Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 696. Estimate $5000.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $5500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

SICILY, Messana. Circa 412-408 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.29 g, 1h). Charioteer driving slow biga of mules left, holding kentron in right hand, reins with both hands; above, Nike flying right, crowning charioteer with wreath; confronted dolphins in exergue / MESSAN-I-ON, hare springing right; below, head of Pan right and syrinx. Caltabiano 613 (D219/R235); cf. SNG ANS 369; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG Lockett 829 (same rev. die); SNG Fitzwilliam 1077 (same rev. die). EF, reverse slightly double struck. Very rare variety with only 2 specimens cited by Caltabiano. ($5000)

Ex Triton V (15 January 2002), lot 1192; Numismatic Fine Arts XXVII (4-5 December 1991), lot 17.

The mule biga and hare types introduced by Anaxilas continued to be used after the tyrant's family had been expelled in 427 BC. The racing mule-car with Nike above commemorates Anaxilas’ victory at Olympia. The hare recalls that he was credited with having introduced the animal into Sicily, probably in connection with the cult of the Arcadian Pan.