Sicily, Tetradrachm, ca. 420-413 BC
Messana - Silver - VF(30-35) - BMC:38
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Nymph Messana, draped, driving a biga at pace drawn by two mules to the right, all within a border of dot.
Hare running to the right, dolphin below to the right, all within a border of dot.
Attractive tetradrachm with full iconography on both sides. Our example also features a pleasing gray patina. Although showing traces of wear on its highest reliefs, the obverse still has many details. The folds of the nymph's drapery are clearly visible, as are the reins in her left hand. The two mules are shown in profile. The second is only represented by a kind of very light double strike, visible on the animal's legs, neck and top of the head. The die used on our specimen was worn, as can be seen from the die breaks on either side of the mules' snouts on the grenetis and the letters in the caption. However, all the iconography on the obverse, and in particular the border of dots, is still visible. The reverse is slightly off-center to the left, but all its iconographic elements are visible. A few hairs can still be seen on the hare's tail and head, as well as its whiskers and ear pattern. The dolphin below is also finely depicted, with some elements of its head still present. The iconography of our coin is closely linked to the historical context in which it was minted. The woman depicted on the obverse is associated with the nymph Messana, whose name is inscribed above, representing the city. Her presence in a biga drawn by two mules can be interpreted as the city's victory in the Olympic Games in 480's BC. As for the hare, it's representative of the city's coinage. A beautiful coin that's easy on the eye! Caltabiano Series XIV, 517-518 ; BMC 38 ; HGC 2, 792 ; McClean 2394 ; SNG ANS 356 and SNG Copenhagen 399. Ex Vinchon, 27 February 1961, lot 66 = ex Clarence S. Bement Collection (Ars Classica - Naville VI, Bement I, 28 January 1924, lot 409). Faune d'Argent Collection.
MEΣΣ-ANA
ΜΕΣ-Σ-Α-ΝΙΟ-Ν
17.22 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
