Bruttium, Rhegion. Circa 478-476 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.40 gm). Charioteer in biga right, holding reigns and kentron; leaf in exergue / Hare bounding right. Caltabiano 101 (O51/R59 -- this coin); P. Attianese, Calabria Greca III, 1311. Lightly toned VF. Ex J. Schulman Auction 265 (28 September 1976), lot 45; ex J. Schulman Auction 264 (26 April 1976), lot 5030; ex Metropolitan Museum of Art: John Ward Collection, pt. II (Sotheby & Co., 4-5 April 1973), lot 90. With the exception of the identifying ethnic, the early coinage of Rhegion is nearly identical to that of Messana in Sicily, located directly across the narrow straits from Rhegion. Both cities were ruled by Anaxilas, a tyrant who gained control of Rhegion in 494 and subsequently in 488 seized control of Zancle, which he re-named Messana after transferring a large contingent of Messenian refugees from the Peloponnesos there. Anaxilas won the mule biga event in the Olympic Games in 484 or 480 BC, an event celebrated by the charioteer shown on the obverse of this coin and similar issues from Messana. The significance of the hare on the reverse is ambiguous; it may have some connection with the religious beliefs of the Peloponnesians who were settled in the city by Anaxilas. Tyrants from Rhegion continued to rule both cities until 461 when they were expelled and the cities gained their freedom.

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Topics:
   + Bigas on coins
   + Both sides of coins
   + Coins of Rhegion
   + Coins on black background
   + Hares on coins

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• Original datetime: between circa 478 and circa 476 BC
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