, 1940).
Sear, D. Greek Coins and Their Values, Volume 1: Europe. (London, 1978).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Denmark, The Royal Collection of Coins and Medals, Danish National Museum, Volume 1: Italy - Sicily. (West Milford, NJ, 1981).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Deutschland, München Staatlische Münzsammlung, Part 5: Sikelia. (Berlin, 1977).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain IV, Fitzwilliam Museum, Leake and General Collections, Part 2: Sicily - Thrace. (London, 1947).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, Great Britain, Volume X, John Morcom Collection. (Oxford, 1995).
Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum, USA, The Collection of the American Numismatic Society, Part 4: Sicily 2 (Galaria - Styella). (New York, 1977).

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