Caltabiano Plate Coin – Ex Virzi Collection

CNG 97, Lot: 33. Estimate $300. Sold for $1800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Messana. 317-311 BC. Æ Litra (23mm, 12.13 g, 1h). Head of the nymph Messana left / Messana, holding palm frond, driving biga of mules right; Δ in exergue. Caltabiano Series XVIII, 803A.1 (D8/R20) = Virzi 1123 (this coin); BAR Issue 1; CNS 18; HGC 2, 831. Good VF, brown patina with a couple spots of green.

From the Trinacria Collection. Ex Aretusa 3 (25 November 1994), lot 31; Numismatica Ars Classica 6 (11 March 1993), lot 72; Auctiones 11 (30 September 1980), lot 54; Münzen und Medaillen AG 54 (26 October 1978), lot 103; Tom Virzi Collection (Malter 1, 9 November 1973), lot 49.

Caltabiano lists this example as the plate coin for CNS 18/1, but this is incorrect.