Messana, Sicily AE19 litra 330-325 BCE 

• -330 
• Greece (ancient) 
• AE 19 
• Ancient Greece before 146 B.C. 

6671679

Coins

Messana, Sicily AE19 litra 330-325 BCE

-330

5.9

19

( Poseidon )

( trident )

SNG Copenhagen 421; Calciati I pg. 52, 14 var.; Caltabiano 747; Virzi 1144; SNG ANS 393 var.

Obv; laureate head of Poseidon left; with F & dolphin Rev; ornate trident head, with dolphin on either side & F below. Founded by Greek colonists in the 8th century BCE, Messina was originally called Zancle (meaning "scythe" because of the shape of its natural harbor. In the early 5th century BC, Anaxilas of Rhegium renamed it Messene in honor of the Greek city Messene. The city was sacked in 397 BC by the Carthaginians and then reconquered by Dionysius I of Syracuse. And, a later Battle of Messana (265–264 BCE) was the first military clash between the Roman Republic and Carthage. It marked the start of the First Punic War. In that period, and after the recent successes in southern Italy, Sicily became of increasing strategic importance to Rome.