SICILY. Messana. 425-421 BC. Tetradrachm (Silver, 29 mm, 17.29 g, 6 h). The Nymph Messana, wearing chiton and peplos, standing right, holding a goad in her right hand and the reins in both, driving a biga of mules walking to right; above, Nike flying right holding wreath to crown the mules; in exergue, olive sprig with berry. Rev. ΜΕΣ-Σ-ΑΝΙ-Ο-Ν Hare springing to right; below, fly seen from above. Caltabiano 481.5 (this coin). Rizzo pl. XXVI, 1. A splendid, very attractive, lightly toned, well-struck and sharp coin. Extremely fine.

From the Aletheia Collection, and from the "Exceptional Private Collection" Leu Numismatics 76, 27 October 1999, 41, ex Numismatic Fine Arts V, 23 February 1978, 38, from the collection of V. M. Brand, Hess-Leu 45, 12 May 1970, 49, and that of an Auswärtiger Gelehrter, Hirsch XIX, 11 November 1907, 204 there described by Hirsch as being a..."Tetradrachme von herrlichem Stil und unvergleichlicher Feinheit der Ausführung. In der Erhaltung von einzigartiger Frische und Schönheit. Kabinettstück von grösster Seltenheit".