Sicily, Zankle (Messana), AR drachm c. 515-493 BC, dolphin swimming left in crescent representing the city's harbour, ethnic below/cockle shell in geometric pattern. 4.18 g
Zankle was situated on the site of modern-day Messina, and founded in the 8th century BC. The name "Zankle" means "sickle", and refers to the shape of harbour, shown on the obverse. The city was captured by Anaxilas, the tyrant of Rhegion in 488 BC, who renamed it as Messana, after Messene in the Peloponessos, due to the settlement of Messenian colonists there.
Very fine, cleaning marks, peripheral horn silver, deposit.
HN Italy 539
ex-G. Hirsch 68 (Munich), 1 July 1970, lot 52 (illustrated)