View source for 25879 - Messana (tetradrachm biga/hare) over Athens (Athena/owl) (Nomos, 33, June 2024, 1033)

{{Overstrike
|Image overstriking coin=Messana_over_Athens_Nomos, _33, _9_June_2024, _1033.jpg
|Image reference overstriking coin=https://pro.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=2393000&AucID=5893&Lot=1033
|Image overstruck variety=Messana on Athens - Classical Numismatic Group, 118, 13 Sept 2021, 63 overstruck variety.jpg
|Image reference overstruck variety=https://pro.coinarchives.com/a/lotviewer.php?LotID=1941318&AucID=4571&Lot=190
|Sale=Nomos, 33, 9 June 2024, 1033
|Private collection=From the Collection of Jonathan H. Kagan
|Obverse description=The nymph Messana, holding kentron and reins, driving slow biga of mules right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses; olive leaf in exergue
|Reverse legend=MEΣΣAN-ION
|Reverse legend language=Greek
|Reverse description=Hare springing right; olive spray below
|Mint=Messana
|Ancient region=Sicily
|Date from=445 BCE
|Date to=439 BCE
|Period=Classical
|Metal=Silver
|Weight=16.95
|Diameter=29.5
|Axis=11
|Denomination=tetradrachm
|Standard=Attic
|Coin series reference=SNG ANS 4 Sicily, n° 340-3 ; Caccamo Caltabiano 1993, Series IX, 369.2 ; HGC 2, n° 783
|Coin series web reference=https://greekcoinage.org/iris/id/messana.caltabiano_1993.358-388
|Overstruck obverse description=Head of Athena right, wearing crested Attic helmet ornamented with three laurel leaves and vine scroll
|Overstruck reverse legend=AΘE
|Overstruck reverse legend language=Greek
|Overstruck reverse description=Owl standing right, head facing; olive sprig with berry and crescent moon behind, all within incuse square
|Overstruck mint=Athens
|Overstruck ancient region=Attica
|Overstruck date from=480 BCE
|Overstruck date to=440 BCE
|Overstruck period=Classical
|Overstruck denomination=tetradrachm
|Overstruck standard=Attic
|Coin series reference overstruck=Starr 1970
|Coin series web reference overstruck=https://greekcoinage.org/iris/id/athens.starr_1970.ii.tetradrachm
|Frequency of overstrikes=rare and concentrated
|Level of confidence=sure
|Remarks="This extremely interesting piece is most exciting because it is clearly overstruck on an earlier Athenian tetradrachm. On the obverse, the AΘE legend of the host coin's reverse is unmistakeable while, on the reverse, Athena's earring and ornamented helmet can be easily made out. Another example of this overstriking, but less clear than here, has been known since 1909 (Egger 26 November 1909, 167 = Caltabiano 352.4)."
}}