Messenia, Messene, ca. 40s-30s BC, Æ Hemiobol or Hexachalkon

Head of Demeter right wearing diadem.
Zeus Ithomatos standing right, hurling thunderbolt with right hand, eagle with spread wings perched on left wrist; ΔAMIΩN to left with wreath in outermost left field, ME above tripod in right field.

HGC 5, 580; BCD Peloponnesos 752 (this coin); Grandjean 556a (this coin illustrated); BMC 29; SNG Cop 512; Sear 2853.

(22 mm, 6.66 g, 6h).
Forestier & Lambert, December 2007; ex- BCD Collection: LHS Numismatics Auction 96, 8-9 May 2006, 752; ex- P. R. Franke collection.

The image of Zeus Ithomatas is a recurring theme on the civic coinage of Messene; a symbol of the Messenian belief that after four centuries of bondage to their Spartan neighbours that they had the support and assistance of the Zeus to maintain their independence and freedom.

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