Ancients => hey, there's a hare in my salad!!

Well, I've been on the wagon for the past three weeks, but when I saw this sweet lil' rabbit I knew => Shabammmm!! ... man, I gotta have it!!

Sure, it may be a bit scuffed-up, but man-o-man => I like it!!

SICILY, Messana. AR Drachm
445-439 BC
Diameter: 18 mm
Weight: 3.59 grams
Obverse: Charioteer driving biga of mules right; above, Nike flying right, crowning horses; olive leaf and berry in exergue
Reverse: Hare springing right within wreath, ΜΕΣΣΑ-ΝION
Reference: Caltabiano Series IX, 388 (D175/R168); HGC 2, 807; SNG Lloyd 1111; SNG Lockett 820; Boston MFA 288; Jameson 651; Pozzi 487; Rizzo pl. 27, 11 (all from the same dies)
Other: 10h … toned, rough surface, scratches, scuffs. Very Rare
From the Continental Collection




... this is my first hare!!

Please feel free to jump-in and post your rabbit-coins and/or your cool coins from Sicily, etc ... there aren't too many rules in my threads!!

 

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The fatter version...

 

Too cool! Thanks for sharing!

 

Nice pick up little brother and also nice coin Dionysos. I guess I need to find me a hare for my soup.

 

...and a skinnier version, minus charioteer and biga

AR litra, 13 mm, 0.6 gm

 

Nice addition

 

Another great coin Steve, where's that pesky Wabbit, i like my wabbit in Enchiladas..

 

Nice addition! I don't have any hare-y coins to share.

 

Cool lookin' rabbits, gang!!

Dionysos (Batman) ... yah, I knew that you were gonna trump me with that baby!!

=> dats a mighty sweet coin, brother!!

 

My favorite hares are all dead (Akragas).

...and the one I don't have (for good reason).
https://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/highlight_objects/cm/s/silver_decadrachm.aspx

 

Ummm, here is another posting opporunity ...

=> how 'bout coins with a "surrounding wreath" ...

 

Wow => those are some nice dead rabbits, Doug ....

... sadly, I was outbid on one of those babies at today's auction (oh well, I still scored my live rabbit)

Thanks for posting your coins, gang!!

 

Ummm, if you're wanting to learn more about Messana and its ancient history, here is a pretty interesting link:

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus:text:1999.04.0064:id=messana-geo

 

No rabbits here but wreaths? You asked for it steve!

 

Thanks, Jango ... you're the new King O' Wreaths!!

 

Nice win, as always. I was really keen on that one too, but when I realised who had put his name on it, I wisely took the ticket for the next one.

 

Thanks for the mercy, Z-bro!! (I owe ya one)

 

What was the symbolism of rabbits? Do we have any original documents that discuss what rabbits meant to the Romans?

 

Perhaps a symbol of swiftness, relating to Messana's victory in an Olympic event?

Excerpt from Wayne Sayles "Ancient Coin Collecting II: Numismatic Art of the Greek World":

His source is not cited.