Messana (?) AE Dichalkon

Messana or uncertain mercenaries in Sicily / Bruttium . AE13 (3.60 g), c. mid 4th Century BC.
Obv. Head of Hephaistos wearing conical pilos to left.
Rev. Monogram of ME.
BMC -; McClean -; SNG Cop. -; Gill 1.D; BCD Peloponnesos 1330 ( this coin , but as Methana in Argolis); Buceti, Messana, 147, 5; Gargano, in: SNR 87 (2008), una moneta di Methana da Castellace, p. 23-44.

Extremely rare. Rough edges and possible traces of overstriking on obverse, otherwise hard green patina and very fine.

From the BCD collection, ex LHS 96 (2006), 1330. Also from an unknown old collection with original ticket, originally purchased in the 1920ies for £ 1/10/-.

This coin has been attributed to Methana in the Argolis in the past, but it has been reattributed to Messana by Giuseppe Buceti, while Giorgia Gargano thinks it is a mercenary issue from Sicily or Bruttium.