Lot 6: SICILY. Messana. Circa 478-476 BC. AR Tetradrachm. Unpublished and unique obverse die.

SICILY. Messana. Circa 478-476 BC. AR Tetradrachm (25mm - 17.45 g). Charioteer driving walking biga right, holding kentron in left hand, reins in right; leaf in exergue with fruit above the stem / Hare springing right. Caltabiano - (D-/R26, unlisted obverse die); SNG ANS 10 (same reverse die). VF, worn reverse die, perhaps in it's terminal state, metal actually fairly nice.

This unpublished obverse die is unusual in many respects. First, the wheel is composed of a single vertical spoke and two cross spokes instead of the usual two crossed spokes. No other die has this feature. Second, the front horse's left leg is forward and slightly curved, whereas on most dies the right leg is forward and very stiff. Obverse die 25 has this same feature and it appears to be unique to these two dies in this series. Third, the rider's legs are relaxed and parallel to the horse's backs, not bent up against the rider's chest. This feature is shared by obverse die 25 also. Finally, the leaf in the exergue is long and slender and has a small fruit on top of the stem, most of the dies that show fruit have it hanging below. An interesting and unusual die, apparently cut by the same engraver as die 25.

• Offered By: VAuctions
• Lot #: 6
• Listing #: 217054
• Closed: Thursday, April 30, 2009 5:10:00 PM CT
• Estimate: $750