Nomos Auction 4

8.3125 8 5/16

13/32

13/32

8.3125 8 5/16

0.625 5/8

11.25 11 11 1/4

0.625 5/8

0.625 5/8

.3437 0.4062 11/32 0.4062

auction 4

nomos 4

z端rich, 10 may 2011

nomos ag, numismatists

nomos ag, numismatists z端rich, switzerland

0.625 5/8

z辰hringerstrasse 27, postfach 2664, ch-8022 z端rich, switzerland telephone +41 44 250 51 80, fax +41 44 250 51 89 info@nomosag.com, w w w.nomosag.com

04_NOMOS_Cover_3_4.indd 2

02.03.11 21:28

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, z端rich 10 may 2011

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, z端rich 10 may 2011

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

nomos zürich, switzerland

auction 4 zürich, 10 may 2011 coins of Thessaly, the BCD collection

Limmatquai 54, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland Tel. + 41 44 251 37 41

nomos ag, numismatists zähringerstrasse 27, postfach 2664, ch-8022 zürich, switzerland telephone +41 44 250 51 80, fax +41 44 250 51 89, mobile +41 79 701 90 96 info@nomosag.com, www.nomosag.com

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, z端rich 10 may 2011

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

time table – zeittafel – ordre de vente tuesday 10 may 2011, 14:00 – 18:30 lots 1001 – 1437

viewing – besichtigung – exposition the coins can be viewed mondays through fridays from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m., and at other times by appointment. the coins can also be viewed online at www.nomosag.com and at

during the auction live online bidding is available through

Die Auktion erfolgt unter Mitwirkung eines Beamten des Stadtammannamtes Zürich I. Jede haftung des anwesenden Beamten, der Gemeinde und des Staates für Handlungen des Auktionators entfällt. ® 2011 Nomos AG, Zürich

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

Versteigerungsbedingungen

Conditions de la vente aux enchères

Die Auktion erfolgt gegen Barzahlung in Schweizer Franken mit einem Aufgeld von 18% auf dem Zuschlagspreis. Ein zusätzliches Aufgeld von 3% wird bei allen erfolgreichen Life Internet Geboten hinzugerechnet. Für Auslieferungen in der Schweiz erhöht sich der Endpreis (Zuschlagspreis und Aufgeld und Versandspesen) für Silber- und Bronzemünzen, und Medaillen um die MWSt von 8%. Im Ausland erhobene Gebühren irgendwelcher Art sind vom Käufer zu bezahlen. Die Gesamtpreis ist nach erfolgtem Zuschlag fällig. Das Eigentumsrecht wird erst mit der vollständigen Bezahlung vom Käufer erworben. Für verspätete Zahlung wird ein Verzugszins vom 1% pro Monat in Rechnung gestellt. Gebote, die 80% des Schätzpreises unterschreiten, können nicht berücksichtigt werden. Schriftliche Gebote haben den Vorrang.

La vente a lieu au comptant en francs suisses et le prix d’adjudication est augmenté d’une taxe de vente de 18%. Une taxe additionelle de 3% est ajouté pour des offers avec success du offers Internet en direct (Life auction bidding). En cas de livraison en Suisse, la prix total (prix d’adjudication + taxe de vente et frais d’expédition) est augmenté de laTVA Suisse de 8% pour les monnaies en argent et en bronze et les médailles. Les droits et taxes dus à l’étranger sont à la charge de l’acheteur. Le paiement est dû au moment de l’adjudication. Un intérêt de 1% par mois sera facturé pour tout retard. Le transfer de propriété n’est effectif qu’au moment où le prix d’achat est payé intégralement. Les orders écrits de moins de 80% de nos estimations ne seront pas prix en consideration.

A prixégal, les offers écrites ont la priorité.

Jeder Ersteigerer verpflichtet sich, für die durch ihn getätigte Erwerbung persönlich haftbar zu sein. Er kann nicht geltend machen, für Rechnung Dritter gehandelt zu haben. Der Zuschlag verpflichtet zur Abnahme.

Die Beschreibung der Stücke und deren Erhaltungsgrade erfolgt nach bestem Wissen und Gewissen. Die Echtheit der Stücke wird garantiert. Berechtigte Reklamationen werden bis 8 Tage nach Erhalt der Stücke berücksichtigt. Der Versand der ersteigerten Stücke erfolgt nach vollständiger Bezahlung der Rechnung auf Kosten und Risiko des Käufers. Im übrigen kommen die ortsüblichen Gantbedingungen zur Anwendung.

Gerichtsstand für alle Verfahren ist Zürich 1. Nur der deutsche Text der Auktionsbedingungen ist rechtsgültig. Durch Abgabe eines mündlichen oder schriftlichen Gebotes werden die vorliegenden Auktionsbegingungen anerkannt.

Chaque participant à la vente s’oblige pour les achats effectués par lui-même; il ne peut pretender avoir agi pour le compte d’un tiers. L’adjudication oblige irrévocablement l’acheteur.

La description et l’état de conservation des pieces sont donnés en bonne foi. L’authenticité des monnaies est garantie. Des reclamations justifiées ne peuvent être prises en consideration que dans les huit jours suivant le remise des monnaies. L’envoi des lots adjugés sera effectué, après paiement, aux frais et risques de l’acheteur. Les conditions locales de mise aux enchères seront appliqués.

Le for juridque pour toutes procedures est fixé à Zürich 1. Seul le texte allemand des présentes conditions de vente fait foi. Celui qui donne une enchère orale ou écrite reconnait avoir pris connaissance des conditions de vente ci-dessus.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

Conditions of Sale All sales will be made through payment in Swiss Francs, with the addition of a buyer’s premium of 18% on the hammer price. An additional charge of 3% will be added to the invoice of all successful live internet bids. For all lots delivered in Switzerland there is an additional Swiss VAT of 8% due on the hammer price and on the buyer’s premium for silver and bronze coins, and for medals. The purchaser is responsible for all taxes and fees due for delivery of lots outside of Switzerland. Payment is due immediately following conclusion of the sale. Full title to purchases is only obtained upon full payment. A charge of 1% per month will be assessed for delayed payments. Bids below 80% of the estimated prices will not be accepted. Written bids take preference over room bids.

Buyers are personally responsible for their own purchases and cannot claim to act on the account or instructions of a third party. Adjudication occurs on the fall of the hammer and commits the bidder to acceptance of the lot.

The lot descriptions, including the degree of preservation, are opinions and made in good faith. The authenticity of all coins is guaranteed. Justified complaints can only be considered if made within eight days of the auction. Upon receipt of full payment, shipment of lots will be arranged for the purchaser at his expense and risk. In general, the usual conditions applied to auctions held in Zürich apply here.

Exclusive jurisdiction for any legal proceedings shall be Zürich 1. Although the Conditions of Sale are provided in English, French and German, only the German text is legally valid. The bidder accepts these conditions of sale by the submission of a bid, whether verbal or written.

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

Thessaly – An Introduction from the Cataloguer Thessaly is an extensive region of plains that lies between Macedonia and Boeotia, and is both surrounded by, and divided by, mountains. It was a very rich area for agriculture and stock raising, especially horses, which gave rise to the Thessalians’ fame as cavalrymen. The area has been inhabited since Paleolithic times and was densely populated from the 7th century on. From at least that time it was organized into a loose federation, composed of four groups of cities (or tetrarchies), with a single military leader chosen from one of the leading families; early on they were from the Aleuadae of Larissa, but they had their rivals in the Skopadae of Krannon and, of course, the tyrants of Pherai. In the 4th century the rivalry between Pherai and the rest brought a great deal of strife, leading directly to the intervention of Philip II who effectively ended the area’s autonomy. From the later 4th until the early 2nd century the area was mostly under the control of Macedon, with some parts being in the hands of the Aetolians. In 196 the cities were ‘freed’ by Flamininus but from that time on they were effectively under Roman control.

The wealth of the Thessalian cities led to the appearance of coinage in the very early 5th century, first at Larissa, and then spreading to many other cities. Most of the early issues were League issues, utilizing common themes, such as the bull wrestler/horse or horse/grain types, which were produced in increasingly large numbers. With the advent of bronze coinage, beginning in the later 5th century but exploding during the first half of the 4th, a great number of Thessalian cities issued coins for commercial and prestige purposes. Obviously, small silver and bronzes were most useful for daily transactions, but many cities and towns produced the occasional larger denomination either for special economic needs or as a demonstration of local pride. These coins, struck in small quantities and often by a single pair of dies, were designed by artists of the highest quality and must have served as special issues that were not solely of economic necessity. In fact there are a number of Thessalian issues, which are so carefully and beautifully made, that they must have been “donatives” in the manner of some of the rare issues of Sicily. This should not be surprising since the both areas had the same kind of agriculturally rich and prideful aristocracies. It should not be forgotten that coins were the one object of daily life that the majority of ancient people saw; thus coins were a perfect way to spread messages. The amazingly fine die work on the coinage of tiny towns like Melitaia or Kierion can only be described as local pride at work.

This catalogue is quite different from my other BCD catalogues, those of Olympia and the Peloponnesos, as well as those produced on the coins of Akarnania - Aitolia, Boiotia, Korinth, Euboia, and Lokris - Phokis: it does not pretend to provide a full treatment of the region’s coinage. Rather, it is just a detailed overview, lacking any real attempt at synthesis or deep research. In some ways this is because turning an auction catalogue into a scholarly excursus is, perhaps, not a very good idea: my Peloponnesian catalogue was surely too long (as were the seemingly endless series of Pegasos/trident chalkoi in the BCD Korinth sale). Thus, I have presented the coins in what I think is a reasonable order, but I have not made any serious research into them, except on occasion. For this I apologize to the user. If you find mistakes or can suggest emendations, please let us know. There are scholars who are now working on some of these series, but whose studies have not yet been finished: when they are published we will all know more. In fact, I must apologize to at least one scholar whose unpublished research I have not used, though it was so kindly made available to me: she has to publish it and this may help to push her to do so! As it is, I have tried to use as much recent research as is available – and some of it is very good, indeed! – but, frankly, I simply could not redo flawed studies, such as that on Pharsalos, without turning this catalogue into an enormous scholarly die study! I have to admit that I initially resisted this concept of this catalogue, which was entirely BCD’s idea, but in the end I have come to realize that he was right. While working on BCD Peloponnesos was often fun, as a coin catalogue it was a bit over the top! I also have to confess that I have tried to sneak in some fascinating but fairly awful coins because they appealed to my scientific feelings, but after discussions with BCD I have realized that, honestly, almost all those “treasures” were better left out! Yet these strict limitations on this catalogue’s contents have allowed me to show what are truly highlights: the 437 lots in this sale contain not only contain what are the very finest coins in the entire BCD collection, but also some of the finest coins of Thessaly anywhere. What appears in this catalogue is always interesting, but most of it is usually very attractive as well. Choosing the coins was not easy: in many cases dozens, if not hundreds, of coins of the same type were sorted through to find a single example that was really nice. Sometimes such a coin simply does not exist (perhaps in museum collections dating to the 19th century, but the modern use of chemical fertilizers has taken a terrible toll of the metal objects that lay buried in Thessalian soils). Even corroded, some

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of the coins in this catalogue are the finest existing specimens of their type. Yes, there are many more Thessalian coins that will appear in future offerings of the BCD collection, but please do not expect to find many of equal quality (though some will be of great rarity).

One note is needed about the denominations given to the bronze coins within this catalogue. It seems clear that there were, in the 4th century and later, at least three, if not four denominations: the simple chalkous, the dichalkon, the trichalkon and/or the tetrachalkon. Yet, unlike in the Peloponnesos, where the denominations seem quite clear, those in Thessaly appear rather muddled. The largest pieces are usually identified as tetrachalkoi, but many of them certainly could be trichalkoi. This is often the case with series that have two smaller denominations, surely chalkoi and dichalkoi, which are, however, not that much smaller than their larger fellows. In addition, while tetrachalkoi tended to oust the smaller denominations as time went on, were they really that usual in the 4th century, when so many of these coins were minted, or were they all trichalkoi?

Without an in depth study of this material, which we do not have, we cannot be sure. Thus, all the denominations given for the classical and Hellenistic bronzes, save for the chalkoi, should be viewed as tentative identifications.

Another note should be made about the estimates that appear in this catalogue. They were entirely made by BCD himself and they are, thanks to his oft expressed concern for the “uninitiated collector”, very conservative. This is evident, when these estimates are compared with all the cost prices he has included in the provenances; often they are a mere fraction of what he paid. “I was pushed, those devils!” “But why didn’t you just put your hand down?” “How could I, this coin was a must for me!” In addition, he wants to make clear that this sale is totally unreserved and it is his hope that all the lots within it will find new homes. I would, therefore, strongly suggest that everyone interested in the coins in this sale bears the reason for the low estimates in mind when preparing to bid on them.

ASW

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

A Note from the Collector It is with a touch of nostalgia that I say goodbye to Thessaly. Not because I regret parting with so many of my favourite coins but for another, more subtle reason. Since the early 60's, collecting this area in depth provided me with many special moments, a few of them extending into pure bliss, if I can use the expression. Then, there were the coins that I could have obtained but somehow I didn't. Admittedly these were few, very few indeed.

And just because they were so few, I remember them all as sad, painful interludes in a lifetime of collecting happiness. It is probably those ups and downs that I will miss (the "ups" lose their meaning without the inevitable "downs"), or, to put it in another way, I will miss the surge of adrenaline that adds flavour to an obsessive collector's reclusive lifestyle.

So if there is a piece of advice I may give to someone starting a collection in a specialized field, it is this: don't miss an opportunity to buy something really rare, you are bound to regret it sooner or later.

New Thessalian coins started appearing in the market in the 80's and have continued to appear, with increasing frequency, up to now. By "new" I mean coins unknown up to the time they appeared. Not just new varieties, of which there are always some to be found if one searches the market diligently, but completely new types and denominations and, on some rare and exciting occasions, even coins of new mints. For this reason Thessaly has been my favourite area and will be the last BCD collection to go under the hammer.

Nevertheless, not long after this auction is over, more new, rare or unknown-up-to-now Thessalian coins will start appearing. A collector is therefore constantly reminded that no "area collection" can ever be complete where Greek coins are concerned. This is what makes this kind of specialized collecting so exciting and so appreciative of the occasional unexpected gifts bestowed on our eccentric fellowship.

All the coins offered in this auction catalogue were selected by Alan Walker (ASW) with the exception of the last ten lots; these were put together by the collector. The selection was limited to the number of lots that could be auctioned during an afternoon's session. It will therefore be immediately apparent that this offering does not claim to be complete in any sense of the word. Almost all type variants are left out as well as, in some cases, denominations and even entire mints that were considered unworthy of being part of an auction catalogue where primarily eye appeal, combined with interest and rarity, was the necessary prerequisite for inclusion. However, ASW, once more being his inimitable self, decided that some coins that looked – and were – practically the same as others, should also be included. I quote the following pairs as the more obvious examples of what I consider unnecessary duplication: lots 1011/1012, 1045/1046, 1159/1160 and 1284/1285. The multiple lots within the main body of the catalogue were the collector's idea: common coins of low value grouped together and/or an attempt to further reduce the number of lots.

Most of the readers of this catalogue, but especially the ones that are keen followers of market prices, will consider the estimates of this auction unreasonably low. This collector takes full responsibility for reducing them to levels that almost always are much lower than his costs. Proof of this is provided, where available, by showing in brackets the hammer price of the coin's last appearance at auction. An explanation for this, generally frowned upon, attitude is therefore in order here: the collector's philosophy is that all the coins offered in the BCD auctions should be sold, and sold at levels determined by market forces. "Opening" the lot at 80% of an "unreasonably low estimate" – provided that there are no mail bid offers – is almost a guarantee that all coins will find new homes. This also means that the individuals who have done their homework and are familiar with the price levels prevailing in today's market will probably outbid anyone who is not aware of current coin prices and who bids guided by the estimates alone. On the one hand this may give an advantage to dealers or collectors with good libraries of current and older auction catalogues but, on the other, anyone wishing to do serious research may also do so, at least to some extent, by using the Internet. To sum up, the way this catalogue was planned and written favours those knowledgeable collectors and dealers who are aware of current price levels or, in general terms, the individuals who take the time to do some research.

It is, of course, also possible that some collector (or admirer of miniature art) not at all familiar with the Thessalian series may still fall in love with one or more of these gems, just as this collector did in the past. Then he or she would have a very good excuse to outbid all the knowledgeable participants and become the temporary owner of a coin or coins that will brighten up the rest of his or her life. This collector never regretted overpaying for the coins that spoke to his heart.

BCD

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Ainianes The Ainianes were the inhabitants of the district of Ainis, an area to the south of Thessaly (albeit considered part of it), which bordered on Malis and Oita to the east, Aitolia on the south, and Dolopia and Achaia Phthiotis on the north. Its major city way Hypata (IACP 420), which was where coinage in the name of the Ainianes, the people of Ainis, was struck. There are some archaeological remains there, but none of particular importance.

Hypata had been in the Aitolian League since 302 BC and suffered damage from the Romans in 191; it had left the League by 168 and was joined to Thessaly by Augustus in 27 BC. It was prosperous in Roman times and was the seat of a Christian bishopric. Later it became known as Neai Patrai and was an important medieval city; it is now the modern town of Ypati. As noted, the coinage in the name of the Ainianes was struck at Hypata; as were a very small amount of bronze coins in the name of Hypata itself destined for narrowly local circulation, and now extremely rare. The main body of the coinage of the Ainianes was struck around the middle of the 4th century; then comes a small group struck during the time of Demetrios Poliorketes, and an even smaller group of coins that utilized the types of the Aitolian League: their dating is highly uncertain. Finally, there is a somewhat astonishing group of coins, both silver and bronze, that simply must date to the 1st century BC, probably starting no earlier than the 80s and ending no later than the 30s BC.

Atrax (IACP 395) Atrax was in Pelasgiotis and is located near the modern village of Palaiokastro. There are a number of relatively minor remains, including some fortification walls – the walls of the lower city were almost completely reused for a Turkish aqueduct. There is evidence that it was a fortress in Mycenaean times but the present remains are primarily Hellenistic and Byzantine (Justinian fortified the site in the 6th century). The coinage of Atrax primarily dates to the 4th century, beginning c. 370 and continuing on until the 340s; then comes a series dating to the earlier 3rd century; with at least an issue or two struck towards the end of the 3rd or even in the 2nd century.

Demetrias (IACP-) Demetrias is in Magnesia, founded in 293 by Demetrios Poliorketes, and formed by the synoecism of a considerable number of Thessalian towns, some of which continued to exist, including Halos, Homolion, Iolkos, Pagasai, and Rhizos, all of which had previously issued their own coinages. It served as a Macedonian strongpoint and harbor: in the 190s it first fell to the Romans, then to the Aitolians who turned it over to Antiochos III, then back to the Macedonians in 191. It remained Macedonian until 167 when its fortifications were partially razed by the Romans and it became the capital of the Magnesian League. There are, nevertheless, considerable remains of fortification walls at present, including the foundations of at least 182 towers; there are also ruins of a Macedonian palace. The city is also known for the painted grave stelai that were found reused in the towers of the city walls. The city was sacked by the Arabs in 901/2 and by the Bulgarians in 1040; it was also a Catalan Duchy in the 14th century. It was eclipsed by nearby Volos and had disappeared by 1600.

The city’s coinage began in the 290s and did not continue very much longer (though given the amount of wear the average example has it must have circulated well down into the 2nd century, if not later). Beginning in the 2nd century, however, Demetrias became the mint of the coinage of the Magnetes, which included silver and bronzes that were struck from the 170s down into the 130s. Other coins were mined in the 40s and 30s BC; the city’s coinage concludes with a range of rare Imperial issues ending in the 3rd century AD.

Dia (IACP p. 687) Dia was in Thessalian Achaia, but virtually nothing is known about it save for the small number of mid 4th century coins that have been found and published since the 1990s. It was apparently not a polis in Greek terms.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

Ekkarra (IACP 434) The Achaian town of Ekkarra can be identified as the modern village of Kaitsa: there are a few fortification walls remaining but the most abundant relic of the town are its bronze coins, which date entirely to the 320s BC.

Eurea (IACP 446) The Magnesian town of Eurea has possibly been located but the only real remains of the city are its coins, which date to the mid 4th century.

Eurymenai (IACP 447) Eurymenai was also in Magnesia. Since ancient sources clearly give its location as being at the entrance to the Vale of Tempe, it seems clear that it is actually the site of what is today called Omolio (traditionally identified as the site of Homolion – see below). There are acropolis walls and some temple foundations. The city produced rare 4th century bronze coins: they were first struck in the 370s and ended in the 340s.

Gomphoi (IACP 396) Gompoi was in Thessaly proper, southwest of Trikka, at the modern site of Episkopi. The city came into existence in the 4th century, probably with the help of Philip II – thus its alternative name Philippoi or Philippopolis. It suffered the usual fate of many Thessalian cities from the 3rd century BC on: it was lost by Philip V to the Athamanians, but went back to him in 191, only to be turned over to the Thessalians in 196/5. It served as a base for the Romans in the war against Perseus; much later, in 48 BC, it was plundered by Caesar.

Later still a Christian church was erected on the Akropolis and Justinian I provided city walls, but it fell to the Slavs nevertheless. The city produced some very beautiful silver and bronze coins c. 350; further bronzes were struck in the first quarter of the 3rd century.

Gonnos (IACP 463) Gonnos is in Perrhaibia and has a fortified acropolis with a temple to Athena Polias dating back to the 7th century; though there are earlier remains there as well. It was visited by Xerxes in 480 and saw some military activity between the Macedonians and the Romans in the earlier 2nd century. There are some Roman remains but virtually nothing late Roman and little Byzantine and medieval. The coinage of Gonnos is entirely of the mid 4th century.

Gyrton (IACP 397) In Thessaly proper, Gyrton is mentioned in Homer but its greatest importance, albeit minor, came in Classical times. By Roman times it had dwindled into insignificance. The coinage of Gyrton, as usual primarily struck around the middle of the 4th century, is its most extensive relic. There is a small amount of silver but the city’s bronze coinage was quite abundant in scope, some of it being struck as late as the early 3rd century.

Halos (IACP 435) Halos was in Achaia and was one of the cities that helped found Demetrias. There have been some recent excavations but the most prominent remains are those of fortifications. The most important deity was Zeus Laphystios, who had a sanctuary and appears on the city’s coinage. For a time Halos was under the control of Pharsalos, but in the early 3rd century it was refounded by Demetrios Poliorketes (after being partially despoiled to found Demetrias). In medieval times the city seems to have been again refounded, this time as Halmyros and became quite prominent in the 11th – 13th centuries (though it suffered a few serious raids, especially that of the Sicilian Normans in 1158). The city produced a relatively small but attractive bronze coinage in the 4th-3rd centuries, beginning with a small issue of beautiful late classical coins in the mid 4th century; all the rest is Hellenistic and dates to the 3rd century.

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Herakleia Trachinia (IACP 430) Herakleia was in Malis and was founded by the Spartans in 426 BC to replace the more ancient city of Trachis, where the famous tragedy of Herakles and Deianira occurred (Pausanias saw her tomb), and to guard the great pass of Thermopylai. For most of the city’s 5th and 4th century history there was a great deal of internal and external strife, especially due to the city’s alliance with Sparta. There are few ancient remains of interest; Justinian refortified the acropolis. The coinage dates to c. 370-340 BC

Homolion (IACP 448) Homolion was in Magnesia, and at the site of Palaiokastro Karitsas, rather than at modern Omolio near Tempe.

There are a few archaeological remains but the most important of the city’s ancient monuments is its coinage, bearing a superb portrait of the hero Philoktetes and dating to the mid 4th century.

Iolkos (IACP 449) Also in Magnesia, Iolkos is now part of modern Volos. There are remains of a temple and some interesting graves. The only known coinage consists of some extremely rare bronzes of the mid 4th century.

Kierion (IACP 398) Almost nothing is known about ancient Kierion: there are remains of walls, perhaps later Archaic in origin but certainly Classical, and there seem to be some Hellenistic remains as well. The city’s coinage is its most interesting vestige and is quite extensive. It begins c. 400 - 360 with very rare small silver and less rare bronze; in the 350s the city produced some extremely rare staters along with more plentiful small silver and some bronze that continues to the end of the 4th century, if not slightly later.

Krannon (IACP 400) Krannon bordered on the territory of Larissa, Atrax and Skotussa and at one point was one of the richer cities of Thessaly. There are important prehistoric sites nearby; as are the hot springs after which the city was named.

Very few ancient remains are preserved, save for a considerable number of grave mounds, and while there were temples to Athena Polias and Asklepios, virtually nothing remains of them. The city suffered some turmoil in the 4th century, as also in the early 2nd century. By then the city had begun an irreversible decline and it disappeared after the early Roman period. Coinage began with 5th century silver issues of the Thessalian League. These were followed in the 4th, and 3rd centuries, by what appear to have been very large issues of bronzes. One of the reverse types was particularly interesting: it shows a wheeled car bearing a hydria, a water jar, often accompanied by one or two crows. This ‘hydria-cart’ was apparently an emblem of the city and actually existed: it was sacred to Zeus and at times of drought was driven around, while items placed in the hydria made thunderlike noises in an attempt to cause rain to fall.

Lamia (IACP 431) Lamia, sometimes known as Malia, goes back at least to the protogeometric period, but the primary remains today are classical in date. While severely damaged by the earthquake of 426, its rebuilt walls were strong enough to serve as a refuge for Antipater and his army during the early stages of the Lamian War (323-322).

They helped repel the Athenians and their allies, who were forced to retreat, and who then were decisively defeated by the Macedonians at the battle of Krannon in 322. The city also served as the capital of the Malians.

The city continued to exist up until the 6th century; by the 9th its name had changed to Zetunion; it was taken by the Turks in 1426 and became Greek again in 1832, when the name was changed back to Lamia. The city may have produced some extremely rare issues in the later 5th century, but its primary coinage consisted of silver and bronze of the first half of the 4th. The types usually are of Dionysos, or the eponymous nymph Lamia and the local hero Philoctetes. There may be some bronze of the later 4th and there is also an unexpected issue of drachms ca. 300 BC (with a head of Lamia on the obverse and Philoctetes on the reverse: the possibility that these are meant to represent Demetrios Poliorketes and his lover the Athenian courtesan Lamia is probably just a romantic story). However, BCD does not think so, see his note after lot 1094.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

Larissa (IACP 401) Larissa was an ancient city, supposedly founded by Akrisios, who was the father of Danaë and grandfather of Perseus, and was named after its eponymous nymph. It certainly goes back to prehistoric times; by the 6th century it had become a major town, and under its chief family, the Aleuadae, soon became the leading city of Thessaly. The city was allied to the Athenians in the Peloponnesian War. Partially eclipsed by Pherai and its tyrants after 400 BC, it was, nevertheless still of great political and cultural importance for Thessaly. But the pressure put on the city by Pherai resulted in Larissa falling under the control of Philip II in 352; in 344 it became his strong point in Thessaly. Freed from the Macedonians in 197 it became, once again, the chief city of Thessaly and was the capital of the Thessalian League from then on, serving as the mint of the League’s extensive coinage from the 2nd century BC through the time of Gallienus. The city was used as a base by Pompey, he initially fled there after Pharsalos in 48 BC, but it soon turned Caesarian. It was prosperous in Roman times and was fortified by Justinian. In medieval times the city retained some importance but after 1389 it became almost totally Turkish, most Greeks having left. Larissa became part of the modern Greek state in 1881. There are very few archaeological remains since the ancient city lies beneath the modern one and only scattered excavations have taken place, although many minor finds have turned up there during building works, such as the famous “Sitochoro Hoard” (IGCH 237). In fact, by far the most important remains of Larissa are its coins. Minting began in the early 5th century with some limited issues on the Persian standard, centering on depictions of the local hero Jason or his attributes (he seems to be conflated with Thessalos at times, or appears as an idealized youthful hero), these soon changed to Aeginetic weight issues of League type. At nearly the same time Larissa, the city nymph, also appears on the coinage, where she remains for the coming centuries. This silver coinage bearing heads or figures of the nymph ranged from the obol and its fractions up to vast numbers of drachms and even staters. The drachms with heads of the nymph effectively began towards the end of the 5th century at the same time as the earlier issues with bull wrestling scenes were ending, and continued until the 3rd quarter of the 4th century. The silver was accompanied by ever increasing numbers of bronzes. This entire coinage supposedly ends at some point in the second half of the 4th century when the city came under Macedonian control and the mint was closed. BCD thinks that the mint never closed during the period between the late 4th and early 2nd centuries BC, just that its production was reduced to occasional insignificant bronze issues of progressively deteriorating style. None of those coins appear in this catalogue because BCD thought they were hideous and even ASW couldn’t bear them. It reopened in the 2nd century BC issuing coins that were mostly in the name of the Thessalians. These continued to be issued until the mint closed down in the time of Gallienus.

Larissa Kremaste (IACP 437) The Achaian city of Larissa Kremaste goes back to at least the 5th century: it is known to have suffered great damage in an earthquake in 426 BC. It had an important fortress in Hellenistic times and was under either Macedonian or Aitolian influence until taken by the Romans but by then it was of little importance. It became active again in the 11th century and continued to exist until all its inhabitants were sent to help repopulate Constantinople in 1470.

The Magnetes The Magnetes were an ancient tribe who lived on the eastern border of Thessaly, around mounts Ossa and Pelion: their district was named Magnesia, which contained only a few towns of note, such as Meliboia, Rhizos and Homolion. Later, following a major synoecism, the chief town of their district became the harbor city of Demetrias. As a group they had no coinage in their own name until early in the 2nd quarter of the 2nd century BC when coins began to be issued c. 171 BC in Demetrias in support of Perseus of Macedon. After his fall coins in the name of the Magnetes continued to be issued in typically Thessalian form, similar to those of the Thessalian League struck in Larissa, until the late 1st century BC. These coins were primarily in bronze but also included some silver issues, most of which are now very rare. In the Imperial period bronzes were again issued until as usual coinage ended with Gallienus,

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Meliboia (IACP 453) According to the latest information, the Magnesia city of Meliboia has as yet not been securely identified, though stamped tiles with the city name are known. There are some extremely rare silver fractions, as well as less rare bronze: all date to the mid 4th century.

Melitaia (IACP 438) An Achaian city, Melitaia is primarily known for the traces of a circuit wall of nearly 4 kilometers and a considerable number of inscriptions. It was somewhat prominent in Roman times and had the epithet Sebaste; it still existed in Byzantine times. Its silver coinage is only of the first half of the 4th century, probably struck in a single episode in the 370s or 360s, and is known by two unique pieces, a drachm in Boston and a hemidrachm in this catalogue, both remarkable for their exceptionally fine style. The bronze is more plentiful and probably dates somewhat later.

Methylion (IACP 402) The site of this city is probably to be located at the village of Myrina where a few tiles inscribed with the city name have been found. Otherwise, as often, the primary evidence for the city comes from its coinage. There is a very small issue of League silver coinage in the 460s BC; then come some equally rare silver and bronze coins from the first half of the 4th century (though probably produced in separate, short-lived issues). In fact, as noted below, the coins of Methylion look as if they were all issued out of civic pride, rather than for widespread use.

Metropolis (IACP 403) This city was formed by synoecism in the late 5th or early 4th century. It was most prosperous in the later Hellenistic period, after the Romans arrived in the 190s. The chief deity was Aphrodite, and there was also a temple to Apollo. As with so many other Thessalian cities, Justinian helped repair the fortification walls, but the city effectively disappeared after the Slavic invasions. There are some rare silver coins in the early 4th century, followed by scarce issues of bronze in the 3rd century.

Mopsion (IACP 404) Virtually no significant archaeological remains exist for Mopsion; its name is, however, pre-Greek and refers to the Lapith Mopsos, a renowned seer who was one of the Argonauts and the son of Ampyx and the nymph Chloris. The city’s only coinage is in bronze, it is quite rare and dates to the mid 4th century.

The Oitaioi The Oitaians, the people who inhabited the district of Oita, were a fairly aggressive group whose capital became Herakleia Trachinia. Coins were struck there in the name of the Oitaians, at varying times from the 4th to the 2nd century; at present their chronology needs refinement.

Olosson (IACP 467) Olosson, modern Elasson, was in Perrhaibia and served as the mint for Perrhaibians’ coinage. There are some ancient remains at the site and it subsequently served as a medieval fortress. In the First Balkan War of 1912 Elasson, then still part of the Ottoman Empire, was the first town entered by the Greek army in its advance to Thessalonika. In addition to striking coins for the Perrhaibians, Olosson also issued very rare municipal coins in the first half of the 4th century.

Orthe (IACP 405) Orthe, or Orthos, should not be confused with the Homeric city of Orthe, which was probably the original name of Phalanna. Virtually no archaeological remains are known from it aside from coins. The city struck bronzes in

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the mid 4th century as well as in the late 4th-early 3rd centuries. The reverse types of the city’s coinage refer to Poseidon and the myth of the first horse.

Pagasai (407) Pagasai had existed from the 7th-6th century BC as the harbor of Pherai. In 477/6 it served as the base for an Athenian fleet that was in the area to overawe the Thessalians after their collaboration with Xerxes in 480. Its possession made Pherai very powerful in the earlier 4th century, and it only became an independent city in 352/3 when it was captured by Philip II. In 293 it became part of Demetrias and ceased to have an independent existence. The coinage of Pagasai, of which very few silver and only a single bronze is known, must have been produced from the late 350s to, perhaps, 340/330.

Peirasia (IACP 408) This city sits on rocky hill of white limestone and was known as Asterion, “Star”, in Homeric times. There are only very insignificant archaeological remains, primarily dating to the 5th and 4th centuries BC. The city issued very rare silver, which dates to the mid 4th century. The equally rare bronze must have been struck later in the century because its obverse type, a helmeted head of Athena, is based on that used on Alexander’s gold staters.

Pelinna (IACP 409) Pelinna, modern Palaiogardiki, is known for its 5th century acropolis walls, which are connected to 4th century walls surrounding a lower city. There are some well-preserved remains of towers, gates; those of civic buildings and temples are much less so. Citizens of Pelinna are known to have been Olympic victors. The city was proMacedonian: its quarrel with Pharkadon resulted in Philip II’s destruction of the latter city. There is some very rare early 5th century silver coinage from Pelinna (albeit not here), but the primary issues of silver and bronze are late 5th and early 4th century. There are also some bronze coins, surely much later and conventionally dated to 196-146.

The Perrhaiboi As mentioned above, under Olosson, the Perrhaiboi were the inhabitants of the district of Perrhaibia, which is to the north of Thessaly proper and borders Macedonia. The coinage in the name of the Perrhaiboi was struck at Olosson and begins in the 5th century, with types that follow those of the League issues. These are followed by bronzes of the first half of the 4th century and, then, after a long break, by silver and bronze of what are probably either the late 2nd or 1st century BC. Other Perrhaibian cities that struck coins were Gonnos and Phalanna.

Peuma (IACP 439) A small city of Achaia (modern Kallithea): there is a well-preserved acropolis and a circuit wall with gates and towers, as well as civic buildings and houses. An inscription from Delphi records a long running boundary dispute that Peuma had with Melitaia, and which was only solved, in c. 140 BC, by an appeal to the Senate in Rome, over 200 years after it began. The city’s bronze coinage, in the name of the Peumatians, was struck around the time of Demetrios Poliorketes.

Phakion (IACP 410) The Thessalian city of Phakion is only known from literary sources (Livy and Thucydides), from Delphic inscriptions and from rare bronze coins dating to the 3rd century BC (perhaps at the time of Demetrios Poliorketes). The site is unknown, although some believe it is located near the modern village of Argyromylos (Silver Windmill).

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Phalanna (IACP 468) There is considerable controversy over where Phalanna actually is: there seem to be several sites that look promising with large numbers of classical sherds. In any event it is probably near modern Tyrnavos (perhaps at Damasi). The city’s coinage was, however, quite extensive and indicates that Phalanna had considerable economic importance. Drachms, hemidrachms, trihemiobols and obols were produced in the mid 4th century, as were literally enormous numbers of bronzes, some of which seem to have circulated all over Thessaly – and beyond. The city’s bronze coinage must have stopped by the end of the 4th century, and included some issues that were clearly intended to only circulate locally. The extensive issues of bronzes that were produced by Phalanna, as well as by other cities (Krannon and Sikyon to mention just two examples), must have been designed for export use, especially to cities that either did not have their own small denomination coinage, or only produced very small issues for prestige reasons. The profit on such issues would have been considerable since once gone from the issuing mint’s territory, they might never be returned for redemption.

Phaloria (IACP 411) A Thessalian city of unknown location: various sites have been proposed, including one, at Nea Koutsouphliani, where modern quarries have completely obliterated the ancient remains. Thus, as is often the case, the only real evidence we have for the city’s existence comes from reused inscriptions, and from very rare bronze coins that seem to have been struck around the time of Demetrios Poliorketes.

Pharkadon (IACP 412) Traditionally identified as being the modern Klokoto, the discovery of an inscription giving the city name at Palaiogardiki (thought to be Pelinna) has raised some doubts. It was an important city in the 5th century, but it followed an anti-Macedonian policy in the 4th century and was destroyed by Philip II in 352. It seems then to have dwindled into insignificance. The city had a considerable and varied silver coinage in the 5th century, beginning in the 460s, though primarily of smaller denominations: some of the obols probably were struck in the earlier 4th century. As for bronzes, they were only issued in the second quarter of the 4th century and are quite rare.

Pharsalos (IACP 413) Pharsalos was one of the great cities of Thessaly. The site has been continuously occupied from Neolithic times until the present. In archaic and classical times the city was ruled by two major families, the Echecratids and the Daochids, and was allied to Athens during the Persian Wars. Nevertheless, in 457/6 the Athenians attempted a raid to capture the city but that failed; later they became allies again. There was considerable rivalry between Larissa, Pharsalos and Pherai for the overlordship of Thessaly; for a period in the 4th century Pherai dominated but after the arrival of Philip II the situation was reversed and Pharsalos received Halos in 346 as an outlet to the sea. In 323 Pharsalos joined the revolt against Macedonia; as a result the Daochids were expelled by Antipater and the city lost its independence. After the Romans defeated Macedonians, Pharsalos became part of the Thessalian League; in 48 BC it was the site of Caesar’s victory over Pompey. It was less important during Roman and early Byzantine times but it was quite prominent in the period after 1200; it was taken by the Ottomans in 1393 and remained Turkish until 1881.

The city possesses considerable remains of archaic and classical city walls, especially of the 4th century; much later, the walls of the upper city were strengthened by Justinian. Within the modern city few ancient remains can be seen, but considerable numbers of finds made during test excavations and building work can be seen in the museum in Volos. The coinage of Pharsalos was made the object of a corpus by Stella Lavva (Die Münzprägung von Pharsalos, Saarbrücken 2001). She has managed to put the coins into a fairly correct order, but she has missed a good number of coins, misidentified many of the ones she did have, and confused the die series to such an extent that all her conclusions simply have to be taken with considerable reserve, if not ignored. In any event, the bulk of the city’s coinage lasted for approximately 100 years, beginning c. 450 and very probably ending in the 340s, with the exception of some late bronzes that continue until the end of the century. The earliest issues were hemidrachms bearing, on their obverses, remarkable heads of Athena of a style that was a mixture of the latest archaic with early classical, and with a head of a horse on the reverse; these were accompanied by obols and some rare hemiobols. The horse was, of course, a reference to the horse-breeding prowess of the area of

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Pharsalos, and the fame of the Pharsaliotes as cavalrymen (some accompanied Alexander to Asia). Drachms first began to be issued in the late 5th century; initially with a reverse of a horse protome, the traditional Thessalian reverse type, and then switching to a Pharsalian cavalryman on horseback. The earliest of these coins were signed by the engraver Telephantos, and some of the later issues seem to be surprisingly close to contemporary staters from Thurium in Lucania – the possibility that the same engraver could be responsible for dies for both cities seems undeniable. The first bronzes, chalkoi, appear no earlier than the end of the 5th century; much more extensive issues of larger denominations were first struck in the first half of the 4th century, and then petered out some decades later.

Pherai (IACP 414) Pherai, now partially covered by modern Velestino, has been settled since Neolithic times, and is mentioned by Homer. It became important once the port of Pagasai came under its control (either in the late 6th or earlier 5th century BC). There are traces of city walls but actual remains within the modern city are sparse: the fountain of Hypereia, now a pond, was one of the ancient city’s major sights, as was the temple of the city’s patron goddess Ennodia. This was first built in the 6th century over a Geometic necropolis and must have replaced an earlier shrine (earlier dedications have also been found): it was rebuilt and enlarged in the 4th century. Pherai’s power was at its greatest under its tyrants in the first half of the 4th century; their rule began with Lykophron I, c. 406390, who may have been the head of an anti-aristocratic faction. After defeating an army from Larissa in 404, he allied himself with Sparta. He was succeeded by his son Jason, who greatly expanded Pherai’s influence over Thessaly. He dropped the Spartan alliance for one with Thebes, subjugated Pharsalos, dominated Perrhaibia and drew close to Athens. He was assassinated in 370 and, after an interregnum under one of his brothers, was ultimately succeeded by his son Alexander in 369. Alexander was extremely active militarily, though often losing, and was finally murdered by his wife’s brothers. His successors managed to remain in power until being deposed by Philip II and expelled in 352. However, Philip married one of the women from the house of Jason, Nikesipolis, who bore him, as a half-sister of Alexander III, Thessalonike (she, in turn, married Kassander who named the city he founded in 315 after her: Thessalonika). Pherai lost much of its power but remained prosperous through the Hellenistic period, after which it basically faded away until later Byzantine times.

The city’s coinage began with League issues in the 5th century and proceeded to late 5th or early 4th century bronze issues showing the fountain nymph Hypereia or the goddess Ennodia and a fountain spout on the reverse.

No coins are known in the names of Lykophron I or Jason, but Alexander’s pride, and overweening ambition, resulted in a remarkable output of coins in his name. These included impressive staters and smaller denominations bearing heads of Ennodia, sometimes combined with what must be equestrian portraits of Alexander himself. After this outburst of coinage, the later issues of the 4th century were quite minor until some extraordinary coins began to appear in the early 3rd century. Some very rare silver was produced in the time of Demetrios Poliorketes, and some even rarer pieces, including the unique stater (here lot 1322) from Kunstfreund, in the 280s or 270s. No later coins of Pherai seem to be known.

Proerna (IACP 441) A small city in Achaia, there are archaic and classical walls, but the most interesting remains are of a sanctuary of Demeter built in the 4th century over an earlier one dating back to the 6th- there may have been an even earlier 7th century shrine as well (finds are in the Volos museum). Almost nothing is known of the city’s history. As for its coinage, it is solely in bronze and dates, like many others, to the first quarter of the 3rd century, probably to the time of Demetrios Poliorketes. The head of the nymph that appears on one of Proerna’s rare issues (see, below, lot 327) is astonishingly well-made: this, once again, indicates the great pride citizens must have took in having their own coinage, and their willingness to engage an engraver of great talent to produce it.

Rhizos (IACP 457) Rhizos was in Magnesia and virtually nothing seems to be known about it, save for a few literary references and its coins, quite rare and entirely in bronze; and all from the mid 4th century.

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Skotussa (IACP 415) Skotussa was in Thessaly proper and was famous for its tree oracle of Zeus Phegonaios, supposedly the forerunner of the more famous one at Dodona. The fertility of the land brought considerable wealth to Skotussa, especially from the 6th century on. Alexander of Pherai conquered the city in 367/6, and as a gesture of reconciliation invited the members of the assembly to meet in the theatre, after they all had entered he had them massacred. Philip V had the city fortified; after the Roman conquest the city continued to exist throughout the late Hellenistic period, but by the time Pausanias came to visit in the 2nd century AD Skotussa had been abandoned. As for coinage, the city issued very rare League issues in the mid 5th century, and then, around the end of the century, a more substantial series with drachms and a variety of smaller denominations. There was considerable coinage until 367: then a break until the city recovered its independence and issued a very small amount of coins around the middle of the century. Finally, the remaining coinage all seems to be late 3rd or early 2nd century.

Thebai (IACP 444) Thebai in Achaian Phthiotis was a very old city indeed. There are remains going back to the late Neolithic, and the Mycenaean settlement seems to have been destroyed by fire c. 1200 BC. In archaic times the city was famous for its temple of Athena Polias. In 353 it was the site of Philip II’s victory over Pherai, and in 323/322 it was the only city in the area to remain loyal to Macedonia: Kassander even wanted to make Thebai into a city powerful enough to counter Pherai. Yet it was ultimately overtaken by Demetrias, and in Roman times was of little importance. From the 4th through the 6th centuries it regained some prosperity but the Slavic invasions put paid to that; despite some late Byzantine activity it disappeared by the 14th century. Its coinage seems to be limited to issues struck in the time of Demetrios Poliorketes, at the end of the 4th and the beginning of the 3rd century.

Trikka (IACP 417) Trikka (modern Trikala) was a city that seems only to have been of importance in the 5th and 4th centuries, though it was famous as being the birth place of Asklepios (there seems to have been a sanctuary around a Mycenaean grave that was thought to be his). It was also famous for its horses which, as the story goes, were the models used by Phidias for those on the Parthenon freize. There are some remains, mostly 5th/4th century or later.

There was the usual medieval resurgence and, under the Turks, Trikka became a city of some importance before its destruction by Albanians in 1770. The city produced silver League coinage in the 5th century and municipal bronze in the first half of the 4th.

Tripolis/Azoros (IACP 459) Tripolis was formed from the synoecism of three towns in Perrhaibia: Azoros, Doliche and Pythion. There are some ruins but little has been investigated and virtually nothing is known about the site. There are some coins attributed to the city, all extremely rare bronzes dating to the 2nd quarter of the 4th century.

Ikos (IACP 482) Ikos is an island, with a town of the same name, that lies off the coast of Magnesia. There are a few minor remains, a few inscriptions (it was a member of the Delian League) and there are locally produced amphorae, with stamps, that testify to a flourishing wine trade. It became a Macedonian possession in the 338 BC, and became Athenian in 42 BC. Between 1453 and 1537 it was a bone of contention between Venice and the Ottomans, before becoming Turkish until 1830 (it has now been erroneously given the ancient name Halonnesos, which actually refers to another island to the northwest). It produced some very rare bronze coins in the mid 4th century BC.

Peparethos (IACP 511) Modern Skopelos, Peparethos was an island in the northern Sporades that has a long history. Ancient legend has it that it was settled by the Minoans: this may well be true since there are ancient remains from that period. It was resettled no later than the 8th century BC; the city of Peparethos was walled by 426, and there were a number of sanctuaries. Its wealth came from wine, to which there are references on its famous archaic coinage. It also produced wood for ship building: its assessment when it was a member of the Delian League was three

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talents a year, a not inconsiderable sum; its wood was still used for this purpose as late as the 19th century. The island was laid waste by the Macedonians in 340 and again in the 2nd century. In 42 BC it was turned over to Athens. After the fall of Constantinople in 1204 it became Frankish until it was retaken by the Byzantines in 1276/7. It was Ottoman from 1528 until 1829. As mentioned above, an impressive silver coinage of the earlier 5th century has been attributed to Peparethos, but none of those coins are present in the BCD collection because BCD thinks they belong more to the Macedonian coinage tradition than they do to the Thessalian. On the contrary, the island’s later coinage is firmly Thessalian; there are some bronzes produced in the mid 4th century, some scarce pieces in the 2nd century, and some very rare coins under Augustus.

Skiathos (IACP 520) Skiathos was an island off Magnesia and had been colonized by people from the Chalkidike to the north. It was an originally Athenian ally it was forced into Spartan alliance in the late 5th and early 4th centuries. It then joined with Athens again. Taken over by Macedon in the later 4th century, it was devastated by the Romans at the end of the 3rd, and became a Pontic stronghold in 88, finally becoming Athenian again in 42 BC. It was a prominent refuge for those fleeing the Slavs in the 7th century. The city’s only coinage were bronze issued of the mid 4th century BC.

Skyros (IACP 523) There seem to have been settlers on Skyros at least as early as the Mesolithic period, and the island was an important entrepot in prehistoric times. According to the myth Theseus lived there in exile. In the early 5th century the island served as the stronghold of the Dolopian Pirates, but they were destroyed by an Athenian expedition under Kimon in c. 475; the island was then settled by Athenian cleruchs, in the process Kimon apparently discovered some very large bones that were thought to be those of Theseus, which were brought back to Athens for a hero’s burial (though they were probably those of a prehistoric mammal like a giant sloth). The island was never particularly prosperous. Aside from a very peculiar and an extremely rare silver coinage ascribed to the pirates in the 480s BC, and known only from a pair of hoards and a goodly number of Christodoulos forgeries; there are no other coins except a rare bronze issue by the Athenian Cleruchy in the 1st century BC (as Agora XXVI, 160).

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Oxford, 2004.

B.V. Head, Historia Numorum, second edition, Oxford 1911.

N. K. Rutter, ed., Historia Numorum Italy, Oxford 2001 R. Jameson. Collection R. Jameson. Monnaies Grecques Antiques, Paris 1913-1932.

Journal International d’Archéologie Numismatique, Athens.

Jahrbuch für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte, Munich.

Bank Leu AG & Münzen und Medaillen 28 May 1974, Griechische Münzen aus der Sammlung eines Kunstfreundes [collection Charles Gillet].

D.O.A. Klose, “Zur Chronologie der thessalischen Koinonprägungen im 2. und 1. Jh. v.

Chr.: Ein weiterer Schatzfund aus Südthessalien,” pp. 333-350 in U. Peter (ed.), Stephanos Nomismatikos, Edith Schönert-Geiss zum 65. Geburtstag, Berlin 1998.

C.M. Kraay and M. Hirmer, Greek Coins, London 1966.

S. Lavva, Die Münzprägung von Pharsalos, Saarbrücken 2001.

K. Liampi, “Das Corpus der Obolen und Hemiobolen des thessalischen Bundesund die politische Geschichte Thessaliens im 2. Viertel des 5. Jahrhunerts v. Chr.,” pp. 96-126 in W. Leschhorn, et al. (eds.), Hellas und der griechische Osten. Festschrift für Peter Robert Franke zum 70. Geburtstag, Saarbrücken 1996.

-, “Iolkos and Pagasai: two new Thessalian mints,” NC 165 (2005) 23-40.

H.C. Lindgren, Ancient Greek Bronze Coins: European Mints from the Lindgren Collection, San Mateo 1989.

E.S.G. Robinson, Catalogue of Ancient Greek Coins Collected by Godfrey Locker Lampson, London 1923.

C. Lorber, “The Early Facing Head Drachms of Thessalian Larissa,” pp. 259-275 in

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011 T. Sundquist, et al.

Lorber 2000 Lorber 2008

Lorber, Early Lorber, Middle Lorber, Late Lorber, Staters McCLean Moustaka Moustaka 1998 Münsterberg, NC Papaevangelou PapaevangelouGenakos

(eds.), Florilegium Numismaticum. Studia in Honorem U. Westermark Edita, Stockholm 1992.

-, “A Hoard of Facing Head Larissa Drachms,” SNR 79 (2000) 7-15.

-, “Thessalian Hoards and the Coinage of Larissa,” AJN 20 (2008) 119-142.

The following four references are all found with a link on the same web page.

They can be used online or printed out.

- and C. Shahar, Revised Lorber-Shahar Catalogue of Early Facing head Drachms http://www.lightfigures.com/numismat/larissa/index.php -, Lorber-Shahar Catalogue of Middle Facing head Drachms http://www.lightfigures.com/numismat/larissa/index.php -, Lorber-Shahar Catalogue of Late Facing head Drachms http://www.lightfigures.com/numismat/larissa/index.php -,Lorber-Shahar Catalogue of Larissa Staters (Didrachms) http://www.lightfigures.com/numismat/larissa/index.php S.W. Grose, Fitzwilliam Museum I-III. Catalogue of the McClean Collection of Greek Coins, Cambridge 1923-1929.

A. Moustaka, Kult und Mythen auf thessalischen Münzen, Würzburg 1983.

-, “Weissagung in Thessalien. Ikonographische Bemerkungen zur Münzprägung Pelinnas,” SNR 77 (1998) 57-62.

R. Münsterberg, Die Beamtennamen auf den griechischen Münzen. Reprint, 1973/1985 of the originals of 1911-1927.

Numismatic Chronicle, London.

C. Papaevangelou, “The coinage of Phakion,” SNR 75 (1996) 33-45.

-, “Metrological Aspects of the Thessalian Bronze Coinages: the Case of Genakos Phalanna,” ΟΒΟΛΟΣ 7 (2004) 33-50.

PCG RN Rogers RPC I RPC S RPC II SNG SNG Ashmolean SNG Berry SNG Copenhagen SNG Delepierre SNG Fitzwilliam SNG Hart SNG Lewis SNG Lockett SNG Morcom SNG Munich SNR Studies Touratsoglou SWH Traité Valassiadis Warren Warren 1961 Wartenberg Weber ZfN

G.F. Hill, A Guide to the Principle Coins of the Greeks from ca. 700 B.C. to A.D. 270, London 1932.

Revue Numismatique, Paris.

E. Rogers, The Copper Coinage of Thessaly, London 1932.

A. Burnett, M. Amandry, P.P. Ripollès, Roman Provincial Coinage I. From the Death of Caesar to the Death of Vitellius (44 BC – AD 69), London & Paris 1992.

-, Roman Provincial Coinage, Supplement I, London & Paris 1998.

A. Burnett, M. Amandry, I. Carradice, Roman Provincial Coinage II. From Vespasian to Domitian (AD 69 – 96), London & Paris 1999.

Sylloge Nummorum Graecorum SNG Great Britain V: Ashmolean Museum Oxford IV: Paeonia-Thessaly, London 1981.

SNG The Burton Y. Berry Collection I: Macedonia-Attica, New York 1961.

SNG Denmark. Danish National Museum, Copenhagen, Copenhagen 1942-1979.

SNG France, Bibliothèque Nationale, Cabinet des Médailles, Collection Jean et Marie Delepierre, Paris 1983.

SNG Great Britain IV: Fitzwilliam Museum: Leake and General Collections, London 19401971.

SNG Great Britain VIII: The Hart Collection, Blackburn Museum, Oxford 1989.

SNG Great Britain VI: The Lewis Collection in Corpus Christi College Cambridge, London 1972 and 1992.

SNG Great Britain III: The Lockett Collection, London 1938-1949.

SNG Great Britain X: The John Morcom Collection of Western Greek Bronze Coins, Oxford 1995.

SNG Deutschland: Staatliche Münzsammlung München, 12. Heft, Thesssalien – Korkyra.

Munich 2007.

Schweizerische Numismatische Rundschau/RSN Revue Suisse de Numismatique, Bern.

S. Drougou, et al., ΚΕΡΜΑΤΙΑ ΦΙΛΙΑΣ. Τιμητικóς τóμος για τον Ιωαννη Τουρατσογλου, Athens 2009.

Sotheby, Wilkinson and Hodge (1961-1924) E. Babelon, Traité des Monnaies Grecques et Romaines. 9 vols. Paris 1901-1932.

C. Valassiadis, “The coinage of the Oetaeans,” ΟΒΟΛΟΣ 7 (2004) 173-183.

Kurt Regling, Die griechischen Münzen der Sammlung Warren, Berlin 1906.

J.A.W. Warren, “Two notes on Thessalian Coins,” NC 1961, 1-8.

U. Wartenberg, “The History and Coinage of Alexander of Pherae,” pp. 151-157 in ΦΕΡΑΙ − ΒΕΛΕΣΤΙΝΟ − ΡΗΓΑΣ, Πρακτικα Β' Συνεδριου Βελεστινο 1992, Athens, 1994.

L. Forrer, Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Greek Coins Formed

by Sir Herman Weber 1823-1918, London 1922-1929.

Zeitschrift für Numismatik, Berlin.

23

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26

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, z端rich 10 may 2011

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1001

1001 Thessalian League. Circa 470s-460s BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.95 g 5). Forepart of horse to left. Rev. Φ - Ε Wheat grain with hull; all within incuse square. BMC 4 (Pherai) = Franke 1970, 11. Traité I, 1027, 1433 (but drawing wrongly numbered as 1413). Extremely rare, probably the finest example known. Extremely fine.

3500 Ex Helios 2, 25 November 2008, 113 (b 6500).

A note from BCD: The BMC plate piece is holed and certainly from the same reverse, possibly also from the same obverse die. Very few early League drachms are known: cities such as Methylion and, especially, Skotussa took over the minting of this denomination under their own name. Hemidrachms and the smaller fractions are more plentiful and this is also explained by the fact that, during these early times, Thessaly was still a "closed" economy and did not have much need for the large denominations that are usually reserved for bulk overseas transactions.

1,5:1

1002

1,5:1

1002 Thessalian League. Circa 470s-460s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.86 g 7). Forepart of horse to left; on body near truncation, monogram of ΝΑ (partly retrograde). Rev. Φ - Ε Wheat grain with hull; all within incuse square. Franke, 1970, 12 = SNG Lockett 1609. Very rare. Nicely toned and attractive. Nearly extremely fine.

1500 Ex Leu 33, 3 May 1983, 301(CHF 2100).

A note from BCD: One wonders what the monogram letters (if they are NA) on the horse’s body stand for. If they were a S and a K it would be understandable as the name of the first Thessalian horse, which, according to the myth, was Skyphios. After a closer look at this monogram, which looks like a brand mark, it was observed that the bar of the A clearly extends outside its right leg; also that the left leg of the so-called retrograde N may be vertical to this bar for a reason, perhaps to form a Γ. It may therefore be preferable to see a ΓΑ or some other letter combination starting with a Γ, especially as a clear Γ is engraved on the horse’s neck on some contemporary obols.

If, however ASW would insist on NA (he doesn’t) there could be a connection between this horse and the horses on lots 1283 and 1333 below. Both of these drachms have a small N in the field in front of the horse forepart that defies explanation.

1003 1,5:1

1,5:1

1003 Thessalian League. Circa 470s-460s BC. Obol (Silver, 0.91 g 8). Head of bridled horse to right. Rev. Φ - Ε Wheat grain with hull; all within incuse square. BMC 10 (Pherai). SNG Copenhagen 237 var. (Pherai).

Rare. Slightly rough surfaces. Very fine.

150

1004

1004 Thessalian League. Circa 470s-460s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.94 g 5). Forepart of prancing horse to right, emerging from rocks; on horse's flank, traces of a brand mark, possibly Λ Rev. ΦΕ / ΤΑ Wheat grain with hull; all within incuse square. Franke 7, fig. 8 (but BMC Pherai 8 as he says). SNG Copenhagen 236 var. SNG Munich 193 var. An atrractive, clear piece. Surface very slightly rough. Nearly extremely fine.

500 Ex Numismatik Lanz 92, 4 June 1999, 226 (DM 2600).

A note from BCD: The letter on the horse’s body could be a Γ (see the note to lot 1002, above).

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1,5:1

1005 1,5:1

1005 Thessalian League. Circa 470s-460s BC. Obol (Silver, 0.89 g 8). Head of bridled horse to right. Rev. ΦΕ / ΤΑ Wheat grain with hull; all within incuse square. Franke, 1970, 9 and fig. 10. Very sharp. Slightly rough, but bright and shiny. Nearly extremely fine.

300

1006

1006

2:1

1006 Thessalian League. Circa 470s-460s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.81 g 1). Forepart of prancing horse to right, emerging from rocks; on horse’s flank, traces of a brand mark, possibly Λ. Rev. ΦΕΘΑ (retrograde) Head of bearded Herakles to right, wearing lion’s skin headdress; all within incuse square. Traité IV 603, pl. CCXCIV 5. Extremely rare. Beautifully toned and most attractive. Minor mark on the obverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

2500 A note from BCD: It appears to this writer that the brand mark on the obverse was meant to be the same as that seen on lot 1002, above. The reverse of this coin features an exquisitely engraved and struck archaic head of Herakles, the work of a very gifted artist. When I was offered it through a friend, back in the 1960’s, I was told that a dealer had already made an offer for it that I had to match. Although my finances at the time hardly allowed for such an expense I mustered all the courage of a beginner collector and borrowed from wherever I could to acquire the coin. Looking at it now I can only be thankful for the many years of pleasure it gave me, and hope that its new owner will treasure it as much as I did.

1,5:1

1007

1,5:1

1007 Thessalian League. Circa 470s-460s BC. Obol (Silver, 0.94 g 10). Head of bridled horse to right. Rev. ΦΕ - ΘΑ Club; all within incuse square. BMC 11. Franke, 1970, 5, fig. 6. Rare. Very sharp and unusually nice. Slightly rough surfaces. Extremely fine.

225

1008

1008 Thessalian League. Circa 361-360 BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 5.67 g 9). Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath. Rev. ΠΕΤΘ - ΑΛΩΝ Forepart of prancing horse to right, emerging from a rock; below, trident head to right. Franke 1970, fig. 20 var. Rogers 2 = Traité IV 598, pl. CCXCIII, 20.

Extremely rare, probably the finest known example. A coin of splendid Classical style, with a fine, glossy black patina. Some minor marks and pits on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

1000 This is surely the rarest bronze coin issued by the Thessalian League: it was issued at a time when coinage was being produced all over Greece, often in rather small numbers purely as a way of proclaiming the issuing state’s independence. This was certainly true for many cities in the Peloponnesos beginning in the later 360s: they not only produced bronzes and small silver fractions, often beautifully designed out of civic pride, but also some exceptional staters. It would not at all be surprising if one day some League silver dating to this period would appear: as with the contemporary issues of the Achaian League, it would have been produced in extremely small numbers.

A note from BCD: The reverse of this coin, practically impossible to find in this state, could not be more eloquent.

Skyphios is seen bursting wildly from the rock with his head tossed up high, an image that does justice to the legend that he was the father of all horses. Below, Poseidon’s elaborate trident alludes to the creation of Thessaly when the god struck with it the land between the mountains of Olympos and Ossa and created a channel so that the waters that were inundating the plain could escape.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1009

1009 Thessalian League. Circa 170 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 3.68 g), Demetrias. Round shield of Macedonian form, ornamented with a star at the center and crescents at the edge. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Dart-sling, κεστροσφενδονη, with pointed dart within. Rogers 4 var. (legend differently placed). Warren 1961, pp. 5-8 and pl. I, 11. Rare. Well struck and with a dark green patina. About extremely fine.

100 This coin, as Warren points out, commemorates the alliance between Perseus of Macedon and some areas in southern Thessaly, especially Dolopia. The sling was a speciality of certain Thessalian troops who used it very successfully against the Romans during the Third Macedonian War.

2:1

1010

1010 Ainianes. Circa 360s-350s BC. Stater (Silver, 11.61 g 1), Hypata. Laureate and bearded head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝΩΝ Athena standing left, helmeted and wearing long robes, holding Nike alighting to left on her right hand and resting her left on her spear and shield at her feet; before her, to left, serpent coiled to left with, above, a spear point to left . Unpublished. Unique, an astonishing coin of the greatest interest and importance. Lightly crystalized and with a minor edge fault, otherwise, about very fine. 5000 This coin, unique and hitherto unknown, is typical of the kind of surprise that appears in the BCD collection! Staters from Thessalian mints, other than those from Larissa, are rarely encountered and must have been produced only on very special occasions for prestige reasons. Why, in fact, the Ainianes should have issued this stater is unknown, but it was presumably designed as part of the well-known issue of triobols and obols, with the same head of Zeus, which accompanied it. The reverse figure of Athena is virtually the same as the one that appears on the reverse of the rare bronzes struck in the name of the city of Hypata (as Traité IV, 454, pl. CCLXXXVII, 17), the capital of the Ainianes and the site of their mint, and we must assume that Athena must have been worshipped there. When this coin was minted is not certain: the traditional date for the coinage as a whole is from 400 to 344 (when Philip II took over Thessaly and seems to have stopped the issuance of most coinages save those of Larissa), but this time period is surely too broad. In fact, this coinage almost certainly has to be connected to the considerable number of staters that were issued in the aftermath of the Battle of Leuctra in 371 (as those of Argos, Pheneos, Stymphalos, etc. in the Peloponnesos, those struck in nearby Lokroi Opuntii, and in Larissa and Pherai). The very close stylistic links between all the earlier silver issues of the Ainianes makes it clear they were not struck over a long period of time, so it would seem that a date in the 360s-350s must be about right.

29

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1,5:1

1011

1011

1011 Ainianes. Circa 360s-350s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.81 g 6), Hypata. Laureate and bearded head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝΩΝ The hero Phemios, nude but for a belt holding a short sword in a scabbard and a chlamys draped over his shoulders and his left arm, standing left, facing front with his head turned to right, hurling a javelin with his right hand and holding his petasos, as if it were a small shield, with his left; on the ground line between his feet, sideways Φ (=Phemios). SNG Munich 1. Warren pl. XVI, 680 (same obverse die). Rare. A nicely toned, well centered and attractive example. Reverse slightly doublestruck at the bottom, otherwise, about extremely fine.

350 The earliest hemidrachms or triobols of the Ainianes must be those with the left facing head of Zeus and the unbroken city name on the reverse, as found here and on the unique stater (above, lot 1010). They are, apparently, rather more uncommon than those with the broken legend (as below, lot 1013). What does seem astonishing, however, is that no one seems to have noticed the letter on the reverse ground line that clearly identifies the warrior as Phemios. Perhaps even the ancient viewer did not realize what it meant, and that may well indicate why it was discontinued. It can be seen even more legibly on the following lot, struck from the same reverse die as this one. The idea that the object held in Phemios’ left hand is actually a shield, rather than a petasos, has recently been bruited about (i.e. CNG MBS 76, 2007, lot 369). This is interesting but it would require the existence of a buckler that curved inwards from the edge and then back up to the boss at the center, which does not really seem very likely.

Given the fact that he also has his cloak wrapped around his arm, it would seem that he was protecting himself in a rather casual way, commensurate with his heroic spirit. Looking at the piece illustrated in Peus 171, 2007, lot 393, makes it clear this is really a hat, not a stiff shield!

1,5:1

1012

1012

1012 Ainianes. Circa 360s-350s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.78 g 6), Hypata. Laureate and bearded head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝΩΝ The hero Phemios standing left and fighting right, as last, from the same die. SNG Munich 1. Rare. A lovely, lightly toned example. Nearly extremely fine.

350 Note the the very obvious Φ on the ground line on the reverse of this coin.

1,5:1

1013

1,5:1

1013 Ainianes. Circa 360s-350s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.76 g 12), Hypata. Laureate head of Zeus to left, similar to the last. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝ-ΩΝ The hero Phemios, similar to the last. BMC 2. BMFA 871. Jameson 1079A (this coin). Traité IV, 452, pl. CCLXXXVII, 15. Rare. Toned and attractive, though with some very slight surface roughness. Extremely fine.

500 Ex Monnaies et Médailles 61, 7 October 1981, 106 (CHF 6000), and from the collections of W. Niggeler, I, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen 3 December 1965, 250, R. Jameson and J. P. Lambros, Hirsch XXIX, 9 November 1910, 309.

This coin is probably marginally later than the two preceding examples, since it uses the more usual legend with a break on the reverse. The obverse dies are all amazingly similar to each other, though they are all different.

A note from BCD: The similarity of the obverse dies means that the same die engraver was responsible for all the 4th century issues of this mint. ASW is therefore quite right in compressing the chronology of this issue (by far the most abundant amongst the early Ainianes hemidrachms) to within the decade 360-350.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1014 2:1

2:1

1014 Ainianes. Circa 360s-350s. Obol (Silver, 0.88 g 12), Hypata. Laureate head of Zeus to left, as above.

Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝ Sword in scabbard and spear point. Jameson 1080. Traité IV, 453, pl. CCLXXXVII, 16.

Very rare. Toned and attractive. Good very fine.

400 Ex Sotheby’s, London, 22 April 1970, 120 (£42) and from the collection of S. Pozzi, Naville I, 4 April 1921,1190.

The weapons on the reverse are those used by Phemios.

1015

1015 Ainianes. Circa 302-286 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 4.37 g 9), Hypata. Laureate and bearded head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝ-ΩΝ Phemios, nude but for chlamys over his shoulder and sword in scabbard, shooting sling to right; behind, leaning against his right leg, two spears. BMC 18. Rogers 137.

SNG Copenhagen 4-5. An unusually fine example, with a dark, smooth olive-green patina. About extremely fine.

175 Acquired from ASW in July 1983 for CHF 475, originally ex Frank Sternberg stock.

The exact dating of the coinage of the Ainianes after the 4th century is rather in flux. We know they were joined to the Aetolian League from c. 286/272 -168, and it is believed that they produced no independent coinage during this period, save for some rare bronze of Aitolian type (as below, lot 1017). Afterwards they produced a considerable coinage in the later 2nd and 1st centuries. The present piece, and the following lot, seem not to fall into either late group: neither have a magistrate’s name, and must be earlier. Neither seem as early as the mid 4th century so they have been given the traditional date of the late 4th or early 3rd century. This surely may change.

1016

1016 Ainianes. Circa 302-286 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 16mm, 2.87 g 5), Hypata. Laureate head of Zeus to right; behind head, thunderbolt. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑ-ΝΩΝ The hero Phemios, as above, lots 11 ff., but not certainly using a javelin, though with a petasos in his left hand, and with two spears behind him, that lean against his right leg. Rogers 136 var. Rare. Attractive red and green patina. Good very fine.

125 Ex Künker 27, 27 September 1994, 191 (part).

The reverses of the coinage of the Ainianes can be divided into two main groups: the first, which I believe is the earlier, bears the figure of Phemios who appears as a warrior with a short spear and either a petasos or a petasos-like small shield; the second also bears a depiction of Phemios, but using a sling instead of a spear. In any case the coins that show him as a slinger are definitely later in date. The present coin appears to combine both types and is typical of the kind of confusing iconography found on some Greek coins!

1017

1017 Ainianes. Circa 279-168. (Bronze, 18mm, 3.26 g 12), Struck using the types of the Aitolian League, Hypata. Epikrates. Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑ/ ΕΠΙΚΡΑΤΟ[Υ]/ΝΩΝ Spearhead over jawbone of a boar. Rogers 140 var. Rare. Dark brown patina. About extremely fine.

150

31

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1018

1,5:1

1018

1018 Ainianes. Circa 80s (- 40s?) BC. Trihemidrachm (Silver, 7.40 g 12), Reduced Aiginetic, Hypata.

Eukrates. Head of Athena Parthenos to right, wearing an Attic helmet adorned with Pegasos, tendril, and four horse protomes. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝΩΝ/ΕΥΚΡΑΤΗΣ Phemios, as a slinger, nude but for chlamys over his shoulder and sword on baldric, standing facing, head turned to right, shooting his sling to right; behind him, two spears leaning against his right leg; to right, trophy. De Callataÿ 2004, 22 (this coin). SNG Copenhagen 13. Extremely rare. Attractively toned and very pretty. Nearly extremely fine.

1250 Ex Sternberg XI, 20 November 1981, 85 (CHF 1900) and from the collection of G. Philipsen, Hirsch XXV, 29 November 1909, 578.

The late coinage of the Ainianes is a very strange one, traditionally dated to c. 168-146: this is not conceivably possible. De Callataÿ’s theory of a post-Sullan date for them (in his study of 2004) just has to be correct, though the chronological extent of the coinage may be longer than he suggested. While stylistic comparisons with Athenian New Style tetradrachms are not really helpful, the heads here do look rather post-Sullan in date (compare to the NestorMnaseas group, Thompson 1205-1221 for example). Another factor is the appearance of the magistrate’s name on the obverse, a practice found on Achaian League issues of the 1st century (as those of Elis in BCD Peloponnesos 686-691). As for the denomination: the usual explanation is that they are reduced weight Attic didrachms (they usually weigh from around 7.40 to 7.70), especially since they bear a head of Athena Parthenos. De Callataÿ believes this and, knowing him, he’s probably right. But why on earth should they be: this would be an extremely unusual denomination, one that was nearly completely foreign to central Greece (save for Leukas, far to the west - but see below). In any case, they would have to be very reduced weight Attic since even the latest Athenian tetradrachms are around 16 g and more. No, it seems much more likely that they were produced on the dominant standard used in most of Greece: the reduced Aiginetic, which results in their being perfect trihemidrachms, based on a hemidrachm of c.

2.40-2.50 g. One may repost by pointing out that trihemidrachms would be pretty unusual too, but what else can they be? In any case, while a good number of these coins were originally issued, only a very few survived, indicating that they, and their denomination, were not particularly popular! However, BCD has reminded me of the very rare issues, identified as Attic staters, that were produced by Thyrreion (as BCD Akarnanien 403-409). These pieces also bear obverse heads of Athena taken from Athenian New Style issues, but have Athena Promachos on the reverse.

They have been dated by Liampi to c. 94 BC and they are distinctly heavier than the comparable pieces of Ainianes that average around 7.50 g. The coins from Thyrreion were a very short-lived, prestige issue (only two obverse and six reverse dies are known for them, all signed by a single magistrate), but they agree in weight with the much larger issues of Leukas, normally dated to c. 167-100 and must be contemporary with them. The fact that the Ainianes pieces are appreciably lighter, implies, as we have written here, that they are later still, but their use of the head of Athena Parthenos as an obverse type must mean that the staters (they are almost certainly Attic didrachms, albeit light ones) of Thyrreion were known to the mint masters of Ainianes.

1019

1,5:1

1019

1019 Ainianes. Circa 80s (- 40s?) BC. Trihemidrachm (Silver, 7.66 g 12), Hypata. Nikarchos. ΝΙΚΑΡΧΟΣ Head of Athena Parthenos to right, wearing an Attic helmet adorned with Pegasos, tendril, and four horse protomes. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑ-ΝΩΝ Phemios as a slinger to right, as last, but with no magistrate's symbol. De Callataÿ, 2004, 67 (this coin). Extremely rare. Toned and on a broad flan, partly flat struck in places otherwise an impressive and attractive coin. About extremely fine.

2500 Ex Auctiones 6, 30 September 1976, 131 (CHF 4100) and Hess-Leu 31, 6 December 1966, 276 (CHF 680).

The exceptionally broad flan of this coin is highly reminiscent of the staters of the Thessalian League, which were struck in the 40s BC (see below, lot 1388).

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1020

2:1

1020

1020 Ainianes. Circa 80s (- 40s?) BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.35 g 1), Hypata. Daimeneos. ΔΑΙΜΕ - ΝΕΟΣ Head of Athena in Attic helmet to right. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝ-ΩΝ Phemios as a slinger to right, as above; to right, palm branch. De Callataÿ, 2004, p. 135, 24 (this coin). SNG Lockett 1547. SNG Munich 5. Very rare. Toned and attractive, but reverse slightly double struck. Good very fine.

600 Ex Vinchon 9 December 1983, 100 (FF 10,000).

In the SNG Munich this coin is termed a diobol. I find this quite impossible since silver fractions below the value of a hemidrachm had almost entirely ceased to exist after the later 3rd century. De Callataÿ tentatively suggests it is a tetrobol, which makes more sense, but when compared to the large denomination in the preceding lots, I prefer to see it as a hemidrachm.

1021

1021 Ainianes. Circa 80s (- 40s?) BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 7.82 g 12), Hypata. Euxenos. Laureate and bearded head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝΩΝ/ΕΥΞΕΝ[ΟΣ] Phemios as a slinger to right, as above.

Cf, Rogers 143 ff. Münsterberg, Suppl. p. 12. Rare. A splendid piece, struck in high relief with a fine dark patina, and unusually well preserved. Extremely fine.

150 The magistrate who signed this issue also produced silver trihemidrachms (De Callataÿ, 2004, p. 130, 40).

1022

2:1

1022

1022 Ainianes. Circa 40s-30s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.32 g 12), Hypata. Tolmaios. ΤΟΛΜΑΙΟΣ Laureate head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΑΙΝΙΑΝ-ΩΝ The hero Phemios, nude but for a belt holding a short sword in a scabbard and a chlamys draped over his shoulders and his left arm, standing left, facing front with his head turned to right, hurling a javelin with his right hand and holding his petasos, as if it were a small shield, with his left; to right, monogram of ΑΓ. BMC 15. SNG Copenhagen 8 var. Weber 2790. Very rare.

Lightly toned. Very fine.

250 The date of this coinage is quite uncertain: it is usually placed c. 168 and later. But how much later? In our arrangement here these rare issues come at the end of the coinage of the Ainianes, at roughly the time of similar issues bearing magistrates’ names on their obverses, such as those of the Thessalian League (below, lot 388) and others struck by various cities using Achaean League types in the Peloponnesos (as BCD 430 ff. [Aegium] and 687 ff. [Elis]). Only further research can bear this out.

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1023

2:1

2:1

1023 Atrax. Circa 370s-360s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.82 g 11). Head of the nymph Bura to left, wearing pendant earring and necklace. Rev. ΑΤΡΑΓ - ΙΟΝ Horse standing right. BMC 1 var. Traité IV, 736 and pl.

CCC, 5. Extremely rare, one of only a very few examples known. A splendid piece of wonderful style.

Surfaces slightly rough, otherwise, extremely fine.

1200 This is unquestionably one of the finest known silver coins of Atrax, and is extremely rare. The date is surely 4th century - all the earlier coinage of the city is given the traditional date of 400-344 - but it surely is not as early as circa 400. We would suggest that the earliest issues, those with an omicron, O, came first and began in the 370s, while all those with an omega, Ω, in the legend came later, in both the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. Bura was the nymph who protected the local water source.

1024

2:1

2:1

1024 Atrax. Circa 370s-360s BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 4.65 g 7). Horseman galloping to left, his cloak flying out behind him, pursuing a bull running left. Rev. ΑΤΡΑΓΙΟΝ Bearded head of the Lapith Atrax to right. Unpublished, but for another example see CNG MBS 79, 17 September 2008, 183 ($3800).

Extremely rare. An attractive coin with a dark, shiny, nearly black patina. Reverse very slightly doublestruck, otherwise, extremely fine.

750 The obverse shows us one of the sports that was so popular with the aristocrats of Thessaly: the rider is not herding the bull but is, rather, preparing to jump off his horse and wrestle the bull to a halt. The head on the reverse is of the eponymous founder of the city, the Lapith Atrax, and surely reflects an actual, probably late Archaic, statue which must have been in the city.

1025

1025 Atrax. Circa 370s-360s BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 16mm, 3.28 g 1). Horseman, bare headed, on horse prancing to right. Rev. ΑΤΡΑ / ΓΙΟΝ Bull jumping right, his forelegs off the ground. Rogers 166. Rare.

An attractive piece with a dark, blackish-green patina. Some striking flatness, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

125 This shows another scene from the aristocratic pastime of bull catching: here with the rider cantering along on the obverse, slowly catching up to the bull rushing along on the reverse!

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1026

1026 Atrax. Circa 360s-340s BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17.5mm, 3.11 g 11). Bearded head of Atrax to right.

Rev. ΑΤΡΑ / ΓΙΩΝ Bull, with head lowered, butting to right. Rogers 160. A splendid example with a black patina. Obverse almost unnoticeably double-struck, otherwise, extremely fine.

150 Do note the great difference in style of the head of Atrax on this coin with that found on the earlier piece in lot 1024 above. That head harks back to a late Archaic prototype while this piece is fully Classical in feel with a bearded head that could easily be that of Zeus if only it wore a laurel wreath.

1,5:1

1027

1,5:1

1027 Atrax. Circa 360s-340s BC (or later?). Dichalkon (Bronze, 15mm, 2.73 g 11). Bearded head of Atrax to right. Rev. ΑΤΡΑ / ΓΙΩΝ Bull, with head lowered, butting to right. Cf. Rogers 160. Rare. Minor die break on the obverse, otherwise, an exceptional coin with a superb green patina and lovely style. Good extremely fine.

250 Precisely when this coin should be dated is not really clear. The wonderful style points towards the 4th century, but it could well be later. Perhaps it should be placed at the end of the 4th century?

1,5:1

1028

1,5:1

1028 Atrax. Circa 360s-340s BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 10mm, 1.35 g 7). Bearded head of Atrax to right, his hair in straight locks almost like those of a satyr. Rev. ΓΙΩΝ /ΑΤΡΑ Bull, with head lowered, butting to right.

Rogers 161. An excellent piece with a dark patina and a fine head of Atrax. About extremely fine.

125 Yet another conception of Atrax: here, save for the lack of a pointed animal ear, we could be looking at a satyr, or even a Persian ruler!

1029 2:1

2:1

1029 Atrax. Circa 360s-340s BC. Obol (Silver, 0.81 g 6), Euei.... ΕΥΕΙ Facing bust of the nymph Bura, her head turned slightly to the left, with her hair long and curly and wearing robes lightly draping her breasts.

Rev. ΑΤΡΑ - Γ Ι - ΩΝ Horse standing right. Demetriadi 2000, 1 and pl. 6, 1 . Extremely rare, a coin of great interest and beauty. Slightly rough surfaces, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

800 This coin is fascinating, unexpected and somewhat mysterious! The female bust on the obverse must be of Bura, the local nymph, but the way she is represented is quite unusual: unlike almost all facing female busts in Greek numismatics, here her breasts are shown, modestly but lightly covered by her diaphanous robes. We also have a magistrate’s name, the otherwise unknown Euei..., on the obverse. Its position is quite reminiscent of the way magistrates’ names appear on the later coinages of the Ainianes or the Thessalian League, but such a late date for a silver obol is clearly impossible. It seems much more likely that this is yet another coinage of the 4th century: not only are the reverse type and the legend breaks exactly the same as those on the issue of Eubatas, which follows, the use of a name on the obverse exactly parallels that found on the following two bronzes, which almost certainly have to be 4th century. When this type was first published by Demetriadi in 2000 he was reticent about identifying the figure on the obverse as the nymph Bura and thought that the inscription might be an engraver’s name. However, I think he was too cautious: the female bust simply has to be that of Bura (after all, who else could it be?), and the letters must refer to a magistrate rather than to an engraver, if only because of their prominence. One might suggest that this very rare issue of obols was actually produced as a donation to the city by the wealthy citizen whose name appears abbreviated on the obverse.

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1030

1030 Atrax. Circa 360s-340s BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 2.55 g 6), Eubatas. ΕΥΒΑΤΑ[Σ] Youthful male head to right, his head bare. Rev. ΑΤΡΑ - Γ Ι - ΩΝ Horse standing right. Rogers 165. A lovely coin of very fine style, toned attractively dark brown. Nearly extremely fine.

125 Atrax only produced a small number of coins with magistrates’ names: this is the only one that is written in full, unlike on either the previous or following lots, where it is more abbreviated.

1031 1,5:1

1,5:1

1031 Atrax. Circa 360s-340s BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 16mm, 3.91 g 10), Eu.... ΕΥ Head of the nymph Bura to right, wearing a pendant earring and with her hair rolled up at the back. Rev. ΓΙΩΝ /ΑΤΡΑ Lion walking right. Apparently unpublished, save for another piece, struck from the same dies, that has recently appeared as CNG MBS 85, 15 September 2010, 315, but which is inferior in quality. Extremely rare.

Nicely struck, of fine style, and with a dark, brownish-red patina. About extremely fine.

200 In the note to lot 315 in the recent CNG MBS catalogue 85 it has been suggested that this type is actually a joint issue with Gonnos (see below, lot 1047). This is an interesting idea, though why it should have occurred is unclear. Given the fact that neither city names the other on the coins, and the distance between them (Larissa blocked the route), it might be that both cities independently found the types appealing. The magistrate’s initials on the obverse of this coin could be the abbreviated form of one of the two names that appear on the preceding two lots.

1032

1032 Atrax. 3rd century, after circa 300. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 7.29 g 6). Laureate head of Apollo to right; behind his neck, Φ. Rev. ΑΤΡΑ - Γ Ι - ΩΝ Horseman, in military dress with his right hand raised in salute, riding horse trotting to right. BMC 2. Rogers 169 ff. var. A bold, well-struck example with a dark, blackish-green patina. About extremely fine.

125 The standard date for coins of this type is c. 300-196, based primarily on the assumption that they were introduced in the time of Demetrios Poliorketes, and that the head on obverse is based on the Apollo found on the gold coinage of Philip II. This may well be true, but the coinage itself was an extensive one with numerous stylistic variants and must have continued over a considerable length of time.

1033

1033 Atrax. 3rd or 2nd Century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 22mm, 11.16 g 5). Laureate head of Apollo to right, his hair bound up in a bun at the back but with some locks falling down the back of his neck. Rev. ΑΤΡΑ / ΓΙΩΝ (retrograde) Horse standing right. McClean 4556 var. Rogers 168 var. Rare. A bold and impressive piece struck in high relief. Reddish-green patina. Extremely fine.

175 This coin provides us with quite a few problems. The first is its date, which has long been thought to be 4th century.

It is, however, a large, thick, solid coin, unlike the usual coins we have from that period: it looks later. Another problem is the head on the obverse: this has long been identified as the nymph Bura, but, if so, why the laurel wreath on her head? Surely what we have here is a rather effeminate, Hellenistic head of Apollo with his hair rolled at the back, but with some locks falling down his neck. In addition, if this were Bura she would surely be wearing an earring!

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1034 1,5:1

1,5:1

1034 Demetrias. Circa 290 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.38 g 4). ΔΗΜΗ / ΤΡΙΕΩΝ Prow of galley to left. Rev. Bust of Artemis to right, with quiver over her left shoulder; below, mongram of ΙΣ. BMFA 872 (same dies). McClean 4567. Rare. Lightly toned. Very fine.

300 The coinage of Demetrias was a limited one consisting of hemidrachms and a few extremely rare bronzes. All the silver was probably struck in two issues, the second more extensive than the first. We have coins like the present one, which has a bust of Artemis with a monogram below on the reverse, and coming later what seems to be a much larger group, which has a prow facing right on the reverse and the same monogram below (Artemis has moved to the obverse). These coins must have been used throughout the 3rd century, and probably on into at least the 2nd, since they are usually found worn, any example that is both well struck and in better than VF being exceptional.

1035

2:1

2:1

1035

Dia. Mid 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 16mm, 2.65 g 5). Bearded head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΔΙΑΩΝ Nymph seated right on high-backed throne, holding long scepter in her left hand and phiale in her right. Demetriadi 1998, Issue II, 3 (but as Dion in Macedonia). Hatzopoulos/Psoma 1998/9, p. 11, 2 (Dia in Thessaly). Extremely rare, only three examples of this type are known, and only a total of thirteen coins for the city as a whole). Attractive dark green patina and fine style. Obverse slightly off center, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

400 Virtually all the known coins of Dia, including the example that appeared in Bankhaus Aufhäuser 15, 21 March 2000, 137 ( the only other example of a coin from Dia offered for public sale), are now in museums - all the pieces published in 1998 that were not already in public collections were donated to the Athens Cabinet. Thus, this is the only example to be had on the market.

1036 1,5:1

1,5:1

1036 Ekkarra. Circa 325-320 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 1.95 g 5). Laureate head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΕΚΚΑΡ / ΡΕΩΝ Artemis standing left, her right foot crossed behind her left, leaning on her hunting spear, held in her right hand. K. Liampi, Ekkarra, eine Stadt der Achaia Phthiotis: Ihre Lege nach den numismatischen Zeugnissen, U. Peter, ed. Stephanos Nomismatikos, Edith Schönert-Geiss zum 65. Geburtstag (Berlin 1998), pp. 417-439, 20 (V3/R8). Rogers 207. Traité IV, 475, pl. CCLXXXVIII, 12-13.

A superb piece, beautifully struck in high relief and with a fine dark green patina. Extremely fine.

150 Almost nothing is known about Ekkarra, certainly not why it should have produced such a burst of locally intended coinage in the late 4th century. In any event, this is certainly one of the nicest examples known of the type.

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

2:1

1037

1037 Eurea. Circa 352-344 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 22mm, 7.54 g 12). Head of a nymph, three-quarter facing to left, with vine leaves in her hair. Rev. ΕΥΡΕΑΙ / Ω-Ν Bunch of grapes on stalk with two leaves.

Rogers 211. SNG Copenhagen 49. Very rare. A splendid example. Minor traces of corrosion but with a fine dark reddish-brown patina. Extremely fine.

350 More than any other place, the Thessalians specialized in the facing heads of the nymphs who abounded in their mythological beliefs. This head is, of course, taken from the well-known issues of Larissa. For the chronology of the rare coinage of Eurea (as well as that of the comparable issues of Eurymenai and Rhizous), see J. Warren, Two Notes on Thessalian Coins, NC 1961, pp. 1-8. For a recent overview of the Eurea coinage see Helly 2004.

1038

2:1

2:1

1038 Eurymenai. Circa 2nd quarter of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 4.51 g 5). Bearded male head to right, head bare. Rev. ΕΥΡΥ Bunch of grapes on stalk between two grape leaves.

Unpublished. Apparently unique. A coin of superb style with a fine brown patina. About extremely fine.

800 This coin, hitherto unknown, is quite a surprise. Its thick and solid flan makes it likely that it was struck slightly before the more common, albeit still very rare, issues bearing a head of the young Dionysos (as the following lot).

Exactly who is on the obverse is rather uncertain: the lack of any wreath on the head makes it unlikely to be Zeus (or Poseidon or Dionysos), so it may, perhaps, be a local hero.

A note from BCD: If this coin was a surprise for ASW it was a relevation for this collector, who always nutured a theory in the back of his mind that the bronze coinage of Thessaly started earlier than it was generally thought. The discovery of this coin, that he thinks may go back to almost the turn of the century, c. 400, reinforces his feeling that at that time some Thessalian townships initiated the minting of bronzes more as an experiment than as bulk issues of fiduciary money, obviously influenced by the example of western mints. This is the reason why there are no signs of haste or carelessness in their production and that the artistic standard of the die cutters called upon to engrave the dies is unusually high. Needless to say, this coin is highly thought of by the collector and he hopes that the buyer will be someone who shares his beliefs, and is prepared to search for other such early Thessalian bronzes with the aim of an eventual publication.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1039

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1,5:1

1039 Eurymenai. Circa 352-344 BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 7.02 g 5). Head of young Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. ΕΥΡΥΜΕΝΑΙΩΝ (beginning at the top left and ending at the bottom left) Grape vine with leaves and six bunches of grapes; to the right of the trunk, dolphin swimming downwards; to the left, krater. Rogers 212. Traité IV, 753, pl. CCCI, 2. Extremely rare. Beautifully struck and centered and with a lovely, dark green patina. Nearly extremely fine/extremely fine.

800 The coinage of Eurymenai is basically very rare, especially in good condition: this piece is probably the finest example known. While Imhoof-Blumer identified the head on the obverse as that of a nymph (Nymphen und Chariten auf griechischen Münzen, JIAN XI, 1908, 373) the very well preserved example we have here makes it clear we are dealing with a young Dionysos (as Warren, NC 1961, and Head, HN², had already noted - among others). What is particularly interesting about this coin is the vessel on the reverse, usually termed a krater in most publications (Imhoof-Blumer cautiously terms it merely “a vessel”). Its shape is very unusual for a krater, since it has a high round belly on a long, thin stem, unlike almost all Classical krater-shapes. It does, however, look curiously like wine vessels that existed in Mycenaean times (!) and it would be interesting if this was a local survival that continued in use for ritual purposes.

1040

2:1

2:1

1040 Gomphi-Philippopolis. Circa 350 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.51 g 12). Head of Hera facing, wearing stephane, pendant earrings and a solid, torc-like necklace. Rev. ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟ-ΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ Zeus Palamnaios, draped to the waist and with his torso bare, seated on rock to left, holding long scepter in his right hand and resting his left on the rock; to left, thunderbolt. BMC 1 = Traité IV, 532, pl. CCXCI, 2 (same obverse die). Of great rarity and with a remarkably noble and attractive head of Hera. Crystalized surfaces, otherwise, about extremely fine.

2500 This is a coin that is virtually never seen and is missing from all of the world’s great collections. The head of Hera is particularly fine, an equal to the finest issues from Magna Graecia and having a subtlety of form that exceeds all the heads from contemporary Larissa. The figure of Zeus on the reverse is also particularly elegant. The only fault this coin has is, as with so many coins from Thessaly, the rough surfaces so characteristic of silver coins found in its fertile soil. Interestingly enough, this coin bears an uncanny resemblance to the somewhat earlier, though equally rare, coinage of Pandosia in Bruttium (as the famous coin in Boston, BMFA 196 and HN³, 2450 - there dated to the second quarter of the 4th century in parallel with issues from Kroton, HN³, 2159 ff., which are themselves somewhat less confidently dated to the 390s). It seems likely that the artistic influences behind this coin, and the hemidrachm in the following lot, must have come from the West.

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1041

2:1

2:1

1041 Gomphi-Philippopolis. Circa 350 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.77 g 12). Head of Hera facing, wearing stephane, pendant earrings and a solid, torc-like necklace, as last. Rev. ΦΙΛΙΠΠ-ΟΠΟΛΙ[ΤΩΝ] Zeus seated left, as last, with thunderbolt to left. Unpublished but another piece does exist in the Empedocles collection in Athens. Of the greatest rarity, the finest example known, and of splendid style with a charming head of Hera. Crystalized surfaces and minor edge scrape, otherwise, extremely fine.

900 This exceptional coin is, despite its rough surfaces, one of the most attractive and lovely coins struck in 4th century Greece. It is simply astonishing!

3:1

1042

1042 Gomphi-Philippopolis. Circa 350 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.84 g 1). Head of Hera to right, with her hair rolled with a high, ornamented stephane, and wearing a pemdant earring, and a necklace. Rev. ΦΙΛΙΠΠ[ΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ] Zeus, nude, striding right, hurling thunderbolt from his upraised right hand and with an eagle on his left. Demetriadi 2000, 2 and pl. 6, 2 (this coin). Extremely rare and of lovely style.

Crystalized surfaces, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

750 This is a fascinating coin. On the reverse we have a clearly archaic statue of Fulminating Zeus, very different, indeed, from the seated Zeus on the larger silver. As for the obverse, the head is quite similar to contemporary issues from the Peloponnesos, especially from Argos (as BCD 1069) and Heraia (as BCD 1366). The use of a ‘modern’ head of Hera with an ‘old-fashioned’ figure of her divine husband is a particularly fascinating juxtaposition. Demetriadi points out that there is a resemblance between the Zeus on this coin and that of a Zeus from Haliartos in Boiotia (as BCD Boiotia 163), but it is not particularly close and the obverse is very un-Boiotian - the Zeus is much closer to the wellnigh contemporary early issues of Messene, as PCG III B. 45 = Kraay/Hirmer 511.

A note from BCD: The author of the article publishing this coin wrote "Zeus" instead of the correct "Poseidon" when referring to the connection of this reverse with the Haliartos stater. It is obvious, though, that the Messenian issues are a much closer match. Comparing the reverse of the only other known example of this coin (Lanz 102, 28 May 2001, 215 - now in a Swiss private collection) to BMC Peloponnesos pl. XXII, 1 we are almost tempted to attribute both reverse dies to the same engraver’s hand. If not, then they surely shared a statuary prototype.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1043

1043 Gomphi-Philippopolis. Circa 350 BC, and later (?). Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 5.87 g 11). Head of Hera, three-quarters facing to right, wearing stephanos and pendant earrings. Rev. ΓΟΜΦΕΩΝ Zeus Palamnaios seated on rocks to left, holding long scepter in his right hand and resting his left on the rock.

BMC 2 = Traité IV, 533 and pl. CCXCI, 4 var. SNG Copenhagen 50 var. Rogers 214 var. Very rare, an unusual variant with the full reverse legend. Dark brown patina. Some bangs and scrapes, otherwise clear and very fine.

100 The bronze coinage of Gomphi begins with a small issue of tetrachalkoi, or perhaps trichalkoi, which must have been produced at roughly the same time as the extremely rare and beautiful silver coins of the mid 4th cenury. The coins are very similar: both bear a rather serene looking head of Hera, clearly identifiable by her stephane, and a reverse with a Zeus figure seated on a pile of rocks.

A note from BCD: These rare early bronzes of Gomphi are almost impossible to find complete and well struck.

Their flans are nearly always short and poorly struck.

1044

1044 Gomphi-Philippopolis. Circa 300 BC, or later until the 280s. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 8.63 g 2).

Head of a nymph, turned three-quarters facing to left, her hair seemingly floating and bound with a diadem, and wearing a pearl necklace. Rev. ΓΟΜΦΕ-ΩΝ Zeus Palamnaios seated left on backless throne, holding thunderbolt in his right hand and long scepter in his left. BMC 4. Rogers 220. A remarkably well preserved and well centered example with a fine dark patina. Extremely fine.

125 This issue, in which the head of Hera on the obverse is replaced with that of a nymph in the style of those of Larissa, seems to have been much more extensive than the coins with Hera that preceded it. The style of this issue is also clearly later than those with Hera: in addition, the fact that Zeus is now seated on a throne and holds both a scepter and a thunderbolt has undoubtedly been influenced by the widespread silver coinage of Alexander. That the coin could be even later, down into the first quarter of the 3rd century, is suggested by the legend arrangement, which, with the two parts of the legend flanking the seated figure on the reverse, is similar to many posthumous Alexanders.

1045

1045 Gonnos. Circa 350s BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 7.80 g 2). Laureate and bearded head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΓΟΝΝΕ-[ΩΝ] Ram standing right. Rogers 223. SNG Munich 18. Rare. A fine coin with a lovely head of Zeus in high relief. Attractive dark patina. Some smoothing in the reverse fields, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

400 The coins of Gonnos have always been quite rare and this one is particularly nice. The head of Zeus is immediately reminiscent of those on the coinage of Philip of Macedon.

1046

1,5:1

1046

1046 Gonnos. Circa 350s BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 6.85 g 11). Laureate head of Zeus to right, as last.

Rev. ΓΟΝ-ΝΕΩΝ Ram standing right; below, elaborate monogram. Rogers 225. SNG Copenhagen 53.

Rare. A lovely coin with an astonishingly fine reverse. Dark brown patina. Extremely fine.

450

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1047

1047

Gonnos. Circa 350 BC or later . Dichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 5.22 g 7). Head of nymph to right, her hair rolled and with a triple-pendant earring. Rev. ΓΟ-ΝΝΕ (retrograde, beginning in the exergue) Lion walking right. Rogers 226. SNG Copenhagen 53 (probably the same dies). Rare. Attractive, shiny reddish-brown patina. Reverse struck from a worn die, otherwise, About extremely fine.

150 It has been suggested that this coin was struck as a joint issue with Atrax (above, lot 1031). However, this seems rather unlikely. The nymph’s head on the obverse is quite reminiscent of some of those from Lokroi, which also have triplependant earrings, and their date is probably similar.

A note from BCD: This is another coin that is very hard to find well centered and struck; as for it being a joint issue with Atrax, this suggestion is not valid. An issue could be called ‘joint’ when both ethnics are inscribed on the same coin. We cannot assume that coins having the same animal as a reverse type were ‘joint issues’, regardless of the meaning assigned to the term.

1048

2:1

2:1

1048 Gyrton. Circa 340s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.98 g 3). Head of the youthful Hero Gyrton to right; behind, Π. Rev. ΓΥΡΤΟ-ΝΙ-ΟΝ Horse prancing to right. Gorny 56, 1991, 198 (this coin). Unique. A coin of rather severe style and great beauty. Some traces of horn silver around the devices, otherwise, about extremely fine.

2200 Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 56, 7 October 1991, 198 (DM 10,500).

This is almost certainly the first coin struck at Gyrton, which the very soberly made head of the local hero and the use of the omicron in the ethnic, instead of the customary omega, make clear. Its appearance in 1991 caused a sensation and was, once again, proof that surprises can always appear in Greek numismatics. We owe the dating of the coinage of Gyrton to Dr. F. Burrer who has kindly made available to us his as yet unpublished study on the city’s silver.

1049

2:1

2:1

1049 Gyrton. Circa 340s BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 16mm, 2.73 g 10). Bare youthful male head to right (the hero Gyrton); behind head, tiny letter Π. Rev. ΓΥΡ Head of the nymph Gyrtona to right, wearing earring and necklace. Apparently unpublished. Extremely rare and of excellent style. Dark greenish-brown patina.

Nearly extremely fine.

300 This coin, which rather surprisingly is unpublished, must be related to the even more rare silver hemidrachm that precedes it: both coins have the same tiny letter Π (the early form with the right leg shorter than the left) on the obverse. Its small size and inconspicuous placement suggests an artist’s signature, though it certainly could be a magistrate’s mark.

A note from BCD: I find it hard to believe that the tiny letter on the obverse of this little gem of a coin is a magistrate’s mark. There are more cases where such very small letters appear on Thessalian coins (see, for instance, the previous lot); they almost always appear on coins made from dies of the finest style and, which is also significant, on coins that are carefully struck.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1050

2:1

2:1

1050 Gyrton. Circa 340s-330s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 3.03 g 9). Head of the nymph Gyrtona facing, turned slightly to the left, her hair bound with a ribbon. Rev. ΓΥΡ / ΤΩΝΙΩΝ Horse kneeling to left, preparing to roll over. De Hirsch 1137 = Traité IV 741, pl. CCC, 10. Hirsch XIII 1905 (Rhousopoulos) 1272 (same dies). Extremely rare, one of a very few examples known. Minor striking flatness on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

1800 Ex Leu 48, 10 May 1989, 177 (CHF 8250).

The obverse of this coin clearly copies the earlier facing head issues of Larissa, but its reverse shows a horse preparing to roll over, which first appears somewhat later.

1051

1051 1,5:1

1051 Gyrton. Circa 340s-330s BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 4.39 g 12). Bare male head to right, the Hero Gyrton, to the left of the head of a bridled horse to right. Rev. ΓΥΡΤΩΝΙΩΝ (on right downwards, some letters retrograde) Head of the nymph Gyrtona to right, her hair bound in a roll and wearing an earring and a necklace. Rogers 227. SNG Copenhagen 55-56 var. Dark patina. Good very fine.

150 The coinage of Gyrton is quite extensive, but is primarily in bronze. The earliest issues are those, like this one, which bear the ‘jugate’ heads of Gyrton and his horse combined with a head of Gyrtona on the reverse. Liampi, in SNG Munich 12, has dated these coins, and others bearing Gyrtona on their reverses, to the earlier 4th century and all the later, with heads of Zeus and a prancing horse on the reverse, to the second half of the century. The late style of those coins, which is somewhat similar to the latest issues of Atrax (above, lot 1033) makes a case for their being later. In any case the coins of Gyrton were struck in considerable numbers: most today, as with most Thessalian coinages, are in poor condition.

1052

1052 1,5:1

1052 Gyrton. Circa 340s-330s BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 4.53 g 12). Heads of Gyrton, bare, and of a bridled horse to right, as last. Rev. ΓΥΡΤΩΝΙΩΝ (from bottom right around to left) Head of Gyrtona to left, wearing earring and necklace. Rogers 228. With a lovely, golden-brown patina. Reverse very slightly double-struck. Extremely fine.

200

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2:1

1053

1053 Gyrton. Circa 340s-320s BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 16mm, 4.83 g 6). ΠΕΙ Head of Ares or the hero Gyrton to right, wearing Attic helmet ornamented with palmettes and with raised ear flap. Rev. ΓΥΡΤΩΝΙΩΝ Head of Gyrtona to right, wearing stephane and triple-pendant earring; behind, Π. BMC p. 203, 1a and pl. III, 4a = Traité IV, 743 and pl. CCC, 12 var. Rogers 230 var. (but wrongly described). An excellent example of this rare variety. Nice dark patina and well centered. About extremely fine.

300

1054.1

1054.2

1054 Gyrton. Circa 340s-320s/later 4th-early 3rd C BC. Lot of two bronze coins, dichalkon and trichalkon.

1054.1 20 mm, 7.90 g 12. Head of Apollo left. Rev. ΓΥΡΤΩΝΙΩΝ Head of Gyrtona left with monogram behind. Rogers 231 (but monogram probably misread). SNG Copenhagen 58. 1054.2 20 mm, 8.05 g, 2.

Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΓΥΡΤΩΝΙΩΝ Horse trotting right. BMC 4. Rogers 232. Both attractive with fine patinas. Nearly extremely fine (2).

225 1054.1 ex Peus 328, 2 May 1990, 82 (DM 330).

The laureate head of Apollo on this coin looks as if it is taken from the coinage of Philip II, thus making it the latest of the earlier group of Gyrton’s coinage (Rogers suggests it could possibly be Gyrton wearing a wreath, but he does not seem to think that to be too likely). As for the second piece, the extensive Zeus/Horse coinage of Gyrton must have lasted some time because it is known in a variety of styles. The first issue, as this, lacks a magistrate’s monogram, but all the succeeding ones bear one (as in the following lot). This coin is quite reminiscent of the late issue of Atrax (as above, lot 1033).

1055.1

1055.2

1055 Gyrton. Later 4th and, perhaps, earlier 3rd century BC. Lot of two bronze trichalka. 1055.1 20 mm, 7.62 g, 12. Laureate head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΓΥΡΤ / Ω / ΝΙΩΝ Bridled horse trotting to right, ΔΗ and bunch of grapes below. BMC 7. Rogers 233. 1055.2 23 mm, 9.05 g, 11. Laureate head of Zeus to left.

Rev. ΓΥΡΤ / Ω / ΝΙΩΝ Bridled horse trotting to left, monogram of ΜΑΓ below. /BMC 5. Rogers 236.

Bold and attractive with dark patinas. About extremely fine (2).

200

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1056

2:1

2:1

1056 Halos. Circa 360s-340s BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 16.5mm, 3.71 g 3). Laureate head of Zeus Laphystios to right; before head, thunderbolt. Rev. ΑΛ / Ε / ΝΩ (partially retrograde) Helle, draped but with prominent breasts, seated on ram to right, holding her right hand on the ram’s head and her left on his back. H. Reinder Reinders, New Halos, Utrecht 1988, Series 1 (these dies). Rogers 238. Extremely rare. A piece of fine style with a dark patina. Nearly extremely fine.

350 The chief god of Halos was Zeus Laphystios (the Devourer), a storm god whose epithet may mean that he received human sacrifices in early times. The scene on the reverse of this coin shows the figure of Helle, the twin-sister of Phrixos. They were the children of the Boiotian king Athamas and the cloud goddess Nephele, whom Athamas later divorced to marry Ino of Thebes. She, in turn, after giving birth to her own children, was jealous of Helle and Phrixos and hatched a plot to have them sacrificed. In true dea ex machina fashion, Nephele sent a golden ram flying out of her clouds for the two children to escape upon: unfortunately Helle fell off and drowned in what was from then on called the Hellespont. Why she should, in fact, appear on this coin is a mystery that Babelon suggests may, in fact, just be a pun (i.e, Helle - Halos, though this is not exactly convincing). The reason why Helle and Phrixos are on the coinage of Halos is that Athamas, the father of this amazing brood of generally not terribly happy children, had founded Halos and, perhaps, they thought putting his children on the coins was more interesting than putting him on them (oddly enough, one of Ino’s children was Melicertes, who appears on coins riding on a dolphin: the family certainly had aquatic connections).

A note from BCD: The rarity of this piece when compared to the Hellenistic issues of Halos (below, lots 1057-1059) is nothing short of astounding. Apparently very few of these early, fine style coins survived the move of the city from its originally elevated location to the plain below, near the sea, where the Dutch School excavated ‘New Halos’ (and have now published the report in an exemplary manner).

1057

1057 1,5:1

1057 Halos. Circa 3rd century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 5.46 g 11). Diademed head of Zeus to right.

Rev. ΑΛΕΩΝ Phrixos, nude but for cloak billowing out behind him like wings, riding ram to right, his right arm around the ram's neck; above left, monogram of ΑΧ. Reinders Series 6 (same dies). Rogers 241.

Attractive and well centered with a green patina. Good very fine.

200

1058

1058 Halos. Circa 3rd century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 2.47 g 6). Diademed head of Zeus to right.

Rev. ΑΛΕΩΝ Phrixos on ram to right, as last; to left in field, monogram as last. Reinders Series 7.3 (same dies). Rogers 242. Clear and with a nice green patina. Good very fine.

100

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1059

1059 Halos. Circa 3rd century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 2.17 g 8). Head of Zeus right, similar to the last. Rev. ΑΛΕΩ / Ν Phrixos as last, but with true cloak billowing out behind; above left, obscure monogram but probably the same as last. Reinders Series 12 (same dies). Rogers 244 var. A rare variant.

Brown patina. Very fine.

100 This coin is clearly later in style than those that precede it. One wonders whether this, and many other Thessalian coins, should be placed in the 2nd or, even, in the first century BC (but see below for how unlikely this suggestion is!).

A note from BCD: According to the excavators, New Halos p. 166, the occupation of the settlement ended in the second quarter of the 3rd century BC and it is therefore unlikely that coins continued to be struck by ghosts in a deserted city. What ASW sees as ‘later’ style is actually the work of a less competent die cutter.

1060 2:1

2:1

1060 Herakleia Trachinia. Circa 370s BC. Obol (Silver, 0.95 g 7). Lion’s head with closed mouth to right.

Rev. ΗΡΑ Retrograde. Club to left; below, ivy leaf. BMC 1 = Traité IV, 447 and pl. CCLXXXVII, 10.

Weber 2812 (this coin). Very rare. Darkly toned and nicely struck. Nearly extremely fine.

300 Ex Numismatica Ars Classica 1, 29 March 1989, 152 (CHF 1000) and from the Weber Collection, acquired from Jean Lambros in 1887.

The compact flan and round incuse argues for a date that is early in the second quarter of the 4th century BC certainly prior to the city’s take over by the Oitaians circa 350.

1061

1061 Herakleia Trachinia. Circa 370s BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 15mm, 3.92 g 5). ΗΡΑ Head of lion to right, with open jaws and protruding tongue. Rev. Club upright between two dolphins swimming upwards; all within olive wreath with ties below. Rogers 247. Very rare. Brown patina. Good very fine.

150

1062 2:1

2:1

1062 Herakleia Trachinia. Circa 370s-350s BC. Obol (Silver, 0.87 g 7). Head of lion to left, with mouth open and protruding tongue; below, Ε. Rev. ΗΡΑ Club to left; below, two ivy leaves. BMC 2 = Traité IV, 446 and pl. CCLXXXVII, 9. Very rare. Very fine.

250 Acquired from A. H. Baldwin in June 1971 (£15).

The coinage of Herakleia can be divided into two distinct groups depending on the way the lion’s head is made. One, as this, has a lion with an open mouth and protruding tongue; the second (as lots 1060 and 1063) has a lion with a closed mouth. These styles seem to have alternated or have been used interchangeably; in any case, they must have ended by c. 350 when the city became the mint for the Oitaians.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1063

1063 Herakleia Trachinia. Circa 360s-350s BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 16mm, 3.75 g 6). Head of lion to left, with closed mouth; below jaws, retrograde Σ. Rev. ΗΡΑ - Μ (inverted) Club to right with wreath tying left. Rogers 256 var. (no letter on the obverse). SNG Copenhagen 68 var. Rare. Dark green patina.

Good very fine.

175 Said to have been found in southern Bulgaria. Thank you, my friend S. P.

1064

1064

1,5:1

1064 Homolion. Circa 350 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 9.24 g 3). Bearded head of Philoktetes to right, wearing conical pilos. Rev. ΟΜΟΛ-ΙΕΩΝ Serpent coiled to right; behind head, small bunch of grapes.

Rogers 257. SNG Copenhagen 72. With a splendid, olive-green patina. Beautifully centered in high relief.

Extremely fine.

750 Philoktetes was the son of the king of Meliboea in Thessaly, and was famous for his friendship with Herakles, whose pyre he lit. Herakles left him his bow and arrows. Philoktetes joined the Greek forces against Troy but, on the trip over, he was bitten by a snake on Lesbos and this caused a terrible wound that refused to heal and gave off an awful smell. He was then marooned on Lesbos, on the counsel of Odysseus, and remained there for ten years until the Greeks received a prophecy saying they would not win against Troy without the weapons of Herakles. So a team led

by Odysseus rushed back to Lesbos, were astonished to find Philoktetes still alive and still in possession of the bow and arrows, and managed to bring him back with them to Troy where he was healed by one of the sons of Asklepios.

After the war was won, Philoktetes returned to Thessaly but found Meliboea in revolt: he then departed for Magna Graecia where he founded cities and ultimately died and was buried near Sybaris. His connection with Homolion is unclear.

A note from BCD: Perhaps the Homolians thought that Philoktetes had also founded their city?

1065

1065 Homolion. Circa 350 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 6.48 g 5). Bearded head of Philoktetes to right, wearing conical pilos as last. Rev. ΟΜΟΛ[Ι]-ΚΟΝ Serpent coiled to right. Rogers 262. SNG Copenhagen 71. Rare. Obverse slightly off center, otherwise, a lovely coin with a fine dark brown patina.

Extremely fine.

300 This coin is probably rather later in the 4th century than the previous piece. The variant spelling of the city ethnic also shows that the two coins come from different issues.

1,5:1

1066

1,5:1

1066 Iolkos. Mid 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 2.20 g 12). Head of Artemis Iolkia to right, with an earring and with her hair in a bun at the back of her head. Rev. ΙΩΛΚΙΩΝ Prow of galley Argo to left, with branch attached to the stem post. Liampi, 2005, pp. 23-40 1c (this coin). Extremely rare, one of less than half a dozen known coins from this mint. With an attractive dark patina, sharply struck and well centered. Extremely fine.

600 For a full discussion of the dating and meaning of this coin Liampi cannot be bettered.

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3:1

1067

1067 Kierion. Circa 400-360 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.66 g 6). Laureate head of Zeus to right, with a short, neat beard; behind head, thunderbolt. Rev. ΚΙΕ-ΡΙΑΙ-ΟΝ /ΑΡΝΑ The nymph Arne kneeling to right on one knee, her head turned back to left, wearing drapery that leaves her nude to the waist, playing with knucklebones thrown from her right hand, held downwards behind her, and resting her left arm on her left knee. Traité IV, 510 and pl. CCLXXXIX, 23 = Pozzi 1196 (same dies) . Very rare. A coin of refined style, with a very mannered portrait of Zeus. Surfaces slightly porous, otherwise, a lovely coin of great beauty. Extremely fine.

1500 The 4th century coinage of Kierion can be divided into two basic groups, the first, of which this piece is part, have rather severe heads of Zeus, sometimes unwreathed; figures of the nymph Arne who is bare-breasted; and, on the very earliest pieces, as this, the legend KIEΡIAION rather than the more usual KIEΡIEIΩN or its variants, which almost immediately took its place. The second issue has Zeus heads that are more developed (similar to some of the issues of Philip II), as well as fully draped figures of Arne. The only other known example of this type is the Pozzi coin that appeared in the Traité: interestingly enough, while E. Babelon was perfectly happy with that coin, his son Jean had doubts about it (Traité IV, columns 280-290, fn. 3) but was not sure enough to exclude it from his father’s manuscript! He was, of course, wrong. It would be fascinating to compare this piece with the Pozzi coin, but that piece has disappeared. It was bought in the Pozzi sale by a Swiss industrialist, who later sold his collection in Naville X (June 1925), where that coin appeared as lot 514 and was apparently bought for a client by Hirsch, at the rather steep price of 780 CHF (it had fetched 510 at Pozzi). It has not been seen since.

A note from BCD: Probably the second known and a coin of exquisite style that, since its acquisition, I never tired of admiring whenever the opportunity arose. The fact that its pedigreed die duplicate was unjustly condemned made it even more attractive, in a perverse sort of way. That unfortunate coin was owned by Samuel Pozzi who must have turned in his grave when Jean Babelon wrote this footnote in Traité and signed it with his initials: "L’authenticité de cette monnaie est au moin douteuse. Je n’ai pas cru toutefois devoir amputer ici le texte de E. Babelon". See Naville I (Pozzi), 4 April 1921, 1196 for its first appearance at auction and the coin’s subsequent publication in the Traité (reference above). The unsubstantiated and incomprehensible footnote quoted above is at the bottom of column 289 and I can just imagine how Pozzi himself and Ernst Babelon would have reacted to it. The coin made its original appearance when it was sold to Pozzi in December 1905 for 1000 francs by Jean Lambros, a well known dealer of the time. The good doctor, being a real ‘connoisseur’, had no reason to doubt it and kept it until June 1918 when he was shot by a demented client. Less than three years later his legendary collection went up for sale and this coin, lot 1196, was knocked down to Herr Brown, the Swiss industrialist and major shareholder of the Brown Boveri company for 510 Swiss francs. Spink's were the underbidders. Meanwhile, Brown Boveri suffered losses due to the devaluations of the French franc and the German mark, also because production costs increased while Swiss sales remained static. In 1924 the company devalued its capital by 30% to cover these losses and on the 15th of January 1925 this coin came up for sale again in Naville X as lot 514. The consignor was Frau Brown, her late husband having obviously left her his coins after departing this world. But Frau Brown was not leaving things to chance, she put a reserve price of 1000 Swiss francs on the coin (in those days reserves were recorded in the book as bids by the consignor). At the auction the coin reached the price of 780 Swiss francs and was bought in by Jacob Hirsch, the underbidder being Monsieur Naville (who was obviously helping his partner so that the coin would reach a respectable price before being returned to Frau Brown, unsold). [The information that helped to put together this story is courtesy of ASW who owns a set of Jacob Hirsch’s annotated catalogues of the Naville-Ars Classica series.]

ASW thinks that Frau Brown was very fond of this coin and did not really want to sell it, hence the very high - for those days- reserve price in the form of a bid In fact, ASW thinks that she wanted this coin and, for accounting reasons, actually bought it at the sale by giving Hirsch a bid; while Hirsch often wrote in reserves, he did not cite them in the form of bids with an actual bidder number. The coin’s present location remains a mystery as well as the reason for which Jean Babelon subsequently condemned it.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1068

1068 2:1

1068 Kierion. Circa 400-360 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 15mm, 2.80 g 2). Male head (probably Zeus) to right, with short beard, his hair bound with either a fillet or a wreath with very short leaves. Rev. ΚΙΕΡΙΕ[ΙΩΝ] The nymph Arne, her torso bare, kneeling right and playing knucklebones, as last. Rogers 173. SNG Copenhagen 35. Rare. Attractive dark patina. Good very fine.

150 This piece clearly belongs chronologically with the early prototype hemidrachm in the previous lot, as well as with the following hemiobol and dichalkon.

1069

3:1

3:1

1069 Kierion. Circa 400-360 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.43 g 9). [K]-I Laureate head of Zeus to left, with pointed, rather ‘archaic’ beard; behind head, thunderbolt. Rev. Κ-Ι Head of Arne to right, her hair bound in a sakkos. Traité IV, 514 = HN² p. 293 . Extremely rare and very well preserved. Surfaces slightly porous. Nearly extremely fine.

375 This astonishingly rare coin has long been thought to bear a head of Poseidon because of the object on the obverse, previously identified as a trident. In fact, as can be seen on this better preserved example, what we have is a rather schematic thunderbolt. Not only is the head of Zeus on this hemiobol very similar, indeed, to that on the dichalkon that follows, the figure of Arne on the dichalkon is also clearly wearing a sakkos as well!

1070

1070 2:1

1070 Kierion. Circa 400-360 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18 mm, 3.10 g 9). Laureate head of Zeus to left, with long, pointed beard. Rev. ΚΙΕΡ-ΙΕΙΩΝ The nymph Arne, bare to the waist and wearing sakkos, kneeling and playing with knucklebones as last. G. Hirsch 256, 2008, 87 (same dies). An attractive, nicely struck example, with a fine dark patina. Nearly extremely fine.

225 From the Petsalis Collection acquired from Jacob Hirsch and probably originally from the Rhousopoulos Collection.

The heads of Zeus and Arne on this coin are very close to those on the hemiobol in the previous lot. Their dies were doubtless cut by the same engraver.

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1071

1071

1,5:1

1071 Kierion. Circa 350 BC. Stater (Silver, 11.12 g 3). Laureate head of Zeus to right, his hair and beard abundant and curly. Rev. [ΚΙΕΡΙΕΙΩΝ] Youthful Asklepios, nude to the waist, seated to left on rocks, holding long scepter in his left hand and resting his right on his upraised right knee; to left, tree entwined by a serpent. Photiades Pacha (Hoffmann, 19 May 1890) 51 =Traité IV, 508, pl. CCLXXXIX, 21 = SNG Lewis 574 (same dies). A coin of great rarity, one of four known staters of Kierion. Nicely toned.

Scratched on the reverse and with the usual die breaks and traces of corrosion, otherwise, very fine. 3500 Ex Hess-Leu 45, 12 May 1970, 161 (CHF 4300).

This is one of the great Thessalian rarities. The head of Zeus is clearly modeled on those that appear on the coinage of Philip II and it seems clear that a date of c. 350 for it is fully justified. The figure of Asklepios on the reverse depicts him as a young man, rather than as he usually appears: an older and bearded figure. All the known specimens of this stater, one, as Traité 507, with Asklepios seated on a throne, and three, as this (plus the one in the Lewis Collection = Traité 508, and another in trade, CNG MBS 57, 2001, 282), are struck from the same damaged obverse die: no fresh example is known and it is possible that the obverse die broke after only a relatively few coins were struck. The fact that it is, nevertheless, known paired with two different reverses is truly remarkable. This exceptional issue of staters was accompanied by a number of trihemiobols (often termed diobols but they would be very light for that) and obols.

A note from BCD: ASW does not state the obvious: there were no diobols struck in Thessaly or in any other area adhering to the Aiginetan standard. All coins called "diobols" in the various auction catalogue descriptions are simply reduced weight (or worn) hemidrachms.

1072

1,5:1

1072

1072 Kierion. Circa 350 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.46 g 3). Head of the nymph Arne to right, wearing pendant earring and necklace. Rev. ΚΙΕΡΙ-ΕΙΩΝ The nymph Arne, wearing earring, necklace and full robes, kneeling right, her head turned to left, playing with knucklebones tossed from her right hand. BMC 2 = Traité IV, 511 and pl. CCXC, 1. Same dies as G. Hirsch 251, 9 May 2007, lots 619-620. Very rare. A naturally beautifully toned and very attractive example. Nearly extremely fine.

500 On this coin Arne has become much more of a modern nymph than she was on earlier coins. On the obverse she has a very soigné look, similar to Demeter on the contemporary coins of Lokris, and on the reverse she is fully draped, though in the same pose as her seminude predecessor on the city’s coinage of only a few years earlier.

1073

1,5:1

1073

1073 Kierion. Circa 350 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.32 g 7). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΚΙΕΡΙ-ΕΙΩΝ The nymph Arne, playing knucklebones as last; to right, magistrate's initial Φ. BMFA 873. SNG Copenhagen 32. Traité IV, 509. Rare. An attractive example, but with some minor marks. About extremely fine.

350 The trihemiobols with Zeus were struck with obverse dies of two types: one with a ‘tall’ head, as this one (apparently known from a single die) and the other with a broader head (as the one in the references given above). The present example is particularly finely modeled.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1,5:1

1074

1,5:1

1074 Kierion. Circa 350 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.83 g 5). Horse prancing to right. Rev. ΚΙΕΡΙΕΙ-ΩΝ Warrior (Ajax?), nude but for helmet, striding right, holding shield with his left hand and short sword with his right. SNG Copenhagen 34. Rare. Good very fine.

300 The prancing horse on the obverse of this coin is surely copied from that found on contemporary distaters and staters of Larissa, while the reverse is clearly taken from the coinage of Lokris.

A note from BCD: A well known ‘horse person’ in Thessalian numismatic circles has suggested that the horse on the obverse of this coin is doing the ‘Spanish walk’. Having marveled at the feats and the discipline of the horses at the Spanish Riding School in Vienna back in the early 1970s, I agree that the term applies perfectly, not only in the case of this coin but perhaps also of others, such as the Pharkadon obols, lots 1272-1274 below, although the horse’s necks on these coins are not as bent.

1075

1075 Kierion. 2nd half of the 4th century BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 22mm, 8.37 g 1). Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΚΙΕΡΙΕΙΩΝ Zeus, nude, striding right, hurling thunderbolt from his right hand and holding eagle on his outstretched left; to right, Arne kneeling and playing with knucklebones. Rogers 178. SNG Copenhagen 37. An impressive piece struck in high relief and with a fine dark brown patina. Minor scrape on Apollo’s cheek, otherwise, about extremely fine.

200 The obverse is clearly copied from the coins of Philip II.

1,5:1

1076

1076

1076 Kierion. 2nd half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 1.92 g 12). Youthful head to right, wearing taenia (Apollo?) Rev. ΚΙΕΡΙ / ΕΙΩΝ above and below thunderbolt; all within laurel wreath.

Apparently unpublished. A fascinating little coin, seemingly completely unknown. With a slightly offcenter obverse, but with a fine, dark green patina. About extremely fine.

175 This coin seems to fit well into the coinage of Kierion, specifically as a fraction to go with the fulminating Zeus issue in the previous lot.

1077

1077 Krannon. Circa 479-465 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.87 g 3). ΧΑ-Ν Facing bull's head, restrained by the halflength figure of a Hero (Thessalos), in profile to left, who holds the neck of the bull with his right hand and his left horn with his left. Rev. ΚRΑ (retrograde) Head of bridled horse to left; all within incuse square. Liampi, 1996, V2/R-. Rare. Slightly rough surfaces. Very fine.

250

1078 2:1

2:1

1078 Krannon. Circa 479-465 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.55 g 9). ΧΑ-Ν Steer's hoof. Rev. ΚRΑΝ (retrograde) Head of bridled horse to left; all within incuse. Liampi, 1996, p. 111, 1 a and pl. 5, 39 (this coin). Very rare. A fresh and sharply struck example. Die break on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

300

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1079 1,5:1

1,5:1

1079 Krannon. Circa 460-400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.98 g 2). ΧΑ-Ν Youthful Hero (Thessalos) walking right, nude but for cloak and petasos tied over his shoulders, holding, with both hands, a band around the head of a bull rushing to right. Rev. Κ-RΑ-ΝΟ Bridled horse trotting to left, reins trailing on the ground; behind, trident; all within shallow incuse square. CNG MBS 82, 2009, 459 (same dies). Weber 2800 (same dies). Very rare, one of only a very few drachms of Krannon known. A decent and well centered coin, with the usual die break on the reverse. Very fine.

800 The early coinage of Krannon, struck with the usual Thessalian League types of the hero and bull, is generally rare, with the drachms being extremely so. As is normal with Thessalian coins of the 5th century, this coin circulated for a long time prior to its loss.

1080

1080 Krannon. Circa 460-400 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.93 g 5). ΧΑ-Ν Youthful Hero (Thessalos) walking right, nude but for cloak and petasos tied over his shoulders, restraining the forepart of a bull rushing to right with a band held around the bull's head. Rev. Κ-R-Α (retrograde) Forepart of bridled horse to left; behind, trident; all within incuse square. Künker 158, 2009, 195 (same dies). Moustaka 36. SNG Copenhagen 38. Rare. Deposits on the obverse field and in the recessed areas of the the reverse, otherwise, good very fine.

300

1081.2

1081.1

1081 Krannon. First half of the 4th century BC. Lot of two bronze dichalka. 1081.1 18 mm, 5.33 g, 5.

Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΚΡΑ Horseman wearing petasos riding right; trident below. Rogers 179. 1081.2 17.5 mm, 3.96 g, 1. Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΚΡΑΝΩΝΙ Horseman as last. CNG 195, 2008, 42 (same dies). Rogers 185 var. Clear and attractive pieces with dark patinas. Nearly extremely fine (2).

200 A note from BCD: The obverse dies of the two coins in this lot are to be found on the overwhelming majority of the Krannon bronzes of this type. In fact, any other obverse die found for this series is a great rarity.

1082 2:1

2:1

1082 Krannon. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 2.18 g 5). Head of Thessalos to right, wearing petasos, with, on his left, head of horse to right. Rev. ΚΡΑΝΝ (retrograde) Bull butting to right, head lowered; above, trident to right; below, V. Rogers 172a var. (Atrax). Rare. An attractive piece with a black patina. Extremely fine.

225 A note from BCD: It is possible that this bronze, as well as the next lot, chronologically precede the two coins in the previous lot.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1083 1,5:1

1,5:1

1083 Krannon. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 12mm, 2.26 g 5). Heads of Thessalos and horse to right, as last, from the same die. Rev. ΚΡΑ Head and neck of bull to right, head facing front; to right, kerykeion. Apparently unpublished. Unique? A lovely coin with a fine black patina. Extremely fine.

200 A note from BCD: The centering of the reverse does not allow us to see it clearly, but a trident, Poseidon’s trident, and not a kerykeion, is the obvious choice for the reverse symbol on this coin. BCD may be right, as almost always, but I seem to see a curved part on this symbol. This curvature occurs because the symbol is practically on the edge of the flan.

1084.2

1084.1

1084 Krannon. Circa 350-300. Lot of two bronze chalkoi. 1084.1 15 mm, 2.56 g 3. Thessalian horseman galloping right. Rev. ΚΡΑΝ Bull butting right, trident above. Rogers 187 var. SNG Copenhagen 41.

1084.2 14 mm, 2.38 g 10. Thessalian horseman galloping left. Rev. ΚΡΑΝ Bull butting right, trident and ΙΠ above. Rogers 190. Sharp and attractive with black patinas. Nearly extremely fine (2).

125

1085

1085 Krannon. Circa 350-300. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 4.60 g 5). Α / Ν Thessalian horseman galloping to right. Rev. ΚΡΑΝ / Α Hydria on cart with long handle to left; on cart to right, crow pecking at hydria.

Rogers 193 ff. Well-struck, clear and well centered with a dark patina. About extremely fine.

125

1086

1086 Krannon. Circa 350-300. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 4.33 g 5). Thessalian rider to right, as last but with Κ in upper left. Rev. ΚΡΑ/ΝΝΟΝΙΟ Hydria on cart, similar to last, but without crow. Rogers 199 var.

Clear and well centered with an attractive dark patina . Nearly extremely fine.

125

1087

1,5:1

1087

1087 Krannon. 3rd century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 9.05 g 9). Draped bust of Thessalos right, wearing petasos. Rev. ΚΡΑ-Ν / ΝΩΝΙΩ[Ν] Thessalian horseman galloping to right; below, monogram of ΠΛΕ. BMC 8. Rogers 202. Traité IV, 641, pl. CCXLV, 22. Well preserved and attractive with a fine dark patina. Good very fine.

175 Coins of this type are usually found in dreadful condition (as the Paris example illustrated in the Traité). This piece is unusually nice. For the possibility that this coin should be dated to the 2nd century, see the following lot.

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1088

1088 Krannon. 3rd century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 4.13 g 1). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΚΡΑΝΝΟΥΝΙΟΥΝ Hydria flanked by two crows on cart; below, monogram of ΠΛΕ as last. Rogers 202.

Rare. Very well centered for this issue. Dark patina. Nearly extremely fine.

125 This issue is usually dated to the 3rd century, but the head of Zeus here has very strong affinities to that on 2nd century coins of the Achaian League. If this is the case, then the chronology of the issues of Krannon will have to be considerably down-dated.

1089

2:1

2:1

1089 Lamia. First half of the 4th century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.79 g 11), Circa 360s/350s BC. Head of Dionysos to left, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. ΛΑΜΙΕ - ΩΝ Amphora tall handles; above, ivy leaf; to right, prochous with handle to right. Georgiou 1, 8. Jameson 1082 (this coin). SNG Copenhagen 77. Traité IV, 456, pl. CCLXXXVII, 19. Toned, clear and attractive. Extremely fine.

500 Ex Monnaies et Médailles 54, 26 October 1978, 203 (CHF 2500) and from the collections of W. Niggeler, 1, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen, 4 December 1965, 253 and R. Jameson, who acquired it from the Gonin collection.

1090 2:1

2:1

1090 Lamia. First half of the 4th century BC. Obol (Silver, 0.85 g 10), Circa 360s/350s BC. Head of Dionysos to left, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. ΛΑΜΙΕ - ΩΝ Amphora with tall handles; above, ivy leaf; to right, prochous with handle to right. Georgiou 1,7. Traité IV, 459, pl. CCLXXXVII, 22. A wonderful, sharp example. Slightly rough surfaces, otherwise, good extremely fine.

250 Ex Gorny & Mosch 117, 14 October 2002, 192 (b 950).

1091

1091 Lamia. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 16mm, 2.11 g 11). Head of the nymph Lamia to right, wearing pendant earring and pearl necklace. Rev. ΛΑΜΙΕΩΝ Philoktetes, nude and beardless, kneeling right on one knee, shooting his bow; before him and between his legs, two fallen birds; behind, quiver. Georgiou 2, 14 var. Rogers (Malia) 388. Traité IV 461, pl. CCLXXXVII, 24. Dark green patina and very sharply struck. Minor flan crack, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

100

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1092

2:1

2:1

1092 Lamia. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 2.10 g 7). Head of the nymph Lamia to right, wearing pendant earring and pearl necklace. Rev. ΛΑ / ΜΙ Philoktetes reclining left on rocks, nude but for his conical pilos, resting his left hand on the ground and scratching his back with his right; before him, quiver and bow. Georgiou 2, 12. Rogers (Malia) 385. Rare. With a fine, glossy black patina, and beautifully centered. Tiny flan crack, otherwise, extremely fine.

200

1093

1,5:1

1093

1093 Lamia. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 2.46 g 12), Late 4th century. Head of Athena wearing Corinthian helmet to right, with pendant earring and necklace. Rev. ΜΑΛΙΕΩΝ Philoktetes, nude, standing right, shooting his bow at birds, one of which falls before him to right; at right below, quiver. Georgiou 2, 16. Rogers (Malia) 384. Traité IV, 462 , pl. CCXXXVII, 25. A sharp and well-struck example with a glossy dark patina. Extremely fine.

125 The date of this coin is usually given as mid 4th century, but the close resemblance of the Athena head that appears on this coin to that on the gold staters of Alexander III suggests a later date

1094

1094 2:1

1094 Lamia. Circa 300 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.67 g 9). Head of the nymph Lamia to right, wearing hair band and pendant earring. Rev. ΛΑΜΙ - ΕΩΝ Youthful Philoktetes, nude and bare-headed, seated on rocks covered by his cloak; he holds his bow and quiver with his right hand and rests it on his right knee; his left hand rests on the rock behind him. BMC 9 and pl. IV, 2 = Georgiou 2, 19 (same dies). Traité IV, 463.

Extremely rare. Bright and attractive, with a wonderfully sharp obverse. Reverse slightly double-struck and with a minor edge flaw, otherwise, extremely fine.

1250 A note from BCD: A great rarity and a fascinating coin, the obverse portrait being crafted in the guise of Lamia, the notorious courtesan of Demetrios Poliorketes. Percy Gardner in NC 1878, pp. 266-271, gives a full account of not only the reasons for which he attributes this portrait to her but also of the many anecdotes connected with her life and the influence she had on the Macedonian king. His conclusion was that this is "the only surviving instance of contemporary portraiture of a Greek beauty who was not also a queen" and goes on to see on the reverse "an unmistakable Herakles...in the likeness of Demetrius himself, the handsomest of the Greeks of his time". And so, if the Athenians and Thebans erected temples in Lamia’s honour, why shouldn’t the citizens of Lamia strike a coin with the portrait of a famous hetaira who was named after their city? Finally, for a rather more explicit (to put it mildly) version of Lamia’s story, go to http://hornytimetraveler.wordpress.com/2009/03/16

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1095

3:1

3:1

1095 Larissa. Circa 500-479 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.11 g 4). Horse with head lowered, grazing to left. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ-§ΑΙΟ-Ν Sandal of Jason to left with double-ax above; all within shallow incuse. BMC 1 = Traité I, 1411, pl. XLIII, 2. Herrmann Group I and pl. I, 2 (obverse)/3 (reverse). Jameson 2467 (this coin).

Kunstfreund 143 (this coin). Extremely rare. Nicely toned but with slightly rough surfaces. Nearly extremely fine.

3000 From the collections of C. Gillet, Kunstfreund, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen, 28 May 1974, 143 (CHF 17,000) and R. Jameson.

This is the first issue of Larissa, and with it began the most important silver coinage of Thessaly of the 5th and 4th centuries BC. A note from BCD: I remember the set up of the table - a much smaller and narrower Π -shaped table when compared to the table of today’s events at the Baur au Lac - for the Kunstfreund auction, back in the spring of 1974. Simon Bendall, with whom I shared my bids, was seated on my right. Ernesto Santamaria (who bid against me on the Arcadian League stater) was sitting across from us, at the other leg of the table. George Muller was sitting further to the right of us, nearer the head of the table, with two of his clients, one seated next to him and the other behind him. Herbert Cahn and Leo Mildenberg would alternate at the rostrum and the bidding was so fierce that the numbers seemed to lose their importance. It took only seconds for a coin to reach its hammer price that was, more often than not, a multiple of the estimate. It was there that I found out for the first time what a ‘High Powered Coin’ is and that, in order to obtain any such coins, one had not anymore to think in terms of money but in terms of ‘acquisition desire’. Needless to say, this Larissa archaic drachm was very close to the top of my priority list and therefore the price paid for it at the time was far too high. One wonders what its hammer price will be at this auction...

1096

3:1

3:1

1096 Larissa. Circa 500-479 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.61 g 4). Head of Jason to left, wearing petasos with ties under his chin. Rev. ΛΑ - [ΡΙ]-§ΑΕ Jason's sandal to left; all within incuse square. Herrmann Group I, p. 3 b var. (different legend). Extremely rare. Nicely toned and very well preserved.

About extremely fine.

1500 This is a lovely coin, with a powerful, still archaic, portrait of Jason. He has a fully frontal eye and the hint of a smile.

The reverse legend has been restored here to read LARI§AE, but it may be that the letters rho and iota were actually never included.

A note from BCD. Most probably the two letters existed but the area of the field on the reverse die was filled in when this coin was struck.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1097

2:1

2:1

1097 Larissa. Circa 500-479 BC. Obol (Silver, 1.11 g 3). Head of the nymph Larissa to left, her hair bound with a ribbon and tied at the back. Rev. ΛΑRΙ / Ξ Jason's sandal to left, all within incuse square. BMC 3 = Herrmann Group I, p. 4, 4 = Traité I, 1415, pl. XLIII, 6. Moustaka 171 var. Rare. Attractively toned and unusually nice. About extremely fine.

750 The early obols of Larissa are remarkable for their variations in weight, ranging from 0.65 to well over 1 gram: this piece is one of the heaviest known, at 1.11 g. The coins were probably struck at so many to a given weight so that as long as the amount of pieces struck was correct, individual weights were unimportant.

1098

2:1

2:1

1098 Larissa. Circa 500-479 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.65 g 7). Head of the nymph Larissa to left, but with very archaic features. Rev. ΛΑ Jason's sandal to right; all within incuse square. Herrmann Group I, pl. I, 5 var. ; SNG Copenhagen 90. Rare. A clear and attractive coin, with a striking obverse. Nearly extremely fine.

400 Struck from the same obverse die as CNG MBS 69, 2005, 264 and the same reverse as CNG MBS 73, 2006, 179.

1099 2:1

2:1

1099 Larissa. Circa 500-479 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.91 g 3). Head of the nymph Larissa to right, similar to the last, but with drop earring. Rev. Λ - Α - R - Ι in incuse square. Apparently unpublished. Extremely rare.

Lightly toned. Good very fine.

350 This coin is clearly related to the “Jason’s sandal” issues since it bears the same head of Larissa used on them.

However, the purely inscriptional reverse, like that on the following lot, marks it out as an experimental type.

1100

3:1

3:1

1100 Larissa. Circa 500-479 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.37 g). Petasos (the hat of Jason) Rev. Λ - Α - R - Ι (retrograde and partially reversed) within shallow inscuse square. Apparently unpublished, but for a similar piece, see CNG MBS 81, 2009, 402 ($1100). Extremely rare. Slightly rough surfaces but, otherwise, clear, lightly toned and well centered. About extremely fine.

500 During the 5th century the Larissans seem to have adored producing experimental types, of which this certainly is one. As we have seen, they produced a number of different obols that bore reverse types composed solely of letters, but they must have been unpopular because they were discontinued and are very rare today.

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1101 2:1

2:1

1101 Larissa. Circa 500-479 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.69 g 10). Head of the nymph Larissa to left, with ribbon and with her hair bound at the back. Rev. Λ - Α - R - Ι Quadripartite incuse square with letter in each quarter.

Apparently unpublished, save for Lanz 97, 22 May 2000, 217. Very rare. Bold and attractive. Nearly extremely fine.

650 This is a fascinating coin, but it is somewhat difficult to place chronologically because its style is quite different from the other early issues of Larissa. The head of Larissa is unlike that found on the “Jason’s sandal” issues: the type looks rather like an experiment that failed to find favor and was discontinued.

1102

1,5:1

1102

1102 Larissa. Circa 479-465 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.42 g 1). Horseman, wearing petasos and chlamys and holding two spears, riding slowly to right. Rev. Λ - ΑRΙ -§ Α The nymph Larissa seated right on backless throne, raising left hand and holding phiale in her right; below throne, cista. Herrmann Group II. SNG Copenhagen 91 var. Traité IV, 650. pl. CCXCVI, 8 var. A lovely, toned example. Some areas of flatness.

Extremely fine.

350 Ex Leu 45, 26 May 1988, 147 (CHF 1600).

The head of Larissa on the reverse of this coin is of the same style and type as that found on the obols of the Jason series: this implies a close chronological connection.

A note from BCD: I suspect that this coin comes chronologically after the archaic taurokathapsia issues (lots 11031110 below) but if ASW connects it to the Jason series, so be it.

1103

1103 Larissa. Circa 462/1-460 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.89 g 6). Bull’s head and neck, behind, half figure of hero to left, grasping bull by the horns; above, lotus flower. Rev. Λ - ΑR - Ι Head of bridled horse to right; all within incuse square. Liampi, 1996, IA, 1c and pl. 4, 1 (this coin). Nicely toned. Good very fine.

250

1104

1,5:1

1104

1104 Larissa. Circa 462/1-460 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.93 g 12). Forepart of bull to left, grazing with head turned back to right. Rev. ΛΑ Head of bridled horse to right in incuse square. Liampi, 1996, IA, 8 (same dies).

SNG Copenhagen 96. An attractive example, unusually well struck. Extremely fine.

400

1105

1,5:1

1105

1105 Larissa. Circa 462/1-460 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.98 g 11). Head and neck of bull to left, head facing front.

Rev. ΛΑ Head of bridled horse to right within incuse square. Herrmann Group III. Liampi 1996 IA, 15b, pl. 4, 26 (this coin, but weight and die axis incorrect). Toned and attractive. Tiny scrape on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

300

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1106

2:1

2:1

1106 Larissa. Circa 462/1-460 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.98 g 6). Head and neck of bull, similar to the last; above, dolphin swimming left. Rev. ΛΑ Head of bridled horse to right, within incuse square. Liampi, 1996, IA, 16a, pl. 4, 31 (this coin). A finely toned, sharp piece, nicely struck. Extremely fine.

350

1107

3:1

3:1

1107 Larissa. Circa 462/1-460 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.43 g 9). Bull’s hoof. Rev. Λ - Α Head of bridled horse to left; all within incuse square. Liampi, 1996, Group II, 2 (same dies). Rare. Toned, boldly struck, sharp and unusually attractive. Extremely fine.

400

1108

1,5:1

1108

1108 Larissa. Circa 460-440 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.36 g 12). Youth, nude but for cloak over his shoulders and petasos hanging from a cord around his neck, holding a band in both his hands around the head of a bull rushing to right. Rev. Λ - Α - R - Ι Bridled horse to left within incuse square. Herrmann Group III B, pl. I, 21(same dies). Lorber 2008, pl. 41, 9. A lovely piece with a dark patina as found. Extremely fine.

850 Acquired from Spink’s in January 1977 for £ 1100 and ex Glendining & Co., 20 November 1975, 883 (£650).

The true meaning of the obverse scene, the taurokathapsia or games involving men and bulls, was elucidated by Elizabeth Pendleton. She pointed out that the Thessalian hero holds a band, which he is using to control the bull by passing it around the animal’s head and pulling it tight. This is similar to a lasso, but it is a much more strenuous affair and must have required a great deal of skill!

1109

1,5:1

1109

1109 Larissa. Circa 460-440 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.97 g 3). Hero, wearing cloak and petasos over his shoulders, wrestling bull as last. Rev. ΛΑ - R - Ι Horse with trailing reins prancing to right; all within incuse square. Herrmann Group IIIA. Lorber 2008, pl. 41, 10. Traité IV, 645, pl. CCXCVI, 3. Toned and clear. Surfaces slightly rough, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

750 Ex Sternberg XIV, 24 May 1984, 82 (CHF 1900) and M&M FPL 232, May 1963, 12.

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1110 1,5:1

1,5:1

1110 Larissa. Circa 460-440 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 3.01 g 11). Hero holding a band in both his hands around the head of the forepart of a bull to right. Rev. ΛΑ - R - Ι Forepart of bridled horse rushing to right, with trailing rein; all within incuse square. Herrmann III B, pl, I, 23. Lorber 2008, pl. 41, 12. Slightly rough surfaces but, otherwise, a sharp and attractive coin. Nearly extremely fine.

350 Acquired from CNG in December 1996 for $495, originally bought in London.

1111

1111 2:1

1111 Larissa. Circa 460-440 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.99 g 6). Horse walking to right. Rev. Λ - Α Nymph, Larissa, striding to left, her right hand raised and her left lowered, bouncing a ball in the field before her to left.

Herrmann Group IIb, pl. I, 16 (same dies). Traité IV 654 var. Very rare. An attractive, well centered piece. Lightly toned and slightly rough. About extremely fine.

350 Ex Leu 50, 25 April 1990, 127, enlarged on pl. XXVIII (CHF 2500).

This piece is clearly late Archaic in date: Larissa’s pose is reminiscent of that of the nymphs on staters from “Lete” and Thasos, though here her hand is not raised in protest but in sport. Curiously enough, this type with the nymph to left is much rarer than the similar figure to right. For a later version of this scene, see below, lot 1118.

1112

1112 2:1

1112 Larissa. Circa 460-440 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.88 g 9). Horse walking to right; above, lion’s head with open jaws to right. Rev. Λ - ΑRΙ Nymph, Larissa, walking to right, balancing a hydria on her raised left knee; behind her, fountain spout in the form of a lion's head to right, from which water pours. Herrmann Group IIb, pl. I, 15. SNG Copenhagen 92. Nicely centered, but with a few minor marks and with slightly rough surfaces. Good very fine.

250

1,5:1

1113

1,5:1

1113 Larissa. Circa 460-440 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.50 g 5). Ο - § Horseman, wearing petasos and chlamys and carrying two spears, riding horse walking to left. Rev. ΛΑRΙ§ Α (retrograde The nymph Larissa seated left, on a chair with a curve-topped back, holding mirror in her left hand and raising her right hand towards her face. Herrmann III D/E, pl. II, 13. Traité IV, 676, pl. CCXCVII, 9 (but with Σ in the legend, not §). A lovely coin with an even grey tone. Minor die flaw on the reverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

400

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1114 2:1

2:1

1114 Larissa. Circa 460-440 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.87 g 10). Ο - « Horse trotting to right. Rev. ΛΑRΙ«Α (retrograde) The nymph Larissa, standing facing, holding her hair and a mirror with upraised hands; at her feet to right, hydria. Herrmann F/G IIIβ IV. Traité IV, 684, pl. CCXCVII, 17. Rare. Nicely toned.

Surfaces slightly rough, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

300 The fractional silver coinage of 5th century Larissa is remarkable for the many different depictions of the city-nymph it bears. Die cutters seem to have had the freedom to show her running, playing, and, even, beautifying herself: here she seems to be doing her hair, using a mirror as an aid.

1115 2:1

2:1

1115 Larissa. Circa 460-440 BC. Obol (Silver, 1.02 g 10). Ο - « Horse trotting to right. Rev. ΛΑRΙ«Α (retrograde) The nymph Larissa seated left, on a hydria with its mouth to right and one side handle facing the viewer, with her hands on her knees, apparently just having kicked a ball that is to her left on the ground. Herrmann F/G IIIβ VII. Traité IV -. Rare and with a lovely reverse. Minor die break on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.

375

1116

1116 3:1

1116 Larissa. Circa 440-400 BC. Obol (Silver, 0,95g 3). Horse walking to right; above, eight-pointed star; below, plant. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ On left, Asklepios standing right, bearded and wearing long robes, leaning on long staff held in his left hand and, from a phiale held in his right hand, feeding a snake, on the right, coiling to left within a bank of reeds; all within a shallow incuse square. BMC 45. Herrmann F/G IIIβ VIII. Traité IV 691 and pl. CCXCVII, 25. Rare. Toned and attractive. Very fine.

450

1117

2:1

1117

1117 Larissa. Circa 440-400 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.97 g 2). Horse prancing to right. Rev. ΛΑ - ΡΙ Nymph Larissa standing right, her left leg raised and resting on the top of the rho of the legend, leaning down and tying her left shoe; to right, hydria; all within incuse square. BMC 44. Herrmann -. Traité IV 686, pl.

CCXCVII, 19. Rare. Attractive and clear. Good very fine.

425 Aside from the general attractiveness of the design, a special touch is the way Larissa rests her foot on a letter of the legend.

61

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1118

3:1

3:1

1118 Larissa. Circa 440-400 BC. Obol (Silver, 1.04 g 3). Horse walking to left. Rev. Λ - Α / Ρ - Ι The nymph Larissa striding to left, her left hand at her waist and her right hand raised, bouncing a ball in the field before her. Herrmann F/G IIIβ I, pl. III, 12 var. Cf. Traité IV, 682, but of later style. Rare. Lightly toned and with a vigorous and well-modelled figure of Larissa. About extremely fine.

500

1119 3:1

3:1

1119 Larissa. Circa 450-430. Obol (Silver, 0.63 g 5). Head of Jason wearing petasos to right. Rev. ΛΑ - Ρ Petasos and kerykeion; all within incuse square. CNG Electronic Auction 170, 2007, 42 (this coin).

Apparently unique. Some dark deposits and surface roughness, otherwise, good very fine.

400 Ex CNG Electronic Auction 170, 8 August 2007, 42 ($950).

This is a fascinating coin, but it is also somewhat enigmatic. When it first appeared it was dated to the first quarter of the 5th century, on analogy with the previously known Jason issues from Larissa, which are surely dated that early.

However, the legend on this coin clearly bears a standard rho, without the short leg found on all Larissan issues of the first half of the 5th century: this coin simply has to be later than that. In addition, the style of the head is similar to that of the heads of Hermes found on coins of Ainos beginning in the later 2nd quarter of the 5th century and the head has a semi-profile eye; thus, a date after the mid-5th century seems certain. As for the reverse, the curious curved object found next to the kerykeion was described as being a fibula of a typically Etruscan type, the leech or sanguisuga, named after its leech-like shape. Unfortunately this does not look like one of those fibulae since it has symmetrical turned up ends, which sanguisuga fibulae do not have, and lacks any sign of a pin catch. The present identification, as a petasos, is slightly more satisfactory, but is also not entirely convincing: it is, perhaps, shown from the front, rather than from the side as it usually appears.

1120

1120 3:1

1120 Larissa. Circa 440-400 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.10 g 5). Small, round shield, with dotted border, bearing as a device a bull’s hoof to right; all within an outer dotted border. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ Diademed bust of Asklepios to right, wearing long beard and with slight drapery over his chest; before him, snake turned to right. Herrmann F/G IIIβ II, II and pl. III, 15 var (there a horse’s hoof). Traité 690 and pl. CCXCVII, 23.

A wonderful piece, very rare, toned and with a magnificent head of Asklepios. Extremely fine.

850

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1121 2:1

2:1

1121 Larissa. Circa 420-400 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 0.99 g 6). Head of a horned and bearded river-god facing front. Rev. Λ - Α Head of the nymph Larissa to right, her hair bound up at the back; all within an incuse square. Apparently unique and unpublished. Lightly toned but with corroded surfaces. Nearly very fine.

500 An extraordinary piece, hitherto unknown. This is another enigma because its types are so unusual. Why Larissa should produce a coin bearing the head of a river-god is uncertain, but it is presumably the Pineios, which was near the city - the usual water symbolism on Larissa’s coinage tends to be fountain spouts and hydrias, pots designed to carry water. The female head on the reverse is similar to female heads on the coinage of Larissa, but it is not so close that it can be ranked with any larger denomination. If it were not for the coin’s clearly Thessalian origins we would be tempted to think that this coin does not come from Larissa at all, but since it is even less likely to have come from either Lamia or Larissa Kremaste, with Larissa it stays!

A note from BCD: The improvisation that took place towards the end of the 5th century in the workings of the Larissa mint was remarkable. This was the time when a desperate and humiliated Athens conceded defeat and surrendered to Sparta at the end of the Peloponnesian War. It would therefore be quite normal for a number of disillusioned Athenians, artists amongst them, to leave the city and go north in search of a better life amongst the people who were their allies and friends during the war. Larissa was a vibrant and thriving city and the mint would be willing to try out the work of any die engraver who had something original to offer. It could well be that the head on the reverse of this coin, inaugurating the appearance of the "nymph’s head" that, initially in profile and later "en face", typified the city’s coinage for the ensuing decades, was sculpted by an Athenian celator.

1122

1,5:1

1122

1122 Larissa. Circa 440-400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.02 g 12). Thessalos, nude but for cloak over his shoulders and petasos hanging from a cord around his neck, holding a band in both his hands around the head of a bull rushing to right. Rev. ΛΑ / ΡΙΣ (partially retrograde) Bridled horse, with dangling rein, galloping right; all within incuse square. BMC 16. Herrmann -, but Group III. Lorber 2008, p. 42, 43. SNG Copenhagen 99 (same dies). Nicely toned with a dark patina. Nearly extremely fine.

600 Ex Leu 28, 5 May 1981, 97 (CHF 2100).

As stated in the note to lot 1108, above, the Thessalian hero on the obverse is controlling the bull using a band that passes around the animal’s head. In some cases the bull’s strength pulls our hero off his feet! This band is often hard to see, or even invisible, but, as Pendleton pointed out, it is always there.

1123

1,5:1

1123

1123 Larissa. Circa 460-440 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.08 g 12). Thessalos, with petasos and cloak over his shoulders, striding left, holding a rushing bull with a band around its horns; to left, branch; on ground line below, plant; in exergue, ΤΟ. Rev. ΛΑ / Ρ / ΙΣΑΙ (partially retrograde) Bridled horse, with dangling rein, galloping right; all within incuse square. BMC 17. Herrmann Group III, pl II, 2. Lorber 2008, pl. 42, 42.

Traité IV, 659, pl. CCXCVI, 16 (same dies). An attractive example, nicely toned, but with a slightly rough surface. Nearly extremely fine.

750 Ex The Numismatic Auction 2, 12 Decmber 1983, 99 ($2250).

63

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1124 1,5:1

1,5:1

1124 Larissa. Circa 460-440 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 3.02 g 3). Thessalos restraining rushing forepart of a bull to right; below, ΟΠ. Rev. Α-Λ / ΡΙ Forepart of bridled horse galloping to right; below, Jason's sandal to right; all within shallow incuse square. Lorber 2008, 15, pl. 42, 30. Herrmann Group III Series E. Rare, well centered and attractive. Nearly extremely fine.

450

1125

1125 Larissa. Circa 440-400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.10 g 6). Thessalos, with cloak over his shoulders, striding left, holding a rushing bull with a band around its horns; below, petasos, falling to the ground. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ / ΣΑΙΟΝ (partially retrograde) Bridled horse with trailing rein galloping to right; all within shallow incuse circle. Herrmann III E, pl. II, 7. Lorber 2008, pl. 43, 55. Traité 660, pl. CCXCVI 17 (same dies). Lightly toned. Very fine.

250 Ex E. Page, 4 October 1983, 28 (FF 1600).

1126

1126 Larissa. Circa 420-400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.27 g 5). Thessalos to right, holding a band around the head of bull, which he has wrestled nearly down to the ground. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ / ΣΑΙ (partially retrograde) Bridled horse, with trailing rein, galloping to right. BMFA 891 (same dies). Herrmann Group III, pl. IV, 2. Lorber 2008, pl. 43, 58 . Lightly toned. Good very fine.

350

1127

1127 Larissa. Circa 420-400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.15 g 3). Thessalos wrestling collapsing bull, as last but to left. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ / Σ / ΑΙ (partially retrograde) Bridled horse, with trailing rein, galloping to right.

Herrmann Group III K, pl. IV, 1. Lorber 2008, pl. 43, 57. SNG Copenhagen 113. Mottled toning. Good very fine.

275

1128

1128 Larissa. Circa 420-400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.16 g 12). Thessalos, with cloak and petasos over his shoulders, leaping left, both feet off the ground, holding a rushing bull by a band around its head. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ / ΣΑΙΑ Bridled horse with trailing rein galloping to right; all within shallow incuse square.

Herrmann Group III H, pl. III, 21. Lorber 2008, pl. 43, 52. A lovely coin, a remarkably fine example, beautifully toned and well struck. Extremely fine.

800 From the collection of the Johns Hopkins University and J. W. Garrett, II, Bank Leu/Numismatic Fine Arts, 16 October 1984, 202 (CHF 3800), acquired from W. Raymond on 5 March 1925.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1129

2:1

2:1

1129 Larissa. Circa 420-400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.12 g 12). Thessalos, with petasos and cloak over his shoulders, striding right, holding a band around the head of a rushing bull. Rev. ΛΑΡ - [Ι] / Σ - Α Bridled horse trotting to right, with curly tail; all within shallow incuse square. Herrmann -. Lorber 2008, pl. 42, 45 . Rare. A lovely piece, nicely toned and well struck. About extremely fine.

600 This is a very perplexing coin, especially since its types seem to be both earlier and later at the same time! The obverse is clearly late 5th century in inspiration, though the modeling and details of the bull-wrestling scene are quite masterfully done. The horse on the reverse is, however, most similar to the trotting horses of the 4th century, especially, given its curly tail, to some of the didrachms (below, lot 1159 and as Lorber 2008, pl. 46, 112-114) and to two of the very rare late profile drachms (as below, lots 1133 and 1134, as Lorber 2008, pl 45, 100). The horse on this coin should probably be seen as their prototype, rather than being down dated to a considerable extent.

A note from BCD: The reverse type of this very attractive coin is not only rarely encountered but the die also masterfully engraved.

1130

2:1

2:1

1130 Larissa. Circa 420-400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.11 g 12). Head of the nymph Larissa to right, her hair bound in a plain sakkos. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - ΣΑΙ - Α Youth, Thessalos, wearing petasos and chlamys, standing right, restraining a bridled horse rushing to right; all within shallow incuse square. BMC 52. Herrmann pl.

IV, 4. Lorber 2008, pl. 43, 61. Traité IV, 692, pl. CCXCVIII, 1. An attractive piece, toned and of lovely style. A particularly elegant coin. Nearly extremely fine.

1000 A note from BCD: Many years ago, Herbert Cahn, speaking to a circle of collector friends, described this obverse die as his favorite die in the entire Larissa series. He went on to prove that he really meant it by bidding and buying for himself the de Sartiges coin of these dies, lot 113 at M+M auction 64 of 30 January 1984. The hammer price was CHF 5000, double the already high estimate. It was not often that the professor wanted a coin from one of this own sales but when he did it always was for a good reason (I will never forget the speed with which he knocked to his name lot 150 at the Kunstfreund auction during a moment’s hesitation in the bidding and after the coin had climbed up to CHF 11,500 from an estimate of just 4500). Since that time some new profile dies have made their appearance, such as the obverses of lots 1133 and 1134 below, but I somehow think that the good professor’s choice would still be the same.

1131

1131 Larissa. Circa 420-400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.07 g 3). Head of the nymph Larissa to right, wearing pendant earring and with her hair in a sakkos. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑ / Ι - Α Bridled horse prancing to right, with loose rein. Herrmann pl. IV, 10 (same dies). Lorber 2008, pl. 43, 65. Traité IV 695, pl. CCXCVIII, 5 (same dies) . A lovely coin, nicely toned, in good silver and on a full flan. Extremely fine.

1500 Ex Leu 30, 28 April 1982, 99 (CHF 7250).

65

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1132

1132 Larissa. Circa 420-400 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.00 g 2). Head of the nymph Larissa to left, wearing pendant earring and with her hair in a sakkos. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑ / Ι - Α Bridled horse prancing to left, with loose rein. Herrmann pl. IV, 13 (same dies). Lorber 2008, pl. 43, 66. Traité IV 695, pl. CCXCVIII, 6 (same dies) . Of excellent style and nicely toned. Some minor scratches and marks, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

600 From the collection of Paul M. Proschowsky, Rasmussen, 10 March 1970, 586 (DKR 1600).

1133

2:1

2:1

1133 Larissa. Circa 370-360 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.10 g 12). ΛΑΡΙΣΑ Head of the nymph Larissa to right, her hair bound at the top of her head, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡ - ΙΣΑΙ - ΩΝ Bridled horse trotting to right, tail in a curl; below, in very small letters, ΕΠΙ. Lorber 2008, pl.

45, 100 var. Extremely rare and of superb style. Extremely fine.

2500 Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 44, 3 April 1989, 275 (DM 24,000).

This rare coin has been dated as early as the 390s but that seems too high. The head of Larissa has a reasonably close relationship to the Demeter on the staters of Lokris, but it also harks back to the work of Euainetos at Syracuse. This must have been the prototype issue with the following lot coming shortly thereafter. They were followed by issues bearing the head of Aleuas and by those with a bull fleeing before a pursuing rider, both types also rare; and then, finally, by the long series of drachms with facing heads of the nymph, so familiar to collectors.

A note from BCD: The date of this and the next lot, the high relief profile drachms, is still open to discussion but recent hoard evidence points to circa 370 and not 395 BC as suggested by Herrmann, p. 39. For further comments on these coins and the problems of striking that caused them to be such a short lived issue, see Obolos 7, pp. 18-19.

1134

2:1

2:1

1134 Larissa. Circa 370-360 BC, or slightly later. Drachm (Silver, 6.17 g 11). Head of the nymph Larissa to left, wearing triple-pendent earring and pearl necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - ΣΑΙ - ΩΝ Bridled horse trotting to right, his tail curled. Herrmann Group V, pl. IV, 16 var. Lorber 2008, pl. 45, 100. Very rare. An attractive, clear example, but with a minor die break on the obverse and a slightly double-struck reverse.

Nearly extremely fine.

1000 A note from BCD: A rare - probably known from just this specimen - and attractive obverse die with a majestic portrait of the nymph. The die break just starting above the hair is an indication of its very short life, hence its rarity.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1135

2:1

2:1

1135 Larissa. Circa 370-360 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.03 g 1). ΑΛΕΥ Head of Aleuas three-quarter facing to left, wearing a conical helmet, ornamented with wings and ear flaps, and held on his head by a cord tied below his chin; to right, bipennis. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΑ - ΕΛΛΑ Eagle, with closed wings and head turned back to right, standing left on thunderbolt. BMC 12 = Traité IV, 699, pl. CCXCVIII, 11. Gulbenkian 473 = Jameson 2469. Herrmann Group VIII, pl. VII, 11. Lorber 2008, p. 45, 94. Extremely rare. Lightly toned. Good very fine.

1000 This is one of the rarest issues of Larissa, and also one with the most different interpretations. In one this drachm is meant to have been struck as propaganda for the Aleuad Hellanokrates, whose name appears on the reverse, against the machinations of Alexander of Pherai in 361. Another view sees it as a homage to Alexander III of Macedon, in honor of the supposed joint ancestry of the Macedonian royal house and the Thessalians, and thus it would date to the mid 330s, at the same time as Alexander’s own early eagle coinage. The further possibility of this being a result of Alexander of Pherai’s occupation of Larissa in 370 seems very unlikely.

A note from BCD: Hoard information certainly dismisses the possibility of this coin having been sruck in the 330’s BC. Instead, it points to the first alternative cited above and at any rate to a date soon after the high relief profile drachms such as lots 1133 and 1134 above. This specimen is unusually well-centred and complete for this type.

1136 1,5:1

1,5:1

1136 Larissa. Circa 365-356 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.17 g 3). ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΟΝ Bull rushing to right. Rev. Thessalian horseman, Thessalos, wearing petasos, cloak and tunic, galloping to right. Herrmann pl. IV, 17. Lorber 2008, pl. 46, 101. SNG Copenhagen 118. A superb coin of wonderful quality, fresh and sharp.

Slightly double struck on the obverse, otherwise , good extremely fine.

1000 This type of Larissa drachm is normally found in no better than very fine condition: the issue must have seen virtually continuous circulation for at least 50 years or so. Thus, the outstandingly fine and unworn state of this coin is quite astounding; the coin must have been buried almost as soon as it was minted.

A note from BCD: An exceptionally sharp strike for this type that usually comes weakly struck and/or off center.

Probably one of the best, if not the best known.

1137 1,5:1

1,5:1

1137 Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 3.07 g 6). Head of the nymph Larissa to right, wearing a single-pendent earring and with her hair rolled and bound with a thin ribbon. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ Horse standing with lowered head to left, about to roll over; beneath horse's belly, plant, in exergue, ΠΛΕ[Ι]. Herrmann Group IVb, pl.IV, 9 (same obverse die). McClean 4609. Very rare. Struck on a tight flan with some minor marks. Nearly extremely fine.

450 Ex Numismatica Ars Classica I, 29 March 1989, 154 (CHF 2800).

67

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1138

2:1

1138

1138 Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.11 g 3). Head of the nymph Larissa to right, wearing a single-pendant earring and with her hair rolled and bound with a thin ribbon. Rev. [ΛΑΡ]Ι Half-length and bearded bust of Asklepios to right, drapery over his left shoulder and around his waist, his left hand raised, holding a sickle. Apparently unpublished. Extremely rare, probably unique. Corroded surfaces and with minor marks on the obverse, Very fine.

375 A curious coin. The reverse is very similar to the bull’s hoof/Asklepios obol, but it is not quite the same stylistically.

The weight, given this piece’s corrosion, may indicate that this was originally meant to be heavier and is, thus, a trihemiobol. The style of the obverse, which bears a bare head of Larissa, rather than one with a sakkos, as with the drachms, indicates that this coin is later than they are.

1139

1139 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.05 g 4). Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarter facing, turned slightly to left, wearing hair band and plain necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ Horse with straight legs grazing to left. Lorber, 1992 30 = Lorber, Early, O1/R2. Rare. Nicely centered, die break on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.

400

1140

1140 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.04 g 10). Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarter facing, turned slightly to left, wearing hair band. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ Horse with straight legs standing right, feeding on pile of hay. Lorber, 1992 41.2 = Lorber, Early, O14/R2 e (this coin). A lovely coin with a dramatic portrait of Larissa, her eyes fully open and staring at the viewer. Nearly extremely fine.

450 Ex Gorny & Mosch 126, 14 October 2003, 1286 (b 370).

1141

1,5:1

1141

1141 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.09 g 2). Head of the nymph Larissa facing and turned slightly to the left with her eyes wide open, with ampyx inscribed ΓΕΥ binding her flowing hair and with ΑΙ above her head, wearing drop-earring hanging from her left ear, plain necklace, and with her right shoulder raised so that the button on her chiton is visible. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙ Horse with bent legs crouching to right, bukranion brand mark barely visible on flank. Lorber 1992, 20.1 a = Lorber, Early, O34/R1 b (this coin). A spectacular coin with an obverse of great power and beauty. Lightly toned. Minor edge break on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

2500 Ex Sotheby’s Zurich, 26 October 1993, 43 (CHF 14,000), NFA FPL 41, June 1992 (illustrated on the cover) and NFA XXV, 29 November 1990, 92.

This is probably the most dramatic of all the facing heads produced in Larissa. It is an absolute masterpiece.

A note from BCD: The hammer price at the Sotheby sale in Zurich, eighteen years ago, was so preposterous (CHF 14,000) that I would be very surprised if this coin now sold anywhere near that level. Unfortunately the dealer who was bidding against me was so absorbed by the contents of the book he was reading at the same time that he forgot to lower his pencil!

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1142

1,5:1

1142

1142 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.03 g 4). Facing head of nymph Larissa, turned slightly to the right, with ampyx, drop earrings, and necklace with central bead. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙ Horse with straight legs feeding to right. Lorber 1992 25.1 = Lorber, Early, O53/R1d (this coin). A noble and attractive head of Larissa. Some vague traces of corrosion and with a minor obverse die break, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

475

1143

1,5:1

1143

1143 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.93 g 10), Simos. Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to right, wearing ampyx. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ Horse with straight legs feeding to right; below, in tiny letters, ΣΙΜΟ. Lorber 1992 43 (reverse) / 44 (obverse) = Lorber, Early, O59/R2 a (this coin). Rare, elegant and nicely toned. Extremely fine.

425 Ex Leu 57, 25 May 1993, 84 (CHF 1800, but bought after the auction) and Peus 332, 23 October 1991, 121 (DM 800).

1144.1

1144.2

1144 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Lot of two silver drachms. 1144.1 5.93 g, 6. Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to right. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ Horse with straight legs grazing to right. Lorber, 1992 -.

Lorber, Early O65/R1a (this coin). 1144.2. 5.97 g, 6. Similar to the preceding Lorber, Early, O88/R2.

Nearly extremely fine (2).

550 1144.1 Ex Auctiones 13, 23 June 1983, 184 (CHF 750) and Naville X, 15 June 1925, 524.

1145

1,5:1

1145

1145 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.85 g 3). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to right and wearing ampyx; to left and right, dolphins swimming downwards. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ Horse with straight legs grazing to right. Lorber 1992, 63 = Lorber, Early, O95/R1 a (this coin). Rare. With an unusual head of Larissa, flanked by dolphins in the manner of Syracuse. Lovely metal and surfaces, attractive toning, but the reverse slightly off-center with the horse’s head off the flan, otherwise, extremely fine.

500 Ex Numismatic Fine Arts XXV, 29 November 1990, 96 ($1100) and from the 1989 Thessaly Hoard (Coin Hoards IX, 65).

69

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1146

1146 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.17 g 1). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the right, wearing ampyx. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ Horse feeding to right. Lorber, 1992 67 = Lorber, Early, O101/R3.

Attractive and well centered. Nearly extremely fine.

400

1147

1147 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.97 g 10). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the right, wearing ampyx. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙ Horse grazing to right with straight legs. Lorber, 1992 74 = Lorber, Early, O115/R6. Toned and well centered, but lightly struck and with a virtually imperceptible gouge on the horse’s right hind leg. Good very fine.

350

1148

1148 1,5:1

1148 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.10 g 9). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑ[Ι] Horse grazing to right with straight legs.

Lorber, 1992 87 = Lorber, Early, O132/R4a (this coin). With a head of splendid style. Porous and with some die rust on the reverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

350 From the Larissa 1984 Hoard, Coin Hoards VIII, 137, pl. 12, 28.

1149

2:1

2:1

1149 Larissa. Circa 380-365 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.00 g 3). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to right, wearing ampyx, pendant earring and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ -ΣΑΙΩΝ Horse crouching to left, about to roll over. Lorber, Middle. Series 1. Type A, O1/R5. A toned and attractive piece. Some minor die rust, and some slight double striking on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

500

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1150

1150

2:1

1150 Larissa. Circa 380-365 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.13 g 6). Head of nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx, earring and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΩΝ Horse grazing to right, with straight legs; below, bukranion. Lorber, Middle. Series 2. Type B, O5/R1a (this coin). Very rare. A lovely coin, toned and of fine style. Extremely fine.

1250 Ex Leu 22, 8 May 1979, 88 (CHF 6600).

1,5:1

1151

1151

1151 Larissa. Circa 380-365 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.06 g 11). Head of nymph Larissa facing, head turned slightly to left, wearing ampyx, earring and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑ-Ρ -ΙΣΑ Hero Thessalos wearing petasos and chlamys, standing right, left foot raised, restraining bridled horse moving right. Lorber, Middle. Series III, O1/R4. An interesting reverse type, harking back to 5th century types. Some die rust on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

500

1152

2:1

2:1

1152 Larissa. Circa 380-365 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.99 g 10). Head of nymph Larissa facing, head turned slightly to left, wearing circlet with grain ears, triple-pendant earring and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑ-Ρ ΙΣΑΙΩΝ Helmeted and armored cavalryman riding prancing horse to right, holding goad in his right hand.

Lorber, Middle. Series V, O1/R1. A lovely coin, nicely toned. Extremely fine.

1500

1153

1153 Larissa. Circa 380-365 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.05 g 12). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to left, wearing ampyx and triple-pendant earring. Rev. [ΛΑΡΙ] / ΣΑΙΩΝ Mare and foal standing right, with straight legs. Lorber, Middle. Series VII, Type C, O17/1. Toned. Nearly extremely fine.

600

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1154

1154 1,5:1

1154 Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.04 g 5). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx, pendant earring, and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣ / ΑΙΩΝ Horse to right, preparing to roll over. Hermann pl. V, 5 var. Lorber, 2008 34 var. Sharp and most attractive. Good extremely fine.

750 This is the first example of the last issue of Larissa drachms, the so-called mass issue of the 350s-340s BC. They were produced in very large numbers, probably to help with Philip II’s finances, and are at present under study.

1155

1155 1,5:1

1155 Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.15 g 11). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx and triple-pendant earring. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣ / ΑΙΩΝ Horse to right, preparing to roll over. Lorber, 2008 38 ff. A lovely example, toned and with good surfaces. Good extremely fine.

750

1156

1156 1,5:1

1156 Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.20 g 12). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx, pendant earring, and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣ / ΑΙΩΝ Horse to right, preparing to roll over; below, plant. Herrmann pl. V, 12. Lorber, 2008 61. Attractive, sharp and nicely toned. Extremely fine.

675

1157

1157 Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.10 g 2). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx, pendant earring, and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣ / ΑΙΩΝ Horse to right, preparing to roll over; below, horizontal trident-head to left. Herrmann pl. V, 14. Lorber 2008, 115 var.

Very rare. Sharp and well struck. Extremely fine, the reverse better.

750

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1158

2:1

2:1

1158 Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Stater (Silver, 12.06 g 12). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx, pendant earring, and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣ / ΑΙΩΝ Horse crouching to right, preparing to roll. Cf. BMFA 896 = Herrmann pl. V, 3 = Lorber, Staters Type I, O1/R1 a (the Boston example) but our piece is apparently unpublished and from different dies. Extremely rare, apparently the second and finest known example with a crouching horse reverse. Some corrosion on the edge of the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

7500 The earliest staters of Larissa seem to have formed a single issue that bear the normal types of a drachm; a nearly facing head of Larissa and a horse with its head down, preparing to roll over. For unknown reasons it was decided to change this reverse type almost immediately and use a more noble, prancing horse (as in the following lots). It may well be that the initial issue was also recalled and restruck given how rare the crouching horse staters are (apparently two are in museums and this is the only known example in private hands).

A note from BCD: ASW is not at fault when he mentions above "apparently the second known example" and soon after "apparently two are in museums." If anyone, it is BCD who is responsible for these conflicting statements.

When I visited the coin cabinet in Munich back in the 1960’s, I was hosted by a very kind and helpful curator, Dr. Harald Küthmann, who showed me all I wanted to see and took down my requests for photos and casts of the rarities that, at the time, I thought were worth recording. If my memory is not playing games with me, there was such a stater in the trays at that time. What is very strange indeed is that I have no record of it. I still have all the excellent casts and photos that were soon sent to me from Munich at no charge whatsoever. The only explanation that comes to mind is that I was not advanced enough as a collector to recognize the rarity of this coin and request a cast and a photograph. However, in the recently published SNG Thessaly of the Munich holdings there is no such coin listed or photographed. Perhaps my memory did play a trick with me after all. The Boston coin I remember very well as, many years ago, I requested a special appointment in order to see it and was able to examine it carefully, noting that it was scratched and not particularly attractive. At the time though, the image of such an incredibly rare stater was nothing more than another ‘dream coin’ in a young collector’s imaginary cabinet.

1159

1159 2:1

1159 Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Stater (Silver, 12.27 g 6). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx, pendant earring, and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - Σ / [Α]ΙΩ[Ν] Bridled horse trotting to right, with curly tail. Lorber, 2008 67 = Lorber, Staters Series A, O2/R3 b (this coin). A lovely, bold piece. Unusually well-struck and attractive. Extremely fine.

3500 Ex Triton VII, 12 January 2004, 187 ($8000).

73

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1160

1160 2:1

1160 Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Stater (Silver, 12.30 g 12). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx, pendant earring, and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - Σ / ΑΙΩΝ Bridled horse trotting to right, with curly tail. Lorber, Staters Series A, O6/R1. A lovely, toned, sharp example, struck in good silver and very pretty. Good extremely fine.

4000

1161

1161 Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Stater (Silver, 12.18 g 1). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx, pendant earring, and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - [Σ]ΑΙΩ[Ν] Bridled horse trotting to right, with curly tail. Lorber, Staters Series B, O11/R? (not listed). An attractive piece with a beautiful head of Larissa. Lightly toned. Extremely fine.

2750 Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 55, 11 May 1991, 194 (DM 7800).

1162

2:1

2:1

1162 Larissa. Circa 344-337 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.39 g 1). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx, pendant earring, and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡ - ΙΣ / ΑΙΩΝ Thessalian cavalryman, wearing petasos and chlamys and holding staff, riding cantering horse to right.

Herrmann pl. VI, 1. SNG Copenhagen 134. Rare and unusually attractive. Nicely toned but the reverse is somewhat corroded, otherwise, extremely fine.

250

1163

2:1

2:1

1163 Larissa. Circa 344-337 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.80 g 11). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx, pendant earring, and simple necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣ / ΑΙΩΝ Horse feeding to right, with straight legs. Herrmann Group VII, pl. V, 19. SNG Copenhagen 135. An outstanding example, rare, toned, and very well preserved. Extremely fine.

300

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1164

1164 2:1

1164 Larissa. First half of the 4th century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 4.45 g 9). Head of the nymph Larissa to left, wearing pendant earring and plain necklace. Rev. ΛΑΡ - ΙΣ Laureate bust of Asklepios to right with snake rising before him. Rogers 305. SNG Copenhagen 146. Very rare. Attractive dark brown patina and of excellent style. Extremely fine.

300 The bronze coinage of Larissa has not been worked out as yet, but it seems likely that it follows the silver in form, with profile heads of Larissa coming before the facing ones.

1165

2:1

2:1

1165 Larissa. Circa 390s BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14.5mm, 2.66 g 11). Head of the nymph Larissa to left, wearing pendant earring. Rev. ΛΑΡ - ΙΣΑΙ - ΩΝ Horse prancing to right, with curly tail. Demetriadi 2004, pl. 3, 27 (same dies). Rogers -. Extremely rare, one of very few examples known. Fine dark patina. Good very fine.

225 A note from BCD: ASW should either down date this coin or update lots 1133-1134, above, by a quarter of a century; their reverses are by the same hand. Personally I prefer the first option. Actually ASW thinks BCD is quite right, so the user of this catalogue should cross out the date given here and replace it by c. 370-360. It would have been even easier to just change the date in the catalogue but BCD wanted to write one of his notes.

1166

1166 2:1

1166 Larissa. First half of the 4th century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 6.30 g 12). Head of the nymph Larissa to right, wearing a grain wreath, double-pendant earring, simple necklace and with her hair tied into a bun at the back. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - Σ - ΑΙΩΝ (last letters retrograde) Armored horseman wearing crested Phrygian helmet riding right, holding couched lance. Rogers -. Apparently unpublished. An attractive and stylish coin with a fine golden-brown patina. About extremely fine.

325 The reverse type of this coin is very reminiscent of the silver drachms struck just prior to the mass issues of the late 350s-340s (as above, lot 1152).

A note from BCD: About two centuries later this coin served as the prototype for another issue of Larissa (see below, lot 1172.1).

75

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1167.2

1167.1

1167 Larissa. First half of the 4th century BC. Lot of two bronze dichalka. 1167.1 17 mm, 4.47 g, 12. Head of the nymph Larissa to left. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - ΣΑΙΩΝ starting in the exergue. Horse crouching to right.

Rogers -. 1167.2 17 mm, 4.37 g, 12. Head of the nymph Larissa to right. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - ΣΑΙΩΝ starting in the exergue. Horse crouching to right. Rogers 288. Both with attractive olive-green patinas.

Good very fine (2).

200

1168

1168 2:1

1168 Larissa. First half of the 4th century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 3.88 g 1). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to left, wearing ampyx. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - ΣΑΙΩΝ (starting in the exergue) Horse crouching to left, preparing to roll. Rogers 283 var. Rare. Dark, reddish-brown patina. Nearly extremely fine.

150

1169.2

1169.1

1169 Larissa. First half of the 4th century BC. Lot of two bronze tetrachalka. 1169.1 21 mm, 8.90 g 1. Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to left. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - Σ - ΑΙΩΝ (last letters retrograde) Bridled horse trotting right, grain ear below. Rogers 272. 1169.2. 19mm, 9.52 g 1. As last, but with bukranion below on reverse. Rogers 276. Both unusually nice with dark patinas. About extremely fine (2).

300

1170

2:1

2:1

1170 Larissa. First half of the 4th century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 16mm, 4.34 g 6). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to left, wearing ampyx and pearl earring. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣ - ΑΙΩΝ Horse crouching to right, preparing to roll; below, double-headed ax to right. Rogers 282a. A coin of good style and with a fine, glossy dark patina. About extremely fine.

200 A note from BCD: Although not genuinely rare, this type is very hard to find without flaws.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1171.1

1171.2

1171.3

1171 Larissa. Later 4th/3rd Century BC. Lot of three coins: one bronze dichalkon and two bronze chalkoi.

1171.1 18 mm, 5.35 g 7. Head of the nymph Larissa facing, slightly to left. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΩΝ Cavalryman wearing Boiotian helmet on horseback to right, ΔΑ monogram below. Rogers 285. 1171.2 15 mm, 2.74 g 12. Head of Larissa to right. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΩΝ Horse crouching to left. Rogers 297 var.

1171.3 14 mm, 2.46 g 7. Head of Larissa to left. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΩΝ Horse crouching to right. Rogers 304. Dark patinas. Good very fine or better (3).

200

1172.1

1,5:1

1172.2

1172 Larissa. 2nd Century BC. Lot of two bronze coins, a tetrachalkon and a dichalkon. 1172.1 20 mm, 8.33 g 2. Head of Larissa to right; behind head, monogram; on neck, countermark of a helmet in an oval surround. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - ΣΑΙΩΝ Armored horseman wearing spiked helmet galloping right. Rogers 309.

1172.2 16 mm, 3.41 g 9. Head of Larissa to right; behind head, monogram. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - ΣΑΙΩΝ Armored horseman wearing spiked helmet galloping right. Rogers 293a. Both with dark patinas. Nearly extremely fine (2).

200 Rogers thought that his example of the dichalkon 1172.2 might have been from Asia Minor since it is quite reminiscent of coins from there. This is not the case, however; not only are coins of this type found in Thessaly (and not in Asia), but there is a larger denomination, which is also found in Thessaly.

1173

1173 Larissa. 2nd Century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 9.12 g 2). Laureate head of Apollo to right; behind head, uncertain monogram. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑ[Ι] - ΩΝ Artemis standing right, holding bow with her outstretched left hand and drawing arrow from her quiver with her left; to right, indistinct Μ-shaped monogram. Rogers 306. A bold piece with a dark olive patina. Nearly extremely fine.

125 A note from BCD: On other specimens the reverse monogram is clearly an ME combination.

1174.2

1174.1 1,5:1

1174 Larissa. 2nd Century BC. Lot of two bronze coins, a tetrachalkon and a chalkous. 1174.1 20 mm, 7.04 g 12. Laureate head of Apollo to left. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ - ΣΑΙΩΝ Artemis shooting arrow to right; to right, YΦ monogram. Rogers 308. 1174.2 15 mm, 3.06 g 1. Head of Larissa to right. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙ - ΩΝ Apollo shooting arrow to right; to right, Rogers -, apparently unpublished. Attractive and clear with nice dark patinas. Minor scratches on the reverse of the first piece, otherwise, good very fine (2).

200

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1175 1,5:1

1,5:1

1175 Larissa Kremaste. Early 4th Century. Trichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 6.40 g 11). Bare head of Achilles to right. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ Thetis seated left on hippocamp, holding shield of Achilles with his monogram of ΑΧ.

C. Heyman, Achille-Alexandre sur les monnaies de Larissa Cremaste en Thessalie, Studia Hellenistica 16 (Peremans Festschrift), Brussels 1968, p. 116, 2. Moustaka 152 var. Rogers 312. SNG Munich 91 var. A rare variant with the head of Achilles to right. Fine light olive-green patina. Nearly extremely fine.

375 A note from BCD: The style of the issues with the head of Achilles to the right is much finer and the engraving more detailed than the coins with the obverse to left. This suggests an initial issue struck from dies engraved by a gifted artist. These coins are also much rarer than the ones with the obverse to left and practically impossible to find in decent condition.

1176

1176 Larissa Kremaste. Circa 302-286 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 2.22 g 9). Laureate head of the nymph Larissa to left, with necklace and earring; to left and right of neck, in small letters, Ι Π. Rev. ΛΑΡ[Ι] Harpa to right; within olive wreath with ties to left. Moustaka 166. Rogers 319. SNG Munich 94. Dark brown and red patina. Nearly extremely fine.

125

1,5:1

1177

1177

1177 Larissa Kremaste. Circa 302-286 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 16mm, 4.73 g 5). Head of the nymph Larissa to right, wearing pendant earring and with her hair in a braid rolled around her head. Rev. ΛΑΡΙ Perseus, nude but for cloak over his shoulders, standing facing, holding harpa in his right hand and the head of the Medusa in his left. Moustaka 165. Rogers 321. SNG Munich 95. Extremely rare. Dark, reddish-brown patina. Good very fine.

275 A note from BCD: One would expect the mint to have issued more coins of this middle sized denomination with the very interesting mythological scene on the reverse, but this is not the case. The two other denominations were apparently more than enough to provide for the city’s need for small change.

1,5:1

1178

1,5:1

1178 Magnetes. Circa 171-169 BC. Tetrobol (Silver, 2.30 g 5). Bust of Artemis to right, her hair tied in a bun at the back and with bow and quiver over her shoulder Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗ / ΤΩΝ Prow of galley to right; to right, monogram of ΑΧ. Furtwängler, Emission C, 6a (this coin). SNG Copenhagen 155. SNG Munich 96.

Rare. Nicely toned. Nearly extremely fine.

375 Ex Sotheby, London, 22 April 1970, 131 (£30) and from the Woodward Collection, Ars Classica XV, 2 July 1930, 634.

We are extremely grateful to Professor Andreas Furtwängler for making his, as yet, unpublished manuscript on the autonomous coinage of Magnetes available to us. It was a great privilege to have been able to use it, and a great help.

A note from BCD: This particular coin is, contrary to almost all the other known examples, unusually attractive and well struck for its type.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1179 1,5:1

1,5:1

1179 Magnetes. After c 167 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 9.36 g 9). Laureate head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗΤΩ-Ν The centaur Chiron moving right, holding branch over his left shoulder; below, monogram of ΔΗ and (here off the flan) wheat ear in exergue. Furtwängler, Series III. Rogers 346. SNG Munich 98.

Bold and attractive with a dark, glossy patina. Nearly extremely fine.

200

1180

1180 1,5:1

1180 Magnetes. Circa 150-130 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 5.37 g 6). Bearded and diademed head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗ ΤΩΝ Galley prow to right. Furtwängler, Series IXa. Rogers 348. Bold and nicely struck. Black patina. Extremely fine.

150

1181

1181 1,5:1

1181 Magnetes. Circa 150-130 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 7.20 g 12). Diademed and bearded head of Zeus to left. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗ - ΤΩΝ Galley prow to right with owl standing right on ram. Rogers 352. Bold and with a dark, glossy patina. Good very fine.

100

1182

1182 Magnetes. Circa 150-130 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 16mm, 4.63 g 7). Laureate head of Apollo to left. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗΤΩΝ Artemis striding to right, holding torch; to left, monogram of ΔΗ. Furtwängler, Series II. Rogers 327. Attractive brown patina. Very fine.

100

1183

1183 Magnetes. Circa 150-130 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 2.47 g 1). Bust of Artemis to right, her hair in a bun at the back; at her shoulder, quiver. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗΤΩΝ Poseidon, nude, standing left, holding dolphin in his right hand and trident with his left; to left, palm branch. Furtwängler, Series IV. Rogers 331. Nice dark patina. Good very fine.

100

79

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1184 1,5:1

1,5:1

1184 Magnetes. Later 2nd century BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 6.54 g 12), Leon. Laureate head of Zeus to right; behind head, in small letters, ΛΕΟΝΤΟΣ. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗ - ΤΩΝ The centaur Chiron striding right, holding branch over his left shoulder; to right, eight-pointed star. Furtwängler, Series XVb. Rogers 337 var. (possibly the same obverse die but with the inscription off the flan). A rare variety. Dark patina.

Nearly extremely fine.

200

1185

1185 Magnetes. Circa 1st century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 3.95 g 1). Bust of Artemis to right, wearing pendant earring and necklace, and with a quiver over her shoulder. Rev. ΜΑΓ- ΝΗ - ΤΩΝ Galley prow to right. Furtwängler, Series XVII. Rogers 328. Dark olive-green and brown patina. Good very fine.

100

1186

2:1

2:1

1186 Magnetes. Circa 140-130 BC. Drachm (Silver, 4.31 g 6). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΜΑ]ΓΝΗΤΩ[Ν Artemis, wearing hunting costume, with quiver over her shoulder and holding bow in her right hand, seated right on galley prow; to right, dolphin swimming downwards; above, monogram of ΩΜΥ. Furtwängler, Emission F. Very rare. A lovely example, beautifully toned and in exceptionally fine condition. Good extremely fine.

500

1187

2:1

2:1

1187 Magnetes. Circa 140-130 BC. Drachm (Silver, 4.18 g 1). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗΤΩΝ Artemis, wearing hunting costume, with quiver over her shoulder and holding bow in her right hand, seated left on galley prow; to left, dolphin swimming downwards; above, monogram of ΩΜΥ.

Apparently unpublished, but cf. Furtwängler, Emission F. Very rare. A lovely coin, lightly toned. Some minor scratches on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

500

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1188 1,5:1

1,5:1

1188 Magnetes. Circa 47-44 BC. Drachm (Silver, 3.41 g 12). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗ ΤΩΝ / [Η]ΓΗΣΑΝΔΡΟ Artemis, holding bow in her right hand, seated left on galley prow to left.

Furtwängler, Emission G. SNG Copenhagen 154. SNG Munich 97. Clear, toned and relatively wellstruck. Good very fine.

250 The late drachms of Magnetes signed by Hegesandros bear heads of Zeus that are remarkably similar to those on the contemporary League drachms. These heads are large in size and have very coarse hair and beards. In some ways they are curiously impressive.

A note from BCD: They are also considerably scarcer than the earlier Magnetes drachms (of which ASW did not include any in his selection) but of course not as difficult to find as the two lots immediately preceding this. Probably because ASW was told not to be so scholarly and not to add a fascinating but fairly awful piece in, maybe, good fine.

BCD says it is neither fascinating nor awful, just not up to the standard ASW had in mind (the standard, ASW reminds the reader, which was insisted upon by BCD).

1189

1,5:1

1189

1189 Magnetes. Circa 30-27 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 22mm, 5.02 g 12). Laureate head of Asklepios to right. Rev. ΜΑΓΝ - ΗΤΩΝ Asklepios seated left on throne, holding staff in his left hand and extending phiale with his right hand to feed snake coiled before him. Rogers 354 and fig. 177 (same dies). Brown patina. Good very fine.

200 A note from BCD: A rare coin in any condition; this one is particularly well preserved and struck for the issue.

1190

1,5:1

1190

1190 Magnetes. Time of Nero. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 4.83 g 7). ΜΑΓΝ - ΗΤ&Ν Draped bust of Asklepios to right. Rev. Asklepios seated left on backless throne; holding staff in his left hand and caressing serpent with his right. Rogers 356. Dark patina. Boldly struck obverse. Good very fine.

200 The lettering on this coin seems very close to that found on the following coin of Nero, thus the suggested date.

A note from BCD: The Greek Imperials (or Roman Provincials) of Magnetes have been one of the most challenging areas in this collector’s quest for completion. They are seldom encountered in any condition and the unworn and attractive specimens are real rarities. ASW’s selection only skims the surface of this very interesting and varied coinage.

81

82

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1191

1,5:1

1,5:1

1191 Magnetes. Nero. 54-68. Diassarion (Bronze, 26mm, 8.57 g 6), Circa 63-68. ΝΕΡ&Ν ΚΑΙCAP Laureate head of Nero to right. Rev. CΕΒΑCΤΟC ΜΑΓΝΗΤ&Ν Radiate head of Nero to right. RPC I 1424.

Boldly struck but with areas of flatness. Black patina. About extremely fine.

250

1192

2:1

2:1

1192 Magnetes. Perhaps Antonine. 2nd Century AD. Semis (Bronze, 14mm, 3.42 g 6). Centaur Chiron walking to right, holding lyre. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗΤ&Ν / [ΑΡ]Γ& The galley Argo with three rowers to right.

Moustaka 188 this coin, but dated to the 1st century AD. Extremely rare, an interesting little coin with a dark patina. Good very fine.

125 The date of this coin is quite uncertain - its fabric could well be quite late, perhaps even of the time of Gallienus, but the carefully done lettering argues for it to be earlier.

1193

1193 2:1

1193 Magnetes. Septimius Severus. 193-211. Assarion (Bronze, 20mm, 5.46 g 12) C.....ΗΡΟC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Septimius Severus to right, seen from behind. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗΤ&Ν ΑΚΡΑΙΟC Zeus Akraios standing facing, head turned to right, holding long staff in his right hand and thunderbolt in his left. Rogers 369 (same dies). Very rare. Dark green patina. Very fine.

175

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1194

1,5:1

1194

1194 Magnetes. Elagabalus. 218-222. Three Assaria (Bronze, 22mm, 7.76 g 6). ΑΥ•Κ•Μ•ΑΥΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC Laureate bust of Elagabalus to right, seen from behind. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗΤΩ - Ν / Χ’ΙΡΩΝ The centaur Chiron galloping to right, raising his right hand and holding a palm branch over his left shoulder with his left; above Chiron's back, Γ (= 3); below his forelegs, lyre. Moustaka 189 (this coin), identified as Elagabalus but erroneously given the dates of the sole reign of Caracalla. A remarkably well preserved coin with a fine brown patina. Extremely fine.

400 The portrait on this coin is surely that of Elagabalus, rather than that of Caracalla as BCD had recorded it on his ticket (surely a slip). It is also unusually well preserved for a mainland Greek Provincial issue. The reverse representation of Chiron is boldly done and very detailed.

A note from BCD: Said to have been found in a grave in Northern Greece together with a handful of contemporary bronzes of Amphipolis and other Macedonian mints. This coin is quite a rarity, if only for its iconography and the delightfully original artwork. One of this collector’s favorite Thessalian coins from Roman times.

1,5:1

1195

1195

1195 Meliboia. Circa 352-344 BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 7.98 g 11). Head of nymph to right, wearing earring. Rev. Μ]ΕΛΙΒΟΕΩΝ Bunch of grapes bound to and encircled by an ivy wreath. Helly 2004 pl. 3, 24 (but ascribed to Eurymenai) = SNG Copenhagen 249 (but ascribed to Rhizos). Rogers -. Extremely rare, the only example known with a readable inscription, thus allowing a proper attribution. Obverse weakly struck, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

400 A note from BCD: A great rarity, and what a feeling of satisfaction it was to find out with this acquisition, that both Helly and SNG Copenhagen would be corrected at the same time! However, just as this catalogue was being prepared another of these appeared, this time correctly identified: Helios 6, 9 March 2011, 498.

1196

1196 Meliboia. Circa 352-344 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 5.43 g 5). Head of the nymph Meliboeia facing, turned slight to left, and with her hair entwined with bunches of grapes. Rev. ΜΕΛΙΒΟΕΩ[Ν] Two bunches of grapes on branch. Helly 2004 pl. 2, 16. Rogers 390. SNG Munich 112. Rare. Dark patina, but with some pitting on the obverse. Good very fine.

150

1197

1197 Meliboia. Circa 352-344 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 1.92 g 3). Head of the nymph Meliboeia to right, her hair tied in a bun at the back and wearing an earring; behind neck, Λ. Rev. ΜΕ - ΛΙ Bunch of grapes. Rogers 392 var. Extremely rare with this letter on obverse. A lovely coin with a fine, dark brown patina. Extremely fine.

125 The letter on the obverse of this coin is almost certainly the initial of the engraver; the quality of the head, which is really a little masterpiece, is particularly fine, reminiscent of issues from Syracuse.

83

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1198

3:1

3:1

1198 Melitaia. First half of the 4th century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 3.03 g 6). Laureate head of Zeus to right, his hair and mustache finely trimmed. Rev. Μ-Ε-Λ Forepart of a bull to right, his head slightly facing; all within an oak wreath with acorns. Cf. Traité IV, 470 and pl. CCLXXXVIII, 7 (a drachm with a head of Zeus and the reverse of a bull, surely by the same die cutter). Unique, a coin of great beauty and significance. Toned and of splendid early 4th century style. Extremely fine.

2500 Ex The Numismatic Auction 2, 12 December 1983, 100 ($7500).

The silver coinage of Melitaia must have been struck in a single episode, probably during the first quarter of the 4th century. Apparently only a very few examples are known, the famous and unique drachm in Boston (once in the collection of Photiades Pasha = Traité IV 470), this hemidrachm (apparently once in an old Greek collection prior to its appearance in the 1983 sale), the diobol cited in HN² (p. 301; this coin may be misdescribed), and an obol in Berlin (once in the collection of Count A. F. von Prokesch-Osten = Traité IV 471 and SNG Munich 115: the types on this coin, head of Dionysos/Lion’s head, are rather unexpected for Melitaia and this coin may also not be from Thessaly [BCD suggests Knidos in Caria]). These pieces were accompanied by somewhat more common bronzes, all with a bee as the reverse type and with either Zeus or a nymph on the obverse. The unifying characteristics of the earliest bronzes and the two known silver coins are their superb style: while the coinage was clearly a limited one, the city authorities insisted on having coins that were superbly designed and of very high quality - as this coin certainly is.

A note from BCD: One of the most desirable coins in this catalogue and indeed in all BCD collections. At the time that this coin went up for auction the consignor, belonging to the old fashioned school of dealers that would not allow anything to be sold below the price they thought was the right price, placed a ‘last moment’ bid on his coin that was quite out of proportion with the other reserves of the sale. Fortunately, when the coin "opened" at $7,000 it took just one bid from ASW acting on behalf of BCD to secure it. It is now estimated at a fraction of that price and may offer its new owner not only the joy of acquiring a fascinating and unique coin, but perhaps also the satisfaction of knowing that the price paid is a bargain when compared to the hammer price of nearly 30 years ago.

1199

2:1

2:1

1199 Melitaia. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 16mm, 2.14 g 7). Laureate head of Zeus to left; behind, thunderbolt. Rev. Μ - E /Λ - Ι Bee with spread wings. Rogers 398. Traité 473, pl.

CCLXXXVIII, 10 (thunderbolt on obverse unnoted but visible on the plate). Very rare. A superb coin with a splendid, glossy, deep green patina. Good extremely fine.

800 This is unquestionably one of the nicest bronze coins to have survived from any Thessalian mint! The coins in this sale have all been selected for quality but this coin is exceptional: in style and quality it is truly magnificent. The head of Zeus is a noble one, reminding the viewer of issues from Syracuse and Olympia, and the bee is one of the best represented insects on a Greek coin.

A note from BCD: For the bronze coin specialist this is a gem of a coin, certainly comparable to its silver predecessor and with the added charm of a lovely patina.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1200

1200 Methylion. Circa 465-460 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.64 g 1). Forepart of a horse to left. Rev. ΜΕ - ΘV Barley grain in opening pod. Unpublished, but cf. Heyman 1 var, (drachm). Extremely rare, the second and finest known example. Boldly struck. Minor scrape on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.

1250 Ex CNG MBS 73, 13 September 2006, 189 ($7500).

The coinage of Methylion is very rare in general and must have been issued primarily as a sign of sovereignty and civic pride, rather than for true economic reasons. The local population undoubtedly enjoyed owning coins with their city’s name on them, but for everyday transactions they must have used coins from the more prolific mints in the neighborhood.

A note from BCD: Until quite recently the archaic silver of Methylion was only known from two drachms, in Berlin and Paris. None of the smaller coins exist in public or published collections.

1201 2:1

2:1

1201 Methylion. Circa 465-460 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.76 g 10). Horse’s head to left. Rev. ΜΕ - ΘV Barley grain in opening pod. Unpublished, save for its appearance at auction. Extremely rare, the finest of three examples known. Slightly rough surfaces, otherwise, good very fine.

600 Ex CNG MBS 73, 13 September 2006, 190 ($6500).

1202

1202 Methylion. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 12mm, 1.76 g 11). Μ - Ε - Θ Y(partially retrograde) Grain in husk upwards. Rev. ΜΕ - ΝΕΚ - ΡΑ - [ΤΟΥΣ] (partially retrograde) Ram standing to right. Franke, 1960, p. 1-2 var. (different placement of legend). A coin of great rarity, less than 10 examples are known. A fine piece, with a clear inscription. Good very fine.

300 The well-known scholar Professor P. R. Franke published the first known example of this type as being from Olea, but the easily readable legend on this coin, and on another ex CNG Triton VIII, 2005, 285, make it clear that the legend is definitely MEΘΥ on the obverse (only half of the M is visible but it is part of a larger letter, thus ensuring it is neither a Λ or an A - especially since there is no crossbar, which can be seen as part of the A on the reverse). The obverse type recalls the very rare silver of the 5th century, but the style of this coin indicates that it must be 4th century in date.

1,5:1

1203

1,5:1

1203 Methylion. First half of the 4th century BC. Obol (Silver, 1.13 g 6). Youthful head to right (Apollo or a nymph?), with short, wavy hair and wearing diadem; behind head, pellet. Rev. ΜΕΘΥΛΙ / ΕΙΩΝ Female figure (Hera or a nymph?) wearing long robes, seated right on high-backed throne, holding long staff in her right hand and resting her left on the neck of a cow standing right behind her. Heyman -, and apparently unpublished. Extremely rare, especially so clear and legible. Nearly very fine.

450 Heyman suggests the reverse figure is actually seated on the cow, but this coin, which is quite clear, shows that the cow is next to her, and that she is definitely seated on a high-backed throne (the back is parallel to her staff and is clearly visible, as are the chair legs). As with so many Thessalian issues, this piece is considerably worn, though it is, in fact, the best example known!

A note from BCD: The pellet on the obverse may look as if it is some sort of banker’s mark, but in fact it is in the die.

85

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1204

1204 2:1

1204 Methylion. First half of the 4th century BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 6.43 g 2). Youthful male head to right, with closely cropped hair. Rev. ΜΕΘΥΛΙΕΩΝ Horseman, with cloak flying behind him and couched lance, galloping to right; below, Α; below to right, Athena Promachos to right with uncertain monogram before her. Heyman 7 = Rogers 403 = Traité IV 505 and pl. CCLXXXIX, 18 (but alpha underneath horse not cited ). Rare. A solid, bold coin with all details clear. Dark brownish-green patina.

Nearly extremely fine.

425

1205

2:1

2:1

1205 Metropolis. Circa early 4th century BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.34 g 10). Head of Aphrodite Kastnia facing, turned slightly to left, wearing earring, pearl necklace and with a ‘melon’ hair style; to left, dove flying upwards; to right, Eros flying upwards to crown her. Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟ - ΛΙΤΩΝ Apollo Musegetes, wearing long robes, walking to right, holding a lyre with his left hand and playing it with his right. BMC 2 = Traité IV, 521, pl. CCXC, 10. Moustaka 74. A clear and attractive coin, remarkably well preserved and lightly toned. About extremely fine.

700 A note from BCD: Both this and the next lot are equally rare and quite difficult to find with nice surfaces. They usually are either crystallized or corroded or both.

1206

2:1

2:1

1206 Metropolis. Circa early 4th century BC. Obol (Silver, 0.85 g 12). Head of horned and bearded river god facing. Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟ Dionysos, bearded and in full robes, seated left on a wine krater, holding his thyrsos in his right hand and resting his left on his seat; behind him, vines. BMC 1 = Traité IV, 522, pl.

CCXC 11. Jameson 1098. Moustaka 97. Very rare. With an astonishingly fine head of a river god, showing his full and powerful character. Surfaces slightly rough, otherwise, Extremely fine.

600 Ex CNG MBS 81, 20 May 2009, 416 ($2500).

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1207

2:1

2:1

1207 Metropolis. Circa early 4th century BC. Triobol (Silver, 2.27 g 12). Head of Aphrodite Kastnia facing, turned slightly to left, wearing earring, pearl necklace and with a ‘melon’ hair style; to left, dove flying upwards; to right, Eros flying upwards to crown her. Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟ - [ΛΙΤΩΝ] Young Dionysos standing left, wearing short tunic, and holding a phiale in his right hand and long thyrsos in his left. Traité IV 520, pl. CCXC, 7-8 (both in Berlin). Extremely rare, very possibly the finest example known.

Somewhat rough surfaces, otherwise , good very fine.

750 This coin is usually termed a diobol, which, on the face of it, given its diameter of 14 mm, seems totally impossible.

Presumably, the reason why earlier commentators called it that is, of course, the fact that all existing examples of this type are damaged or are quite corroded (as the two in Berlin, cited by both Babelon and Head in HN); thus, their present weights are considerably less than they were when struck. As for the description, this also has to be slightly corrected: the bird on the obverse is definitely a dove and the figure behind Aphrodite’s head seems surely to be male, and thus must be Eros, a most suitable personage, rather than Nike.

A note from BCD: An example at the ANS, weighing 2.69 g and sharing the same obverse die with this coin, confirms the denomination as being a hemidrachm. The ANS coin was shown to me by Margaret Thompson in 1972 as being a recent Thessalian acquisition. She went on, with the usual twinkle in her eye, to say that the Society was still occasionally acquiring nice, rare coins of my collecting areas although she did not elaborate on the source. A few months later I met the original owner who, quite by accident, mentioned that he had sold such a coin to Joel Malter.

I then found out that Silvia Hurter happened to visit Joel soon after, bought the coin and donated it to the ANS. I could never understand Silvia giving this coin to the ANS instead of selling it to me as she knew that Thessaly was my favourite collecting area. Her excuse was that she didn’t think I would like it because...it was of "ugly style". Well, it took me quite a number of years before I could find another one for my collection as these coins are definitely much rarer than the trihemiobols of earlier date and finer style (as, above, lot 1205). For a proposed down dating of this coin, and ASW’s objections to this, see my note after lot 1346.

1208.2

1208.1

1208 Metropolis. Circa 300-200 BC. Lot of two bronze coins, a trichalkon and a dichalkon. 1208.1 20 mm, 6.90 g 1. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ Forepart of a man-headed bull to left, head turned back to right and with ΖΩ monogram below. Moustaka 138. Rogers 411. SNG Munich 119. 1208.2 17 mm, 4.54 g 12. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΜΗΤΡΟΠΟΛΙΤΩΝ Aphrodite Kastnia standing left, holding dove; Eros below. Moustaka 79. Rogers 408. SNG Copenhagen 174. Nice patinas, the obverse of 1208.1 lightly struck, otherwise, good very fine or better (2).

225

1209 2:1

2:1

1209 Metropolis. Circa 300-200 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 2.06 g 10). Laureate head of Apollo to right.

Rev. ΜΗΤ - ΡΟ Dove flying right. Moustaka 89. Rogers 407. SNG Copenhagen 122. A splendid little coin with some roughness but with a glossy patina. Nearly extremely fine.

150 A note from BCD: Quite rare when compared to the two coins of the previous lot. Also very difficult to find well centered and struck on both sides.

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1210 1,5:1

1,5:1

1210 Mopsion. Circa 350 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 22mm, 7.86 g 9). Laureate head of bearded Zeus facing, turned slightly to right; to right, thunderbolt. Rev. ΜΟΨΕΙ - ΩΝ Mopsos, nude, standing facing, his head turned to right, raising club in his right hand and extending his left to fight a centaur, rearing to left, raising boulder over his head with both hands and preparing to throw it. Moustaka 19. Rogers 412. Very rare. Lovely dark, red-brown patina and well centered. Nearly extremely fine.

900 A note from BCD: The bronzes of Mopsion are practically impossible to find in nice condition and without flaws or corrosion. They are also very rare and desirable because of their spectacularly eloquent reverse. The nicest one to come up for auction realized $18,000 (Triton X, 9 January 2007, 182) but this writer has some reservations concerning its authenticity.

1211

1211 1,5:1

1211 Oitaioi. Circa 360s-340s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.80 g 11), Herakleia Trachinia. Lion’s head to left, with spear in its jaws. Rev. ΟΙΤΑΩΝ (retrograde) Herakles standing facing, holding club with both hands transversely across his chest; inscription to left. SNG Copenhagen 176. SNG Munich 123. Valassiadis 1.

Nicely toned and attractive. Reverse a little lightly struck, otherwise, extremely fine.

550

1,5:1

1212

1,5:1

1212 Oitaioi. Circa 360s-340s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.82 g 12), Herakleia Trachinia. Lion’s head to left, with spear in its jaws. Rev. ΟΙΤΑΩΝ Herakles standing facing, holding club with both hands transversely across his chest; inscription to right. Valassiadis 2. Rare. An attractive example, nicely toned.

Extremely fine.

750 Ex Leu 57, 25 May 1993, 85 (CHF 3600).

A note from BCD: This variety, with the reverse legend on the right, is much rarer than the previous coin.

1213 2:1

2:1

1213 Oitaioi. Circa 360s-340s BC. Obol (Silver, 0.80 g 9), Herakleia Trachinia. Lion’s head to left, with spear in its jaws. Rev. ΟΙΤΑ Bow and quiver. SNG Copenhagen 177. SNG Munich 125. Valassiadis 4. Weber 2880 (this coin). Nicely toned. Nearly extremely fine.

475 Ex Hess-Leu 45, 12 May 1970, 165 (CHF 1700) and from the Weber Collection.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1214

1214 Oitaioi. Circa 360s-340s BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 2.08 g 9), Herakleia Trachinia. Lion’s head to left, with spear in its jaws. Rev. ΟΙΤ / ΑΩΝ Curved knife and hunting spear to right. BMC 5 = Rogers 414 = Traité IV, 442, pl. CCLXXXII, 6. SNG Copenhagen 178. Valassiadis 11. Attractive olive-green patina. Extremely fine.

275 Acquired from Münzen und Medaillen in January 1984 for CHF 850 and from an old English collection.

A note from BCD: A very clear and detailed depiction of a strangely fashioned knife, probably a hunting knife but with cutting edges on both sides. It may have combined several different functions like slicing flesh, chopping bones and even removing the skin of animals.

1215

1215 Oitaioi. Circa late 4th-early 3rd century. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.38 g 12), Herakleia Trachinia. Lion’s head to left, with spear in its jaws. Rev. ΟΙΤΑΙ / ΩΝ Herakles standing facing, holding club with both hands transversely across his chest. BMC 8. Valassiadis 5. Rare. Nicely toned. Nearly extremely fine. 300 Acquired from A. H. Baldwin in October 1976 for £212 and from the Livingstone collection.

A note from BCD: There is a distinct similarity between the reverse of this coin and the reverse of the didrachm, below lot 1217; their dates should be the same. No, I hate to disagree with such an eminent and perspicacious master, but while there is a similarity between the reverses, it is only because they are both Herakles. I do not think there is any chronological relationship linking these two coins.

1216

1216 Oitaioi. Circa 279-168 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 4.90 g 11), Of Aitolian type, struck during the Oitaioi’s membership in the Aitolian League, Herakleia Trachinia. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΟΙΤΑΙ / ΩΝ Spear head right above jawbone of a boar to right; between them, monogram of ΠΑΡ; to left, bunch of grapes. Rogers 418. SNG Copenhagen 182. SNG Munich 127. Valassiadis 14. Glossy, dark brown patina. About extremely fine.

125

1217

1217 Oitaioi. After 167 BC. Didrachm (Silver, 7.64 g 12), Herakleia Trachinia. Lion’s head to left, with spear in its jaws. Rev. ΟΙΤΑΙ / ΩΝ Youthful Herakles standing facing, wearing ivy wreath, holding club with its head on the ground with his right hand and with his lion skin over his left. Nanteuil 850 (this coin). SNG Copenhagen 179. Valassiadis 10 (= BM 1900--6-6-14). Extremely rare. Nicely toned. Some old scratches on the obverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

4000 Acquired from S. Boutin in July 1968, ex McSorley-Adams FPL 2 (1968), 49, Hess-Leu 31, 6 December 1966, 285, and from the De Nanteuil Collection (published in NC 1900 on p. 282 and on pl. XIII, 12).

A note from BCD: This very rare coin was acquired in July 1968 from Serge Boutin in Paris, for $700. His prices at the time were marked on his coin tickets in US dollars for silver and in French francs for the bronze. Monsieur Boutin bought this coin as lot 285 at Hess-Leu Auction 31 on 6 December 1966 (this information courtesy of Nomos AG, owners of the Sternberg set of annotated Hess-Leu catalogues). The hammer price was CHF 2200, only CHF 200 above the estimate. The interesting thing though about this coin is that it was also no. 49 in the McSorley-Adams FPL 2 of 1968. This can only mean that someone took this coin on approval from M. Boutin and after featuring it in the above list where it failed to sell returned it to its Paris owner. I can only think of one individual who would do such a thing in the ‘60s, but to name him would be beyond the scope of this catalogue.

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1218

2:1

2:1

1218 Olosson. First half of the 4th century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 15mm, 3.42 g 3). Thessalian cavalryman, wearing petasos and chlamys, riding galloping horse to right. Rev. ΟΛΟΣΣΟ - Ν - Ι - ΩΝ Zeus Keraunios striding right, his chlamys over his shoulders, hurling thunderbolt with his right hand and with an eagle on his outstretched left. S. Lavva, Zur Münzprägung von Olosson, La Thessalie, Actes du Colloque International. Lyon, 1990 (Athens, 1994), p. 315, 2 = fig. 2 (this coin). Extremely rare, the second and best example known. Clear and well-struck with a dark brown patina. About extremely fine.

500 This coin was struck by the Perrhaiboi in honor of their mint city, Olosson.

A note from BCD: The discovery of this coin in the name of the Olossonians was one of the highlights of my collecting experience. To acquire a totally new coin type with a new legend that makes sense at first glance is indeed a treat for the specialized collector.

1219

1219 Orthe. Mid 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 3.03 g 5). Head of Athena to right, wearing an Attic helmet, with raised earflap and ornamented with a serpent and a tendril, pendant earring and necklace. Rev. Ο - Ρ / Θ - Ι Trident, upright, within olive wreath. Rogers 423 ff. and Traité IV 595 var. (legend not retrograde). Rare. A clear coin with a splendid obverse. Dark patina. Reverse weakly struck, otherwise, extremely fine.

225 This is clearly the first issue of Orthe: it is notable that it is quite similar to the later silver coinage of Pharsalos and bears a head of Athena in an Attic helmet. The following issues of Orthe copy the head of Athena on Alexander’s gold coins from Macedonian mints and, thus, date to the last quarter of the 4th century, at the earliest.

1220

1220 Orthe. Late 4th - early 3rd century. Trichalkon (Bronze, 22mm, 6.24 g 10). Head of Athena wearing Corinthian helmet to right, with serpent coiled on bowl of helmet. Rev. ΟΡΘΙΕΙΩΝ Forepart of a horse springing to right from a rocky outcrop, on which grows an olive tree; around, olive wreath with ties below. Moustaka 30. Rogers 421. Traité IV 595, pl. CCXCIII, 16. Bold and clear with a dark patina.

Good very fine.

375 The head of Athena on the obverse is very clearly copied from the gold distaters and staters of Alexander minted in Macedonia, as Price 163 ff.; thus the earliest date for this coin is probably the 320s.

1221

1221 Orthe. Late 4th - early 3rd century. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 3.44 g 10). Helmeted head of Athena to right, as last. Rev. ΟΡΘΙΕΙΩΝ Forepart of a horse springing to right from a rocky outcrop, on which grows an olive tree; around, olive wreath with ties below. Rogers 422. A glossy, attractive example with a dark patina. Nearly extremely fine.

250

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1222 2:1

2:1

1222 Pagasai. Mid 4th century BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.41 g 9). Head of Jason (?) to right, with short hair and wearing a petasos Rev. Π-Α / Γ-Α Six-stringed lyre; all within shallow incuse circle. Apparently unpublished and unknown. Unique. Slightly rough surfaces, otherwise, about extremely fine.

1000 The coinage of Pagasai can only have begun after 354/353 when Philip II liberated the city from the domination of Pherai, and would have ended with the foundation of Demetrias in 294/3 when Pagasai dwindled into a village. It seems that Apollo’s lyre was the city’s badge as it appears on the reverses of all four known coins of this city three of which are offered in this catalogue.

A note from BCD. The fourth was acquired on eBay by a good friend with a sharp eye, erroneously identified as...

(I will not say what but any serious amateur can find out). Its description matches that of the next lot.

1223 2:1

2:1

1223 Pagasai. Mid 4th century BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.38 g 9). Laureate head of Apollo Pagasaios to right.

Rev. Π-Α / Γ-Α Six-stringed lyre; all within shallow incuse circle. Apparently unpublished and unknown.

One of two known, the other in a private Swiss collection. Slightly rough surfaces but of good style and, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

900

1,5:1

1224

1,5:1

1224 Pagasai. Mid - later 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 2.34 g 5). Laureate head of Apollo Pagasaios facing, head turned slightly to right. Rev. ΠΑΓΑ - ΣΙ - ΤΩΝ Lyre with seven strings. Liampi 2005 p. 32, 1 = pl. 3, 3 (this coin). Unique. Dark brown patina, good very fine.

650 Liampi provides a complete discussion for this coin in her article in NC, where it was first published. It is here dated slightly later than in Liampi because of the full legend and the lack of any perceptible incuse on the reverse. In any event, the coinage of Pagasai must have only been issued out of civic pride, as a means for the city’s citizens to pay for small purchases using their ‘own’ money, rather than the ‘foreign’ coins from other Thessalian cities that must have been the mainstay of Pagasai’s currency system.

1225

1225

Peirasia. C. 320s-250s BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 20 mm, 5.13 g 6). Head of Athena to right, wearing Corinthian helmet adorned with serpent. Rev. ΠΕΙΡΑΣΙ - Ε - ΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, wearing long, archaic robes and helmet with high crest, holding shield with her left hand and hurling spear with her upraised right. Cf. Moustaka 42 (an unillustrated example of the same type, but with an incomplete legend). E. Pendleton, The Coinage of Peirasia, SNR 87 (2008), pp. 45-60, BL 1a = pl. 4, 3 (this coin) .

Extremely rare. Attractive dark brown patina but with some minor scrapes and pitting, otherwise, good very fine.

475 Until the useful article by Pendeleton appeared in 2008, the coinage of Peirasia was virtually unknown, especially the bronzes (a few silver coins had been previously published, but, in any case, two of those were misidentified). The silver all dates to the 4th century; unfortunately none in the BCD collection are in good enough condition to be included here. As for the bronzes, there is a small denomination, surely a chalkous, and a larger one, here termed a trichalkon: the present coin is the finest known bronze coin from Peirasia.

91

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1226

1226

2:1

1226 Pelinna. First half of the 4th century BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.20 g 10). Thessalian cavalryman, wearing petasos and chlamys, and holding a spear pointing backwards, riding to left on galloping horse; above, in tiny letters, ΑΙ; below horse, Α. Rev. [Π]ΕΛΙΝΝΑΙΚΟΝ (Ns retrograde) Warrior advancing left, his head turned back to right, wearing petasos and chlamys and with a sword in a scabbard held by a baldric, holding short spear in his right hand and a round shield, ornamented with a crescent, and two other spears in his left. Traité IV 527, pl. CCXC, 15. Very rare. A clear piece. Some minor marks and with a slightly rough surface, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

1000 The tiny letters on the obverse of this coin, and the next, probably represent control marks of mint officials responsible for the issue. See, below lot 1333, for a similar case.

1227

1227

2:1

1227 Pelinna. First half of the 4th century BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.06 g 12). Thessalian cavalryman, wearing petasos and chlamys, and holding a transverse spear, riding to right on galloping horse; below, in tiny letters, ΙΑ. Rev. ΠΕΛ - ΙΝ Warrior advancing left, wearing petasos and chlamys and with a sword in a scabbard held by a baldric, hurling short spear with his right hand and holding a round shield, ornamented with a star, and two other spears in his left. Moustaka 142a. Traité IV 528, pl. CCXC, 16-17. Nicely toned. Tiny test cut on the obverse edge at 1 o’clock, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

800 Ex Coin Galleries MBS, 25 May 1988, 106 ($1300).

1228.1

1228.2

1228 Pelinna. First half of the 4th century BC. Lot of two bronze chalkoi. 1228.1 15 mm, 2.66 g 12.

Thessalian horseman left, with fallen foe. Rev. ΠΕΛΙΝ - ΝΑΙ Thessalian warrior striding left. Rogers 427.

Traité IV 530, pl. CCXC, 19. 1228.2 14 mm, 2.94 g 12. Thessalian horseman right. Rev. ΠΕΛΙΝΝΑΙΩΝ Thessalian warrior striding left. Rogers -. SNG Copenhagen 187. Attractive patinas. Nearly extremely fine (2).

175 A note from BCD. The rendering of the warrior on the reverse of these two bronzes is the same on the silver drachm of 1227 above. It is therefore quite possible that the drachms served as a prototype for the die engravers of this bronze type or even that the same hand was involved. In any event, it appears that these bronzes were struck earlier than what was thought up to now; the two drachms offered above, should, in my opinion, be dated to the last quarter of the 5th century rather than the first half of the 4th.

1,5:1

1,5:1

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1229 1,5:1

1,5:1

1229 Pelinna. Mid to late 4th Century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 16mm, 5.32 g 12). Veiled head of Mantho to right. Rev. ΠΕΛΙΝ - ΝΑΙΩΝ Horseman with couched lance galloping to right. BMC 7. Moustaka 1998, 1.

With a glossy, dark patina. A coin of excellent style. Nearly extremely fine.

400 Moustaka (1998) and Liampi (SNG Munich 12) date all coins of this type to the 4th century, but it seems that the situation is a bit more confused. Some of the larger coins of this type, presumably trichalka, are of such a coarse style (as Moustaka 1998, 2 and SNG Munich 138) that they simply can not possibly be 4th century and must be down dated to the 3rd century, if not the 2nd. The truly superior style of this piece makes such a late date very unlikely. In addition, the city ethnic is given as ΠΕΛΙΝΝΑΙΩΝ, unlike all other later issues, where it appears as ΠΕΛΙΝΝΑΕΙΩΝ, and that seems to indicate an earlier date as well.

A note from BCD: A lovely coin with a naturally glossy black patina that brings to mind my very early years of collecting and fond memories of a dear friend, now deceased, who deserved much better luck for the last few years of his life. Decades after the acquisition of this jewel I would continue to think of it as ‘the perfect bronze’, not really being aware of the ‘added value’ a natural green patina (see the next lot) would give to a bronze coin. Today I know better but still its image will always stay with me, as vivid as it was when I first set eyes on it and held my breath.

1230 1,5:1

1,5:1

1230 Pelinna. Later 4th century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 4.63 g 5). Armored Thessalian cavalryman, with helmet and couched lance, on horse galloping to left. Rev. ΠΕΛΙΝΝΑΕΙΩΝ Mantho, draped and veiled. standing right, holding open casket in her left hand and key in her right. Moustaka 1998, 6. SNG Munich 134. Rare. With a beautiful green patina. Minor flan crack, otherwise, nearly extremely fine. 475

1231

1231 Pelinna. Later 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 16mm, 3.40 g 6). Thessalian cavalryman galloping to left. Rev. ΠΕΛΙΝ - ΝΑΙΕΩΝ Mantho standing right, holding open box as last. Moustaka 1998, 5. SNG Copenhagen 188-189 var. Dark green patina. Good very fine.

125

1,5:1

1232

1,5:1

1232 Pelinna. Later 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 2.15 g 11). Armored Thessalian cavalryman, with helmet and couched lance, on horse galloping to right. Rev. ΠΕΛΙΝΝΑ / ΙΕΩΝ Mantho seated facing on throne with high back, her body turned slightly to left, holding open box in her lap. Moustaka 1998, 4 (this coin). Rare. With a glossy, black patina, an attractive coin. Nearly extremely fine.

200

93

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1233

1233 Pelinna. Early to mid 2nd century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 6.98 g 5). Veiled head of Mantho to right. Rev. ΠΕΛΙΝΝΑ - [ΕΙΩΝ] Nike standing left, holding wreath in her upraised right hand and stylis in her left. Apparently unpublished. Boldly struck and with a dark green patina. Extremely fine.

250 Compare the style of the head of Mantho on this coin with that of lot 1229, above, which is clearly centuries earlier.

A note from BCD: The discovery of this unknown type that links the Mantho and Athena obverses was quite a thrill - the kind of thrill reserved exclusively for collectors that collect an area ‘in depth’ and know how infrequent such occurrences are likely to be.

1234

1234 Pelinna. Early to mid 2nd century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 8.43 g 7). Head of Athena in crested Corinthian helmet to right. Rev. ΠΕΛΙΝΝΑΙΕΩΝ Nike standing left, crowning the city name with a wreath held in her right hand, and holding stylis with her left. Rogers 436 (but legend given incorrectly and differently arranged). SNG Copenhagen 192. Attractive dark, brownish-red patina. About extremely fine.

125

1,5:1

1235

1,5:1

1235 Perrhaiboi. Circa 462/1-460 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.95 g 1). Head and neck of bull to left, head facing front. Rev. ΠΕ Head of bridled horse to right; all within incuse square. Liampi, 1996 -. Apparently unpublished. Struck from the same reverse die as the following lot, but in an earlier state. An attractive piece, struck in good silver. About extremely fine.

400

1236 1,5:1

1,5:1

1236 Perrhaiboi. Circa 462/1-460 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.86 g 3). Forepart of wolf to left. Rev. ΠΕ Head of bridled horse to right; all within incuse square. Liampi, 1996, I, III, 6 var. (no monogram on the obverse, but from the same reverse die). Very rare. Some minor reverse flatness, otherwise, about extremely fine.

450 Struck from the same reverse die as the previous lot, but in a later state. An attractive piece, with a splendid wolf’s head, very similar to the slightly earlier issues of Argos, as BCD Peloponnesos 1008.

A note from BCD: The wolf forepart obols of the Perrhaiboi were practically unknown up to a few years ago. Some new specimens have recently appeared in the market of which this is probably the best preserved and most complete.

1,5:1

1237

1,5:1

1237 Perrhaiboi. Circa 462/1-460 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.86 g 7). Forepart of bull to left, head turned back to right. Rev. ΠΕ Head of bridled horse to right; all within incuse square. Liampi, 1996, 3, pl. 5, 24. Very rare. Attractive, clear and toned. Extremely fine.

600

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1238

2:1

2:1

1238 Perrhaiboi. Circa 460-440 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.88 g 7). Thessalian Hero, nude but for cloak and petasos over his shoulder, striding right, holding band around the head of bull rushing to right; behind to left, floral rosette. Rev. ΠΕ Bridled horse trotting to left, with loose rein; below, two geometric countermarks within square indents; all within incuse square . Traité IV 571, pl. CCXCII, 19 (same dies).

A lovely example, unusually well preserved and free from corrosion. Lightly and attractively toned.

Countermarked, as noted, otherwise, sharply struck and, extremely fine.

1750 A note from BCD: ASW forgot to stress the extreme rarity of the Perrhaiboi archaic drachms, only a handful are known and only two have appeared at auction in recent years. The last one to go under the hammer was estimated at CHF 22,500 but unfortunately there were no bids for it. It has now reappeared in the Nomos sale this morning. ASW wonders how it will go...

1239

1,5:1

1239

1239 Perrhaiboi. Circa 460-440 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.94 g 5). Thessalian Hero, with cloak over his shoulders, striding right, restraining forepart of a bull to right with a band around the bull’s head. Rev. ΠΕ Forepart of bridled horse with trailing rein to right; all within incuse square. SNG Fitzwilliam 2429.

Weber 2887. Rare. A nice, lightly toned example. Extremely fine.

600

1240

1,5:1

1240

1240 Perrhaiboi. Circa 450-430 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.36 g 12). Thessalian cavalryman, wearing petasos and chlamys and holding two spears, riding horse walking to left. Rev. Π-Ε-Ρ-Α (retrograde) Athena (?), draped, seated to left on high-backed chair, holding crested Corinthian helmet in both hands. BMC 3.

Moustaka 46 var. Rare. Beautifully toned and struck on a broad flan. About extremely fine.

300 A note from BCD: This trihemiobol, without the altar under the horse on the obverse, probably belongs to an earlier issue that was discontinued to be replaced by the much more common type with the altar.

1241

1,5:1

1241

1241 Perrhaiboi. Circa 450-430 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.39 g 11). Thessalian cavalryman, wearing petasos and chlamys and holding two spears, riding horse walking to left; below, altar. Rev. Π-Ε-Ρ-Α Athena (?), draped, seated to left on high-backed chair, holding crested Corinthian helmet in both hands.

M+M Deutschland 8, 2001, 127 (same dies). Moustaka 46. An attractive, well preserved and bright coin.

Extremely fine.

275

95

96

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1242

1242 Perrhaiboi. Circa 450-430 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.86 g 12). Bridled horse with trailing rein cantering to left.

Rev. Π-Ε-Ρ-Α (partially retrograde) Athena Itonia in fighting attitude to right, holding spear and shield; all within shallow incuse square. SNG Copenhagen 195. Traité IV 575, pl. CCXCII, 23. Slightly rough surfaces. Good very fine.

125

2:1

1243

2:1

1243 Perrhaiboi. Circa 450-430 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.40 g 3). Helmeted head of Athena to right. Rev. ΠΕ Horse protome to right; all within incuse square. Traité IV 580, pl. CCXCIII, 3. Very rare. With a fine head of Athena, similar to those on contemporary issues from Pharsalos. Toned and with a lightly struck obverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

225

1244

1244 1,5:1

1244 Perrhaiboi. First half of the 4th century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 8.54 g 1). Veiled head of Hera facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing necklace. Rev. ΠΕΡΡΑΙΒΩ[Ν] Zeus, nude, standing facing, head turned to left. holding thunderbolt in his right hand and long scepter in his left. Rogers 439 var. Traité IV 582, pl. CCXCIII, 5. Beautifully preserved with a fine dark brown patina. Some traces of corrosion on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

375 A note from BCD: This is an example of a coin that up to 10 or 15 years ago was considered extremely rare. Not any more, although problem free specimens are still almost impossible to find. I also think that ASW dates it too early, but as I have no proof for the "late 4th century" date that I propose, I’ll let it stand as it is.

1245

1,5:1

1,5:1

1245 Perrhaiboi. First half of the 4th century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 518 g 12). Laureate head of Apollo to right; behind head, uncertain monogram. Rev. ΠΕΡΡΑΙΒΩΝ Head of nymph to right, wearing sphendone, earring and necklace; before her, Α Λ; behind, Δ Σ. Rogers 437 and fig. 245 (same dies, but wrongly identified as Phalanna). Traité IV 581, pl. CCXCIII, 4. A particularly nice example, boldly struck and with an olive-green patina. Extremely fine.

225 A note from BCD: Rogers has another of these coins listed and illustrated in his figure 237, this time correctly, under Perrhaiboi. It is apparently struck from the same dies as the one illustrated in his figure 245.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1246

1,5:1

1,5:1

1246 Perrhaiboi. Later 2nd - early 1st Century BC . Drachm (Silver, 4.28 g 12). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΠΕΡΡΑΙ - ΒΩΝ Hera, draped, seated on throne to right, holding long scepter with her right hand and resting her left on her knee; to right, monogram of ΣΩ. SNG Berry 547. Very rare. Bright and well preserved. Extremely fine.

400 Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 48, 2 April 1990, 283 (DM 2000).

This coin has been traditonally dated to 196-146, but this seems to be too early, especially when compared to the widespread issues of the League and given its epigraphic peculiarities. All the letters of the legend on the reverse were made by first punching in guide marks and then connecting them, a way of engraving that seems to be a relatively late feature.

1247

1247 Perrhaiboi. Later 2nd - early 1st Century BC . Trichalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 7.38 g 1). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΠΕΡΡΑΙ - ΒΩΝ Hera, draped, seated on throne to right, holding long scepter with her right hand and resting her left on her knee. Rogers 440. SNG Copenhagen 197. A splendid example with a fine, dark green patina. Nearly extremely fine.

100 This coin has been dated following the reasoning given in the previous lot.

1248

1248 Peuma. Circa 302-286 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 2.92 g 9). Wreathed head of Achilles to right. Rev. ΠΕ - ΥΜΑΤ - ΙΩ - Ν Monogram of ΑΧ with Thessalian helmet to right. C. Heyman, Les monnaies de Peuma en Thessalie, RBN 1967, pp. 1-9, 1-4. Moustaka 154. Rogers 442. Dark brown patina.

Good very fine.

100 Heyman has done a remarkable amount of work on the identification of the head on the obverse. It has been termed the head of a nymph, some thinking it could be Thetis, but the hairstyle seems definitely masculine. Since Achilles was venerated in the area, he is the likely candidate.

1249

1,5:1

1249

1249 Phakion. 3rd century BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 6.14 g 12). Wreathed head of nymph to right, with triple-pendant earring. Rev. ΦΑΚΙΑΣΤΩΝ Horseman, with right hand raised in salute, riding prancing horse to right; between horse's back legs, grain ear. Papaevangelou 7. Rogers 444. Rare. A clear example on a broad flan. Dark olive-green patina. Reverse somewhat weakly struck, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

300

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1250 1,5:1

1,5:1

1250 Phalanna. Circa 360-340 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.57 g 10). Youthful male head to right, perhaps Peloros (?). Rev. ΦΑΛ-ΑΝΝΑ-ΙΩΝ Bridled horse trotting right, with curly tail. BMC 1 = PapaevangelouGenakos 1. Traité IV, 583, pl. CCXCIII, 7 var. Rare. A clear and attractive piece, very nicely toned and unusually pleasing. Some very minor marks on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

800 The silver coinage of Phalanna, and by extension the early bronze, is usually given the general date of 4th century, but it can be narrowed to some extent by comparing the horse with that found on issues of Larissa. He usually has a curly tail, prances to right and has a legend that goes around the coin, usually ending in the exergue: this is quite similar to the horses that begin to appear on the later facing head groups from Larissa (as the didrachms, above, lots 1159-1161) and allows us to date Phalanna’s coinage to the later second and early third quarter of the 4th century, probably c. 360-340. This first coinage of drachms must have been fairly extensive, since at least two obverse dies were used for it (paired with at least four reverse dies): the second issue of drachms was much smaller in scope (as lot 1253, below).

1251

1,5:1

1,5:1

1251 Phalanna. Circa 360-340 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.79 g 7). Youthful male head to right, perhaps Peloros (?). Rev. ΦΑΛ - ΑΝ - Ν - ΑΙ - ΩΝ Bridled horse trotting right, with curly tail. BMC 2 = Papaevangelou-Genakos 2 . Rare. Clear and attractive. Good very fine.

250

1252.1

2:1

1252.2

2:1

2:1

2:1

1252 Phalanna. Circa 360-340 BC. Lot of two silver coins, a trihemiobol and an obol. 1252.1 1.30 g 2.

Youthful male head to right, perhaps Peloros (?). Rev. ΦΑΛ - ΑΝ - Ν - ΑΙΩ - Ν Bridled horse trotting right. BMC 3 = Papaevangelou-Genakos 3 = Traité IV 586, pl. CCXCIII, 10. SNG Copenhagen 201.

1252.2 0.76 g 11. Youthful male head to right, perhaps Peloros (?). Rev. ...ΝΑΙΩ-Ν Head of nymph to right. E. T. Newell, Some Rare or Unpublished Greek Coins, AJN XLVIII, 1914, p. 64, 11 and pl. VIII, 11. Papaevangelou-Genakos 4. Rare to very rare. Toned. The first exceptionally nice, the second with rough surfaces and some horn silver adhering. Extremely fine (trihemiobol) and very fine (obol).

600 1252.2 acquired from R. Hecht in 1970, ex Münzen und Medaillen, FPL 290, July 1968, 2. In most publications the larger coin in this lot is termed an obol, but, like so many other Thessalian fractions, it simply must be a trihemiobol given its weight (the very much lower weights others of this type have are caused by the terrible corrosion most have suffered). The obol, which accompanies it shows the kind of condition these coins are usually found in, but also reveals the great care and skill of the die cutter: stylistically both of these small coins are superb.

A note from BCD: The little obol, apart from being much rarer than the other coin in this lot, is also practically impossible to find in good metal and without defects. The pedigreed piece offered here is probably the best to ever appear at auction.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

3:1

1253

1253 Phalanna. Circa 340s BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.65 g 5). Youthful male head to right, with short, curly hair.

Rev. ΦΑΛΑ-ΝΝ-[ΑΙΩΝ] Bridled horse with curled tail prancing to right; below, bunch of grapes lying on its side and monogram of ΑΝ. Coin Hoards III, fig 2, 4 (this coin). Jameson 1100 = Traité IV, 584 and pl.

CCXCIII, 8 (same dies). Very rare and most attractive. Some tiny scratches, otherwise, extremely fine.

1350 Ex CH III, 43, 4.

This must be the second issue of drachms from Phalanna, and it is surely slightly later than the silver issues in the previous lots, especially because, unlike them, it bears both a symbol and a monogram. The male head on this coin is much heavier and more athletic looking than the one on the drachm in lot 1250 above; could it be an actual portrait?

In fact, this variety is only known from a single pair of dies, which may indicate that it was a special issue. A real puzzle about this issue is the 1975 Thessaly Hoard (CH III, 43). In her article on the hoard (CH III, pp. 9-15), J. Humphris makes a convincing case that it should be dated to 229-228 BC, thus making the appearance within it of this very well preserved drachm of Phalanna quite disturbing. She suggests that, rather than having been struck in the 340s, this coin should have been issued at the time of the death of Demetrios II in 229, when there was a Thessalian revolt against the Macedonians. This seems virtually impossible: the idea that any authority was striking pure Aeginetic weight drachms as late as the early 220s seems very unlikely. The drachms of Epidauros were lowered in weight by the 240s as were all the issues of Olympia: this piece is just too heavy. Stylistically, this coin also does not look as late as the 220s. Many hoards, like Agrinion for example, have contained coins in very good condition that date much earlier than the hoard’s closing date: they were probably found in a hoard (!) or in a known family holding, and then returned to circulation. Thus, the appearance of a fine 4th century coin in a late 3rd century hoard.

A note from BCD: See my note after lot 1346 that prefers the low chronology of J. Humpris for this lot as well as for lots 1207 and 1346.

1254

1,5:1

1254

1254 Phalanna. First half of the 4th century BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 11.38 g 1). Youthful male head to right, perhaps Peloros (?); behind head, Α. Rev. Φ - ΑΛΑ - ΝΝΑΙΩΝ Head of nymph to right, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace, and with her hair bound in a sakkos tied at the back.

Papaevangelou-Genakos 5 var. Rogers 446. A lovely, clear example, one of the finest examples known.

Dark brown patina with some golden highlights. Extremely fine.

200

99

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1255.1

1255.2

1255.4

1255.3

1255 Phalanna. First half of the 4th century BC. Lot of four bronze dichalkoi. 1255.1 18 mm, 4.81 g, 12.

Youthful male head to right, perhaps Peloros (?). Rev. ΦΑΛΑΝΝΑΙΩΝ Head of nymph to right.

Papaevangelou-Genakos 6. Rogers 452. 1255.2 17 mm, 4.97 g 7. Male head as last. Rev. ΦΑ]ΛΑΝΝΑΙΩΝ Head of nymph as last. Papaevangelou-Genakos 6. Rogers 452. 1255.3 17 mm, 4.68 g 12. Male head as last. Rev. ΦΑΛΑΝΝΑΙΩΝ Head of nymph as last, but with A behind head.

Papaevangelou-Genakos 21 (this coin). 1255.4 16 mm, 5.69g 12. Male head as last. Rev. ΦΑΛΑΝΝΑΙΩΝ Head of nymph as last, but with Α behind head. Papaevangelou-Genakos 21 var. A very attractive group, all with fine patinas. Extremely fine (4).

200 A note from BCD: Rogers, p. 146, calls the type of Phalanna bronze offered in this lot "...the commonest of all Thessalian AE". Things have not changed much since the early 1930s except that now some Krannon bronze types (see Rogers figs. 76, 77, 80 and 83) are also claiming this distinction. Once again, observations like this have to make us think about what rarity means in respect to the coinage of the ancient world. Why did some cities produce relatively small issues of bronze, perhaps struck by only a few die pairs, while others, as here, minted massive numbers, produced by very considerable numbers of dies? Coins may have been issued just for prestige, so that all citizens could use ‘their own’ money to buy things, while others must have been struck not only for local use, but also as the money of a whole region. The enormous coinage of Phalanna was probably used all over northern Thessaly, if not beyond.

1256

1,5:1

1256

1256 Phalanna. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 12mm, 2.12 g 1). Youthful male head to right, perhaps Peloros (?). Rev. ΦΑΛΑΝΝΑΙ - ΩΝ Head of nymph to right, wearing simple earring, necklace, and with her hair bound in a sakkos. Papaevangelou-Genakos 7 var. Rare. Struck in high relief and with a dark green patina. Nearly extremely fine.

125 A note from BCD: This smaller denomination, quite distinct from Rogers fig. 246, is definitely rarer than the large coins, especially in this condition.

1257

1257 1,5:1

1257 Phalanna. First half of the 4th century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 16mm, 3.36 g 12). Head of Athena in crested Attic helmet to left. Rev. ΦΑΛΑΝΝ[ΑΙΩΝ] Horse prancing right. Papaevangelou-Genakos 10.

Very rare. Dark green patina. About extremely fine.

150 A note from BCD: It may be that the obverse is Ares, as on the next coin, and not Athena.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1258

1,5:1

1,5:1

1258 Phalanna. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 1.95 g 3). Youthful male head (Ares?) in crested helmet to right, earflaps down. Rev. ΦΑΛ - ΑΝΝΑΙ - ΩΝ Bridled horse prancing right, with curly tail. Papaevangelou-Genakos 11. Rogers 457. Rare. Beautifully preserved and with a brown patina, but struck on a curiously odd-shaped flan. Extremely fine.

100 A note from BCD: ASW seems to have a penchant for "curiously odd-shaped flans" (see also lot 1240 in this catalogue). BCD has nothing against them either but thinks that the majority of today’s collectors would prefer their coins to be reasonably circular and well centered. But, really, if the ancients did not mind if their coins were oddshaped, and may well have singled out ‘misstruck’ coins as curios or amulets, who are we to say they were wrong?

Having absolutely round coins is very convenient for stacking, packing into rolls, and using in soda machines, but the ancients only had vending machines in Egypt, and they worked by weight and not shape. If the ancient user really worried about ugly flan-shapes, the later 4th century silver coinage of Athens would not have circulated!

1259.1

1259.2

1259 Phalanna. Later 4th century BC. Lot of two bronze dichalka. 1259.1 17 mm, 4.36 g 9. Male head right, with very curly hair, depicted as if floating. Rev. ΦΑΛΑΝ Head of nymph to right. PapaevangelouGenakos 13. 1259.2 17 mm, 4.51 g 12. Head of Zeus Peloris to right, with fragmentary inscription below.

Rev. ΦΑΛΑ Head of nymph to right. Papaevangelou-Genakos 16 var. Rogers 455. Both rare and with brown patinas. First with a minor flan crack, otherwise, about extremely fine (2).

225 The head on the obverse of 1259.1 is not the usual one we would expect to see at Phalanna. The hair, with its curls stretching upwards is reminiscent of the way the fountain nymph Arethusa is sometimes portrayed at Syracuse, as an indication of her watery character. Could this young male head be a personage from a local myth at Phalanna? As for the second coin, it is interesting that no laurel wreath is visible on any coin struck with this obverse, even though almost every written description found for this type describes it as being laureate. The head has also been identified as that of a bearded Ares, but this seems unlikely. Nevertheless, the inscription, Peloris or Pelores, which does appear on some of these coins, makes the identification as Zeus Peloris unquestionable.

1260

1,5:1

1261

1,5:1

1260 Phalanna. Later 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 2.69 g 9). ...Ο... Bearded head of Zeus Peloris to right. Rev. ΦΑΛΑ The nymph Phalanna seated right on low-backed chair, resting her right hand on the chair and, with her left, petting a goose standing before her to left. Papaevangelou-Genakos 17.

Rogers 458. Rare. Bold and attractive with a dark patina. Extremely fine.

250 A note from BCD: See also SNG Fitzwilliam 2434 for a remarkable "in depth" interpretation of this type.

1261 Phalanna. Later 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 3.74 g 5). [ΠΕ]ΛΟΡΕΣ Bearded head of Zeus Peloris to right. Rev. ΦΑΛ - ΑΝΝ The nymph Phalanna seated right on chair; holding mirror in her left hand and fixing her hair with her right. Papaevangelou-Genakos 18. Very rare. Dark greenish-brown patina. Good very fine.

175 A note from BCD: This is much rarer than the previous type, but both petting a goose (or feeding a stork, as this writer sees it) and making up one’s hair in a mirror (see also lot 1113 above) are, in any case, unusual subjects for coin iconography.

101

102

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1262 1,5:1

1,5:1

1262 Phaloria. Circa 302-286 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 8.48 g 12). Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos facing, turned slightly to left. Rev. [ΦΑΛΩ] / ΡΙΑΣΤΑΝ Wolf at bay to right; below, bukranion.

Rogers 459. Very rare. Perhaps the best preserved example known. Glossy dark green patina.

Good very fine.

600

1263 1,5:1

1,5:1

1263 Phaloria. Mid 3rd century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 8.42 g 11). Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΦΑΛΩΡ - [ΑΣΤΩΝ] Bendis, wearing short chiton, hunting boots and Phrygian cap, seated left on a rock, holding arrow in her right hand, spear in her left, and with bow and quiver over her shoulder.

LHS 102, 2008, 150. A. Moustaka, “Bendis in Thessalien. Zu zwei Varianten eines Münztypus der Stadt Phaloreia,” Festschrift Furtwängler, pp. 345-350, A 1 (this coin). Rogers 461. A von Sallet, Die Erwerbungen des Königlichen Münzcabinets von 1. April 1888 bis 1. April 1889, ZfN XVII (1890), p.

236. Extremely rare. With unusually clear types and a fine, dark brown patina. Nearly extremely fine. 400 For the identification of the figure on the reverse as Bendis, see Moustaka (cited above).

1264

1,5:1

1,5:1

1264 Phaloria. Circa 302-286 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 3.70 g 4). Head of nymph to right, wearing earring. Rev. ΦΑΛΩΡΑ - ΣΤΩΝ Wolf at bay to right. Apparently unpublished and unique. Olive-green patina. Very fine.

300 The wolf on this coin is immediately reminiscent of the one found on some of the later bronze issues of Argos.

1265 2:1

2:1

1265 Pharkadon. Circa 462/1-460. Obol (Silver, 0.86 g 7). Bull’s head and neck to right, head facing front; above, barley grain. Rev. ΦΑR (retrrograde) Bridled head of horse to right; behind, transverse trident pointed downwards to right; all within incuse square. Liampi, 1996, 2. Rare. A clear example.

Good very fine.

300

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1266

1266 Pharkadon. Circa 460-440 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.96 g 2). Thessalos striding right, his petasos hanging from a cord around his neck, holding a band in both his hands around the head of the forepart of a bull moving right. Rev. ΦΑ - R - ΚΑ (retrograde) Forepart of bridled horse to right, rein trailing; downwards across torso, trident; all within incuse square. McClean 4672 and pl. 175, 7. CNG MBS 57, 2001, 295 (same dies, but with spurious references). Rare. The earliest “bull-wrestler type” from Pharkadon. Darkly toned as found, a particularly nice example. Good very fine.

250 Ex Numismatica Wien 27 October 1972, 335 (AS 1800), and from the Hollschek Collection, Part 14, Dorotheum 244, 24 October 1961, 924.

1267

1267 1,5:1

1267 Pharkadon. Circa 460-440 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.99 g 3). Thessalos striding right, his cloak and petasos hanging behind his neck, holding a band in both his hands around the head of the forepart of a bull moving right. Rev. ΦΑΡΚΑΔΟΝΙ Forepart of a horse to right, within shallow incuse square. SNG Copenhagen 210 (same dies). A lovely coin, beautifully centered and nicely toned. Extremely fine.

400 Acquired from F. Kovacs, March 1979 for $200.

Struck from small dies on a broad flan, this coin has a gem-like quality rarely seen in 5th century Thessalian issues.

1268

1,5:1

1268

1268 Pharkadon. Circa 440-400 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.97 g 7). Thessalos, striding right and with his cloak and petasos over his shoulders, using both hands to hold a band around the head of the forepart of a bull rushing right. Rev. ΦΑΡ - ΚΑΔΟ (partially retrograde) Forepart of horse to right, within shallow incuse square. SNG Copenhagen 210 var. SNG Delepierre 1139 var. A pretty coin, attractively toned and in good silver. Extremely fine.

450 Acquired from Nomos AG in May 1981 for CHF 2500, ex Kress 127, 23 October 1963, 391.

1269

1,5:1

1269

1269 Pharkadon. Circa 440-400 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.81 g 2). Thessalos, striding right and with his cloak and petasos over his shoulders, using both hands to hold a band around the head of the forepart of a bull rushing right. Rev. Φ-Α-Ρ-Κ Forepart of horse to right. SNG Copenhagen 211 var. Rare. Some surface roughness but in high relief and of fine style. Extremely fine.

300 A note from BCD: The artistic standard of engraving for the horse on this and the two previous Pharkadon hemidrachms is very high. As can also be seen from the fractions and the bronze that follow, the mint was not afraid to improvise and this is surely a sign of a flourishing, affluent city.

103

104

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1270 2:1

2:1

1270 Pharkadon. Circa 440-400 BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.44 g 12). Bull’s head to right Rev. Φ-Α-Ρ-Κ Ram standing to left within incuse square. Traité IV, 568, pl. CCXCCII, 16 var. (ram to right). Very rare. A very pretty tiny coin, nicely toned. About extremely fine.

350

1271

1271 Pharkadon. Circa 440-400 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.83 g 3). Horse walking to right. Rev. ΦΑΡΚΑ Athena standing right, her spear over her left shoulder and her shield resting on the ground before her. SNG Copenhagen 212 var. Traité IV, 564, pl. CCXCII, 13 var. Nicely toned. Nearly extremely fine.

150

1272

1272 Pharkadon. Circa 440-400 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.84 g 10). Horse walking to right. Rev. Φ-ΑΡΚΑΔΟΝΙΟΝ Athena standing left, holding spear in her right hand and resting her left on her waist; to right, shield resting on olive tree. SNG Copenhagen 216. Toned and clear, a pleasant piece. Good very fine. 150

1273

1273

1,5:1

1273 Pharkadon. Late 5th - early 4th century BC. Obol (Silver, 0.84 g 11). Horse walking to right. Rev. ΦΑΡΚ Athena Parthenos standing left, wearing aegis, holding spear in her right hand and resting her left on shield by her side; before her, snake coiled to left; all within shallow incuse square. Cf. Gorny & Mosch 134, 2004, 1338. Rare. An unusual and late (?) variety. Lightly toned. Nearly extremely fine. 175

1274

2:1

1274

1274 Pharkadon. Late 5th - early 4th century BC. Obol (Silver, 0.81 g 6). Horse walking to right. Rev. ΦΑΡΚ Herakles standing right, nude but for lionskin wrapped over his left arm, holding bow in his left hand and resting his right on club with its head on the ground; all within shallow incuse square.

Apparently unpublished. Slightly corroded, but of very fine style and with a beautifully made reverse.

Good very fine.

225 The Herakles figure on the reverse of this small coin is masterfully done and beautifully engraved. While it would seem that the later silver fractions of Pharkadon are much rarer than the earlier ones, the engravers who made them were artists of great talent; thus, it is possible that these issues were made as donatives in small numbers.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1275 2:1

2:1

1275 Pharkadon. Late 5th - early 4th century BC. Obol (Silver, 0.90 g 2). Horse trotting to left, with fallen rein. Rev. ΦΑΡ Bull butting to left. Apparently unpublished and unique. Toned but with some traces of old corrosion. Very fine.

300 A note from BCD: It was mutually agreed between ASW and BCD to drop both our notes on this coin. This would draw less attention to it and allow someone who is very fond of it to acquire it at a reasonable price. Good luck, EJP!

1276

2:1

2:1

1276 Pharkadon. First half of the 4th century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 16mm, 2.99 g 2). Horse grazing to right. Rev. ΦΑΡΚ / ΔΟΝΟ Crescent over star of six rays. BMC 9 var. Rogers 462-3 var. Very rare. A most unusual type. Fine, glossy, olive-green patina. Nearly extremely fine.

300 A note from BCD: The bonze coins of Pharkadon, although featuring carefully executed and artistic dies, are almost always plagued by disfiguring die breaks and quite often are mis-struck or have other flan problems. It may be that the artist who engraved the dies for this coinage went away after handing them over to the mint officials, and was, thus, not available during the actual minting process to carry out any die repairs or even to engrave new dies if this would be necessary. The mint then had to make do with what was on hand. Also, the available labour was obviously neither experienced nor meticulous enough in their job.

1277

1277 Pharsalos. Mid 5th century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.98 g 7). Head of Athena to right, wearing an earring and a crested Attic helmet adorned with three coiled serpents. Rev. Φ-ΑR Horse's head to right; all within incuse square. Lavva 3, dies O2/R2. A very attractive example, though one with porous surfaces, but sharp and in high relief. Extremely fine.

350 The coinage of Pharsalos has been the object of an extensive study by Stella Lavva (2001), which is, alas, almost entirely wrong in its details. Many of the dies cited are misidentified and the dating is rather suspect. The dates used here are more general, and avoid the supposed accuracy of the more specific ones she uses. In any case the coinage of Pharsalos was only issued for about 100 years, between c. 450 and 344 BC.

1278

1,5:1

1278

1278 Pharsalos. Mid-late 5th century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.90 g 9). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet and drop earring. Rev. Φ-ΑR Horse's head to right; all within incuse square. Lavva 13, O9/10, m (this coin). A toned and attractive example, well struck. Extremely fine.

700 Ex Monnaies et Médailles 61, 7 October 1982, 108 (CHF 7000).

105

106

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1279 2:1

2:1

1279 Pharsalos. Mid 5th century BC. Obol (Silver, 0.99 g 12). Head of Athena to right wearing Attic helmet adorned with serpents. Rev. Φ-Α-R Horse's head to right; all within incuse square. Lavva 4 a (this coin, but not obverse 3 as she says). Nicely toned and attractive. Minor fault below horse’s neck truncation, with traces of the letter R from the legend superimposed upon it. Extremely fine.

250 The reverse of this coin poses a problem since there is a die break that has part of a letter on it (the upper half of the rho), which would suggest that after the die was damaged, and the letter obscured, it was replaced by a version with the letter recut into the die break! Needless to say, Lavva has not noticed this; in addition, she has also not noticed that the coins of her number 4 are struck from at least two different obverse dies.

1280

1280 1,5:1

1280 Pharsalos. Mid-late 5th century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 3.07 g 6). Head of Athena to right, wearing simple earring and crested Attic helmet with raised cheek pieces. Rev. Φ-Α-Ρ-[Σ]-Α Horse’s head to right; all within incuse square. Lavva 18, O12/R12, A (this coin). Nicely toned and attractive. About extremely fine.

450 Ex Monnaies et Médailles 53, 29 November 1977, 69 (CHF 3400), from the collections of W. Niggeler, 3 December 1965, 261 and Consul E. Weber, Hirsch XXI, 16 November 1908, 1367.

1281

3:1

3:1

1281 Pharsalos. Mid-late 5th century BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.51 g 6). Head of Athena to right, wearing simple earring and crested Attic helmet with raised cheek pieces. Rev. Φ Horse's head to right; all within incuse square. Lavva 37a var. Rare. A clear and attractive piece. Good very fine.

300

1282 1,5:1

1,5:1

1282 Pharsalos. Mid-late 5th century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 3.05 g 2). Head of Athena to right, wearing simple earring and crested Attic helmet with raised cheek pieces. Rev. Φ-ΑR Horse's head to right; all within shallow incuse. Lavva 47c, O29/R24a (this coin). Nicely toned and attractive. Extremely fine. 400

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1283

2:1

2:1

1283 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.29 g 8), signed by the engraver Telephantos, with his initials on the obverse, and by the engraver ΑΜΝ... on the reverse. Head of Athena to right, wearing pendant earring, crested Attic helmet adorned with an olive wreath, and with raised cheek pieces; in tiny letters behind neck, ΤΗ. Rev. Φ-Α / Ρ-Σ (last two letters retrograde) Forepart of horse to right; behind truncation, ΑΜ; in field to right, retrograde Ν. Jameson 2471 = KF 193 = Lavva 78 a (this coin) . Extremely rare, the second and best example known. Beautifully toned and superb, but with a minor old scratch on the obverse and an equally old and equally minor scuff on the reverse, otherwise, extremely fine.

2500 From the collections of Charles Gillet, ‘Kunstfreund’, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen, 28 May 1974, 193 (CHF 18,500) and of R. Jameson.

This is a magnificent coin of the greatest rarity, and was the first large silver coin to be struck by Pharsalos. The reverse type is surely taken from the standard Thessalian hemidrachms of the 5th century - this was probably thought to be not attractive enough by the authorities at Pharsalos and was, thus, immediately replaced by reverses showing a Thessalian rider. The two tiny letters on the obverse have long been viewed as the signature of the die cutter Telephantos, but the letters on the reverse, AM... and N..., have yet to be satisfactorily explained.

A note from BCD: See lot 1333, below, for an identical small retrograde N on the right of another half horse, this time the obverse of a Skotussa drachm. Could this be the signature of someone specialized in engraving horses? But then what about the letters AM on the left? If we think along the lines of thought prevailing for the explanation of the obverse letters on these drachms, we could say that the engraver AM... with the help of his pupil or assistant N... was responsible for the horse die on this coin. This would lead to the interesting conclusion that the horse die for the Skotussa drachm (being the work of engraver N..., working on his own this time) was engraved at about the same time or even slightly later than this drachm. Even if the Skotussa reverse with its incuse square appears to be earlier than the gently concave field on the reverse of this coin, this possibility should not be ignored. A plausible explanation for this stylistic discrepancy would be that we are here dealing with a more innovative Pharsalian technique and style, undoubtedly of ‘western’ origin, that was not yet adopted by the other Thessalian mints.

1284

2:1

2:1

1284 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.94 g 3), signed by the engraver Telephantos, with his initials on the obverse and on the reverse, and with those of his ‘pupil’ Ip...on the obverse. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet with raised cheek pieces; in tiny letters behind neck, ΤΗ and ΙΠ. Rev. Φ-Α / Ρ-Σ (last two letters retrograde) Thessalian cavalryman riding horse prancing to right, wearing petasos, chlamys and chiton, and holding a lagobolon over his right shoulder; in exergue, ΤΗ. Lavva 81d (this coin, but not O41/R49 as she says but O42/R48). A splendid coin with beautiful surfaces and lovely style. Die break on reverse, otherwise, good extremely fine.

1000 This is a particularly beautiful and clear coin. The head of Athena is serene, but rather girlish and similar to the head on the first drachm of Pharsalos, which appears in the preceding lot. This head was soon replaced by a more mature and ‘goddess-like’ vision of Athena, as on the following lot.

107

108

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1285 1,5:1

1,5:1

1285 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.01 g 2), signed by the engraver Telephantos, with his initials on the obverse and on the reverse, and with those of his ‘pupil’ Ip...on the obverse. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet with raised cheek pieces; in tiny letters behind neck, ΤΗ and [ΙΠ]. Rev. Φ-Α / Ρ-Σ (last two letters retrograde) Thessalian cavalryman riding horse prancing to right, wearing petasos, chlamys and chiton, and holding a lagobolon over his right shoulder; below, ΤΗ. Lavva 99d, O49/R57 (this coin). A coin of lovely style, with a serene and noble head of Athena. Some minor marks on the obverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

1000

1,5:1

1286

1,5:1

1286 Pharsalos. Late 5th-early 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 12mm, 1.28 g 1). Head of Athena to right, wearing Attic helmet with raised cheek piece. Rev. Φ-Α-Ρ-Σ Horse's head to right within shallow, circular incuse. Cf. Lavva 226 ff. and Rogers 509 var. (but all with heads of Athena wearing helmets with some form of ornamentation). Very rare and with a nice brown patina. Good very fine.

100

1287

2:1

2:1

1287 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.11 g 7), signed by the engraver Telephantos, with his initial on the obverse and on the reverse, and with those of his ‘pupil’ Ip...on the obverse. Head of Athena to right, wearing pendant earring and crested Attic helmet adorned with a tendril, an eagle’s wing behind which a snake coils to above Athena’s forehead, and a palmette on the visor; in tiny letters behind neck, Τ - Ι - Π. Rev. Φ-Α / Ρ-Σ (last two letters retrograde) Thessalian cavalryman riding horse prancing to left, wearing petasos, chlamys and chiton, and holding a lagobolon over his right shoulder; below, Τ. KF 194 = Lavva 108a. O52/R60 (this coin). A coin of spectacular quality and of the finest style. Nicely toned. Extremely fine.

5000 From the collection of Charles Gillet, ‘Kunstfreund’, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen, 28 May 1974, 194 (CHF 42,000).

A coin of surpassing elegance and beauty. This is certainly one of the finest existing coins of Pharsalos: the present sale does, in fact, give a skewed view of the quality of the coinage of Thessaly, since the lots that appear here are all among the finest known examples of their types. The extremely elaborate helmet decoration on the obverse of this coin was identified as being a griffin by Lavva: given the fact that the tail, part of the body and the neck of the snake are all visible on the obverse, coiling and passing underneath the avian wing on Athena’s helmet, one can only wonder what on earth Lavva thought she was seeing!

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1288

1288

2:1

1288 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.08 g 6), signed by the engraver Telephantos, with his initials and with those of his ‘pupil’ Mi...on the obverse . Head of Athena to right, wearing pearl necklace and a crested Attic helmet adorned with a figure of Skylla to right, her left hand raised to shade her eyes; in tiny letters behind neck, ΤΗ / ΜΙ. Rev. Φ-Α / Ρ-Σ (last two letters retrograde) Thessalian cavalryman riding horse galloping to right, wearing petasos, chlamys and chiton, and brandishing a lagobolon with his right hand. Lavva 156b (this coin). Nicely toned and most elegant. A few minor marks, including a light cut on the obverse that affect’s Athena’s nose, otherwise, extremely fine.

750 Acquired from Bank Leu in October 1979, ex Monnaies et Médailles XIX, 5 June 1959, 408.

The cut on the obverse is unfortunate, but the coin is otherwise so splendid that we could not resist putting it in the sale! It seems very likely that the engravers who worked at Pharsalos were also involved with the coinage of Magna Graecia, especially that of Thurium: the heads of Athena are remarkably similar in both places.

A note from BCD: The shallow obverse cut did not prevent this coin selling in June 1959 for CHF 510, nor did it prevent Silvia Hurter from selling it to me in 1979 for CHF 5500!

1289

2:1

2:1

1289 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.45 g 6). Head of Athena to right, wearing Attic helmet adorned with a hippocamp to right. Rev. Φ-Α / Ρ-Σ (last two letters retrograde) Thessalian cavalryman riding horse galloping to right, wearing petasos, chlamys and chiton, and brandishing a lagobolon with his right hand. Apparently unpublished and unknown to Lavva. Unique, a remarkable coin of superb style. Heavily crystalized with some scratches, otherwise, about extremely fine.

300 This coin is one of the very few pieces in this sale that shows precisely what the soil of Thessaly does to the metal objects found buried within it! BCD was very much against the idea of including coins that were heavily corroded, as I would have usually done to be complete, but omitting all such pieces would have left many major gaps in the presentation of Thessaly’s coinage. And I simply could not resist this piece, which must have been a special presentation issue!

1,5:1

1290

1,5:1

1290 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 12mm, 1.45 g 12). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet adorned with Skylla. Rev. Φ-Α-Ρ (retrograde) Armored Thessalian horseman riding galloping horse to right, brandishing flail. Lavva -. Rogers 484 var. Rare. Dark brown patina. Nearly extremely fine.

125

109

110

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1291 1,5:1

1,5:1

1291 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.75 g 12). Head of Athena to right, wearing pearl necklace and a crested Attic helmet adorned with a tendril and a griffin bounding to right, and with lowered cheek pieces; behind neck, Ε. Rev. Φ-Α / Ρ-Σ (last two letters retrograde) Thessalian cavalryman riding horse galloping to right, wearing Thessalian helmet, chlamys and chiton, and brandishing a lagobolon with his right hand. Lavva 163 c, O76/R96 (this coin). Very rare and of fine style.

Minor scrape on the obverse and rough surfaces, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

650 The E that appears on the reverse of this coin probably stands for the abbreviated name EPI, which appears on the reverse of a number of coins, unknown to Lavva, that share this obverse die (as Gorny & Mosch 117, 2002, 212).

1292 1,5:1

1,5:1

1292 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.83 g 12). Head of Athena to left, wearing earring, pearl necklace and a crested Attic helmet adorned with a long tendril, and with raised cheek pieces; behind neck, Α. Rev. Φ-Α-Ρ-ΣΑ (retrograde) Horse’s head to right. Lavva 160 a , O74/R93 (this coin). Toned. Nearly extremely fine.

300 Somewhat amazingly Lavva describes the device on Athena’s helmet as being a figure of Skylla, which it is, of course, anything but!!! It seems to be some sort of climbing plant with a pitcher-shaped flower at the top: presumably a kind of lotus.

1,5:1

1293

1,5:1

1293 Pharsalos. Early-mid 4th century BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 1.31 g 11). Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos facing, her head turned slightly to left; above right, Λ. Rev. ΦΑ-ΡΣ -Α (Σ retrograde) Armored warrior riding prancing horse to right, brandishing a flail with two balls at the end of its chain. Lavva 263 var. (O 147/R -.). Rare, of remarkably fine condition for this issue. Extremely fine.

350 Since their types are exactly the same, the bronze fractions that follow this lot must be connected with it . This piece is unusually nice, most known examples of the type being drastically worn and corroded.

1294

1294 Pharsalos. Early 4th century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 7.13 g 4). Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos facing, turned slightly to the left. Rev. ΦΑ / Ρ / ΣΑ Armored Thessalian horseman riding right, brandishing flail; on rump of horse, Α. Cf. Lavva 288. Rogers -. Rare, especially in this condition. Lovely dark patina. About extremely fine.

300 The A on the horse's rump, surely an artist's signature, seems not to have been noticed by Lavva.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1295

1295 Pharsalos. Early 4th century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 4.58 g 11). Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos facing, turned slightly to the right. Rev. ΦΑ-Ρ Armored Thessalian horseman riding right, brandishing flail; behind him, soldier walking right with staff over his shoulder. Lavva 347 = Rogers 508 (same dies). Rare. Attractive, glossy, dark patina. About extremely fine.

250 Lavva identifies this as having been struck by her dies O178/R247 - but the actual reverse die is completely unlike her R247: among the minor differences is the fact that the legend reads ΦΑΡ rather than ΦΑΡΣΑΛΙΩΝ as given by Lavva or Rogers' equally wrong ΦΑΡΣΑ. It would also be really strange for a representation of Athena portrayed with simple bust, without shield and spear, to suddenly appear in the midst of coins with those attributes; thus, it has been placed here.

1,5:1

1296

1,5:1

1296 Pharsalos. Early 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 2.08 g 3). Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos facing, turned slightly to the left. Rev. Φ-Α-Ρ-Σ...Ι-Ω-Ν Thessalian cavalryman, wearing petasos and chlamys, riding horse rearing to right. Lavva 354 = Rogers 488 (same dies) . Very rare. Dark, glossy patina. Traces of corrosion, otherwise, about extremely fine.

250 This is a very rare coin: known examples all seem to be from the same die pair. It has a very unusual arrangement of the reverse legend that begins on the bottom left and continues around in a spiral so that the Σ and N are opposite each other.

1297

1297 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 8.72 g 9). Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos facing, turned slightly to the left, with shield over her left shoulder and spear over her right. Rev. ΦΑ / Ρ / ΑΣ Armored Thessalian horseman riding right, brandishing flail. Lavva 348-349 var. (this obverse die, but reverse die uncertain and with a completely spurious legend). Rogers 500-501 var.

A lovely, sharp coin with a fine dark patina. Extremely fine.

275 The normal condition in which this coin is found is good fine with corrosion: examples like this are virtually unheard of.

A note from BCD: The helmet of the rider on the reverse is similar to the helmet of medieval Samurai warriors, the source of inspiration for the creators of the costume of the Star Wars character Darth Vader. Thus, Star Wars fans will have a very good reason for collecting the bronze coinage of Pharsalos.

1298

1298 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 9.26 g 12). Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos facing, turned slightly to the left, with shield over her left shoulder and spear over her right. Rev. ΦΑΡ Armored Thessalian horseman riding right, brandishing flail at an enemy soldier who flees to right; behind horseman to left, soldier walking right with staff over his shoulder. Lavva 312 ff. var.

Rogers 502 var. An attractive piece with a greenish brown patina, but with traces of corrosion on the reverse. Nearly extremely fine.

200

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1299

1299 Pharsalos. Late 5th-mid 4th century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 6.83 g 12). Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos facing, turned slightly to the left, with shield over her left shoulder and spear over her right; to left, between spear and border of dots, Π. Rev. ΦΑΡ [ΣΑ]-ΑΛΙ[Ω -Ν] Armored Thessalian horseman riding right, brandishing flail; behind him, soldier walking right with staff over his shoulder.

Lavva 325 var. (same obverse die). Rogers 505. An attractive and well struck piece on a short flan. Dark olive-green patina. Extremely fine.

125

1300

2:1

2:1

1300 Pherai. Circa 479-465 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.87 g 11), Circa 462/1-460. Head and neck of bull to right, head facing front; above, Χ; below right, Ν (retrograde). Rev. ΦΕ-R-Α Head of bridled horse to left; all within incuse square. Liampi, 19961, O1/R1 and pl. 5, 6 (this coin). An atrtractive coin, boldly struck.

Extremely fine.

400 A note from BCD: This is an unusually fine and well struck obol of a type that more often than not is struck off center and occurs with die breaks, not to mention corrosion problems. The second letter on the obverse looks like a retrograde N at first glance, but on more careful scrutiny there is also a stroke joining the base of its middle leg with the middle of its right leg. This could be just a die flaw, but in case it isn’t, the three resulting letters, X-A-N suggest a connection (same engraver?) with Krannon, whose silver is clearly signed with these letters (see above, lots 1077, 1079 and 1080).

1301

1,5:1

1,5:1

1301 Pherai. Circa 460-440 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.08 g 12). The hero Thessalos, nude but for petasos hanging down his back from string around his neck, walking right, holding a band in both his hands around the head of of a bull rushing to right. Rev. Φ-Ε-R-Α Bridled horse trotting to left, with trailing rein; to right, lion's head fountain spout with water pouring from its jaws; all within incuse square. BMC 2 (same dies, but inscription misread). Very rare. Toned and attractive, but with slightly rough surfaces, one of the finest known early drachms of Pherai. Extremely fine.

1750 Ex Hess 253, 8 March 1983, 165 (CHF 15,000).

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1302 1,5:1

1,5:1

1302 Pherai. Circa 460-440 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.70 g 7). The hero Thessalos, nude but for petasos and cloak hanging from his neck, bending to left, restraining bull with a band and forcing him down to left; on ground below, dolphin swimming right and, barely visible, lion’s head spout to left. Rev. Φ-ΕRΑ-ΙΟΝ Bridled horse running to left with trailing rein; all within shallow incuse square. SNG Copenhagen 234 (same dies). Rare. Nicely toned but with traces of horn silver and old corrosion underneath. Nearly extremely fine.

800 The early drachm coinage of Pherai is quite rare; this example is unusually lively and attractive with its scene of the youthful Thessalos quite literally wrestling the bull to the ground.

1303

1303 Pherai. Circa 404-369 BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 10.19 g 5). Facing head of Hypereia. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙ[Ο]Ν Lion's head spout to right, water pouring from its open jaws. Rogers 511. SNG Copenhagen 240. Very rare. Dark patina. Very fine.

250 This coin, and the three following lots, are placed here, at the beginning of the 4th century coinage of Pherai, simply because they are surely 4th century issues, but at the present time their exact place in the chronological sequence is uncertain.

A note from BCD: A very unusual and early looking bronze that bears evidence of being struck from cast blanks, a technique that originated in Magna Graecia mints of the 5th century BC.

1304

1304 Pherai. Circa 404-369 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 4.95 g 11). Head of Ennodia to right, with pearl necklace; transversely behind her neck, long torch with flames on the right; below neck, traces of three uncertain letters. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙΟΝ Lion's head spout to right, water pouring from its mouth. Rogers 512 (but no obverse letters noted). Rare. A coin of lovely style and high relief with a dark green patina. Good very fine.

250 A note from BCD: The letters below on the obverse should refer to an epithet of Artemis. She had many but the two applicable to Pherai would be Ennodia or Eilitheia. If the letters are E-L--E, as they seem to be, then it is the latter.

1305

1305 Pherai. Circa 360s-350s BC. Tessera (Lead, 15mm, 5.15 g 3). Head of a bearded Satyr facing, with animal ears. Rev. ΦΕ Forepart of standing bull to right; to left, double ax. Rogers 526. Very rare. With a lovely Satyr head, of somewhat archaistic style, and with a fine tan patina. Good very fine.

150 A note from BCD: Lead tokens must have served as proof of voting rights, entrance passes to theaters or other cultural events, fees for river crossings and, often, as a way of distributing goods to entitled citizens (such as grain or other foodstuffs) via a semi-permanent marker that would be exchanged for them. In addition, since lead was easy to melt and reuse, it was ideal for ephemeral activities and could then be made into something else. Lead’s very ephemerality is one reason why so few such tokens have been found, and they must have been produced far more extensively than the surviving examples imply. The existence of the present token indicates that Pherai was a well organized city and functioned according to the rules of an advanced polis.

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1306 2:1

2:1

1306 Pherai. Circa 360s-350s BC. Tetartemorion (Silver, 0.23 g 6). Head of Ennodia to right. Rev. Hunting dog sitting to right. Moustaka 1983, 73 and pl. 9 (this coin, but as a hemiobol). Extremely An extraordinary and unexpected coin of great interest and charm. Somewhat rough surfaces and some remaining corrosion products, otherwise, very fine.

Φ-Ε rare. with 200

This coin is placed here solely because of the simple two letter reverse inscription, which is similar to that on the lead token in the preceding lot. That, in turn, has been placed, somewhat tenuously, to the period of Alexander of Pherai because of the double ax on its reverse (Moustaka dated it to the early 4th century). Babelon attributed this miniature gem of numismatic art to Pheneos (Traité III, p. 603, 904, pl. CCXXV, 129), but this is obviously incorrect.

2:1

1307

1307 Pherai. Alexander. Tyrant, 369-358 BC. Stater (Silver, 12.07 g 12). Head of Ennodia facing, turned slightly to right, wearing pearl diadem, grape-cluster earring and pearl necklace; on left, torch. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝ-Δ-Ρ-ΕΙΟΣ Alexander riding horse galloping to right, the reins in his left hand and a lance held level in his right, wearing cavalry helmet, cuirass and with his sheathed sword on a baldric around his chest; on horse’s rump, double ax. BMC 14 (same obverse die). Gulbenkian 482 = Locker Lampson 181 (same reverse die). Extremely rare, one of the most beautiful and impressive coins produced in 4th century Greece. Lightly toned. Extremely fine.

50,000 Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 44, 3 April 1989, 292 (DM 180,000).

Alexander of Pherai was one of the sons of the tyrant Jason, who was murdered by conspirators in 370 and was succeeded by his brother Polydoros who was, in turn, murdered by his own brother Polyphron. Alexander, his nephew, murdered him in 369, and embarked on a rule of oppression and tyranny. He was a severe threat to the Aleuadai of Larissa so they called on Macedonian aid, which succeeded in forcing Alexander to flee Pherai. After the Macedonians also withdrew, Larissa called for Theban aid, which arrrived in the person of Pelopidas. This forced Alexander into an alliance with Athens, but by 364 he was defeated and forced into peace. After the death of Epaminondas in 362, Alexander turned on his erstwhile Athenian allies and attacked them, even raiding the Piraeus.

He was finally killed by his wife Thebe’s brothers, who she goaded to do so out of hatred for his cruelties.

A note from BCD: There isn’t much one can say about this stunning coin, it speaks for itself. Probably the best by far that has ever been offered at auction.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1,5:1

1308

1308

1308 Pherai. Alexander. Tyrant, 369-358 BC. Stater (Silver, 11.92 g 11). ΕΝ-ΝΟΔ-ΙΑΣ Laureate head of Ennodia to right, wearing triangular pendant earring and pearl necklace. Rev. ΑΛ-ΕΞΑΝΔ-ΡΕ-Ι-Ο-Σ Alexander riding horse galloping to right, the reins in his left hand and a lance held level in his right, wearing cavalry helmet, cuirass and with his sheathed sword on a baldric around his chest; on horse’s rump, double ax. Wartenberg 17 (this coin). Unique, and effectively unpublished. The coin’s types were engraved by an artist of great talent who produced a particularly serene and elegant head of the goddess and a splendid figure of Alexander. However, the obverse is pitted and the coin has generally rough surfaces, otherwise, extremely fine.

6000 A note from BCD: Could it be that the profile obverse preceded the facing head issues? If so, it would not be by much as the reverse type is practically unchanged between this coin and lot 1307 above.

1309

2:1

2:1

1309 Pherai. Alexander. Tyrant, 369-358 BC. Stater (Silver, 11.55 g 5). Head of Ennodia facing, turned slightly to right, wearing pearl diadem, grape-cluster earring and plain necklace; to left, torch. Rev. Α-ΛΕ-ΞΑ-Ν-ΔΡΟΥ Alexander riding horse galloping to right, the reins in his left hand and thrusting lance downwards with his right, wearing cavalry helmet, cuirass, boots and with his sheathed sword on a baldric around his chest; on horse’s rump, double ax; below horse, double ax. Jameson 1106 (same reverse die) = Traité IV, 612 (citing the Jameson coin). Cf. Wartenberg 16 (same reverse die). Very rare, of lovely style and nicely toned. Some minor surface roughness, otherwise, about extremely fine.

35,000

1310 1,5:1

1,5:1

1310 Pherai. Alexander. Tyrant, 369-358 BC. Drachm (Silver, 5.87 g 10). ΕΝ-ΝΟΔΙ-ΑΣ Laureate head of Ennodia to right, wearing pendant earring and pearl necklace. Rev. ΑΛΕΞ-ΑΝΔΡ -ΟΥ Lion's head with open jaws to right. BMC 17 = Traité IV, 615, pl. CCXCIV, 17 (same dies). Very rare. Of good style and struck in high relief. Some deposits of horn silver on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.

1500 Ex Leu 30, 28 April 1982, 105 (CHF 11,500), Ars Classica XVI, 3 July 1933, 1128, and Ars Classica XIV, 2 July 1929, 238, and from the collection of A. Rhousopoulos, J. Hirsch XIII, 15 May 1905, 1446.

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1311

2:1

2:1

1311 Pherai. Alexander. Tyrant, 369-358 BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.12 g 3). Head of Ennodia to right, wearing earring and necklace and with a torch on the right before her face. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ Lion's head with open jaws to right; below, boar's head to right. Apparently unpublished with this symbol. Extremely rare.

A beautiful, fresh coin, lightly toned and virtually as struck. Good extremely fine.

2500 Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 44, 3 April 1989, 293 (DM 28,000).

1312

3:1

3:1

1312 Pherai. Alexander. Tyrant, 369-358 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.94 g 9). Youthful head of Jason to left, wearing petasos. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑ - ΝΔΡΕΙΟΝ Horse's hoof and lower leg to right. Traité IV, 617, pl.

CCXCIV, 18 (same dies?). Extremely rare. Well centered and well struck in high relief, very lightly toned and remarkably attractive. Good extremely fine.

2500 A note from BCD: Undoubtedly the best of the few known, a coin of magical appeal. The more I looked at it over the years, the more enchanted I became by its beauty. Without intending to exaggerate I would say that it is as close to perfection as any classical Greek coin can be.

1313 2:1

2:1

1313 Pherai. Alexander. Tyrant, 369-358 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.76 g). Wheel of four spokes. Rev. Α-ΛΕ Double-ax. SNG Copenhagen 244. Traité IV, 618, pl. CCXCIV, 19. Rare. Nicely centered. About extremely fine.

400

1314

1,5:1

1314

1314 Pherai. Alexander. Tyrant, 369-358 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 2.99 g 9). Head of Jason with petasos to right. Rev. ΑΛΕΞΑ-ΝΔΡΟΥ Horse's lower leg and hoof to right. Rogers 520. Clear and legible with a dark greyish-brown patina. About extremely fine.

225

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1315

1315 Pherai. Alexander. Tyrant, 369-358 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 2.38 g 12). Forepart of bull to right.

Rev. ΑΛΕΞ-ΑΝΔ-ΡΟΥ Forepart of horse galloping to right. Rogers 524. SNG Copenhagen 246. Traité IV, 621, pl. CCXCIV, 22. Nicely centered and with a dark green patina. About extremely fine.

175 Ex Spink 46, 9 October 1985, 67 (part).

A note from BCD: This coin and the next lot, the bronze of Teisiphon, are not really rare but are almost impossible to find perfectly centered and with complete legends.

1316 1,5:1

1,5:1

1316 Pherai. Teisiphon. Tyrant, 358-353 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 2.86 g 9). Forepart of bull to right.

Rev. ΤΕΙΣΙΦΟΝΟΥ (first letter inverted) Forepart of bridled horse galloping to right. Rogers 530. Traité IV, 623, pl. CCXCV, 2. A lovely, glossy piece with a dark green patina. Extremely fine.

225

1317

1317

1,5:1

1317 Pherai. Later 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 2.58 g 10). Draped bust of Ennodia to right, wearing pendant earring and pearl necklace; before her to right, flaming torch. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙΟΝ Lion's head fountain spout to right, with water pouring from its jaws; below, fish swimming to right. Rogers 514.

Rare. Glossy dark patina. Good very fine.

150 This coin has been placed here because of the obverse representation, which is closely linked to the head on the rare obol in the following lot.

1318

3:1

3:1

1318 Pherai. Later 4th century BC. Obol (Silver, 0.84 g 2). Head of Ennodia to right, wearing pendant earring and necklace; before her to right, flaming torch. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙΩΝ Head of a mastiff to right.

Demetriadi 2000, 3, and pl. 6, 3 (this coin). Extremely rare. A lovely coin of the finest style, with a particularly lifelike head of a dog. Some slight surface roughness, otherwise, extremely fine.

1000 This coin is an enigma because of its use of the Ω in the ethnic. It is clearly related to the chalkous with O that appears in the preceding lot, given their common obverse types, but the omega makes it rather more ‘up-to-date’ in form, like the trichalkon that follows. This makes the stater and hemidrachm, with ΦΕΡΑΙΟΥΝ (lots 1320 - 1321, below) real anomalies, but, as I suggest below, that ethnic was used in a consciously archaistic way. This piece was published by Demetriadi in 2000, but, unfortunately, he does not date it other than to the 4th century.

A note from BCD: He was probably hoping, like all of us, that the forthcoming die study of the mint by Ute Wartenberg-Kagan would provide the correct sequence of the issues and narrow down their date ranges.

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1319 1,5:1

1,5:1

1319 Pherai. Circa 404-369 BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 8.68 g 1). Lion’s head with protruding tongue to right. Rev. ΦΕ - ΡΑΙΩΝ Ennodia, wearing chiton and veil, and holding torch in each hand, seated facing on horse trotting to left. Rogers 517 (but legend given incorrectly). A bold and attractive coin with a nice golden brown patina. About extremely fine.

150

1320

2:1

2:1

1320 Pherai. Circa 302-286 BC. Stater (Silver, 11.31 g 12). Head of the nymph Hypereia to right, wearing triple-pendant earring, pearl necklace and wreath of reeds; behind head, lion spout with water pouring from its open jaws. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙΟΥΝ Ennodia, draped and holding torch in both hands, seated facing, her head to right, on horse galloping to right; in field to left, within wreath, ΑΣΤ / ΟΜΕ / ΔΟΝ. Traité IV, 606, pl. CCXCIV, 8. Extremely rare. A lovely coin engraved in a fine early Hellenistic style. Good very fine.

4000 This coin has been dated to a variety of periods: to the time of Jason of Pherai by Babelon and Kraay, to the time of Lycophron by Bloesch in the Winterthur catalogue and to the time of Demetrios Poliorketes in the BMC. In fact, the last is surely correct, given the legend and the fabric.

1321

2:1

2:1

1321 Pherai. Circa 302-286 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.78 g 12). Head of Ennodia to left, wearing myrtle wreath, pendant earring and pearl necklace; behind head, torch. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙΟΥΝ The nymph Hypereia, fully draped, standing left, her left hand at her waist and stretching her left out to touch the top of a lion's head spout, from which pours water to right; below pouring water, wreath enclosing ΑΣ / ΤΟ. BMC 20.

SNG Copenhagen 239. Traité IV, 607, pl. CCXCIV, 9. Toned and very sharp, but with some very slight traces of horn silver adhering to the surface. About extremely fine.

300

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1322

2:1

2:1

1322 Pherai. Circa 280s-270s BC. Stater (Silver, 11.63 g 12). Head of the water nymph Hypereia facing, turned slightly to left, wearing wreath of reeds in her hair, earring and necklace; to left, fish swimming upwards. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙΩ[Ν] Ennodia, wearing chiton and wreath in her hair and holding transverse torch across her body seated facing on horse to right; above left, lion's head water spout to left. KF 195 (this coin). Unique and of the highest importance. Darkly toned, with slightly rough surfaces but of splendid style, a remarkable coin. Good very fine.

40,000 From the collection of Charles Gillet, ‘Kunstfreund’, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen 28 May 1974, 195 (CHF 92,000).

This coin, and the smaller silver that go with it, have long been ascribed to Lycophron II, the tyrant who was in power in 353-352. However, the use of the Ω rather than an O in the legend makes this quite unlikely; especially since the silver with the legend ΦΕΡΑΙΟΥΝ (as above, lots 1320-1321) is generally believed to have been struck around the time of Demetrios Poliorketes. Not only that, the BMC had dated the bronzes that bear the same type of Hypereia and Ennodia to circa 300-190 - though Rogers, by misreading the legend as having an O rather than an Ω, was happy to ascribe them to Lycophron (as was Babelon, of course, though he correctly recorded the legend as having an Ω).

A note from BCD: This extraordinary stater has the added distinction of continuing to be unique following its original appearance at the so-called "Sale of the Century" in 1974. This just goes to show that some ancient coin issues must have been quite limited and minted solely for commemorative or prestige reasons: many unique coins can only be explained in this manner. The famous tetradrachm of Naxos from the 460s, despite being from a single die pair, is preserved in considerable numbers: the possibility is by no means far fetched that the city struck at least 10 talents of them by weight(= 60,000 drachms or 15,000 tetradrachms). However, this piece and the equally unique stater of the Achaean League, were surely struck in much, much smaller numbers.

1323 2:1

2:1

1323 Pherai. Circa 280s-270s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.51 g 1). Head of the water nymph Hypereia facing, turned slightly to left, wearing wreath of reeds in her hair, earring and necklace; to left, fish swimming upwards. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙΩΝ Ennodia, wearing chiton and wreath in her hair and holding transverse torch across her body seated facing on horse to right; above left, lion's head water spout to left. SNG Lockett 1614 (this coin). Traité IV, 625, pl. CCXCV, 3. Extremely rare. Dark patina as found with some minor scratches in the reverse field. Very fine.

1100 Acquired from A. H. Baldwin & Sons in 1971 for £95, supposedly from the Empedocles collection and from the collection of C. S. Bement, Naville VI, 28 January 1924, 934.

A note from BCD: A smaller version of the previous coin, with dies crafted from the same hand. Both issues must have been very limited in terms of the quantity of coins struck if we take into account not only the surviving specimens but also the fast changing political situation at the time.

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1324

1324 Pherai. Circa 280s-270s BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 7.39 g 1). Head of the water nymph Hypereia facing, turned slightly to left, wearing wreath of reeds in her hair, earring and necklace; to left, fish swimming upwards. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙΩΝ Ennodia, wearing chiton and wreath in her hair and holding transverse torch across her body seated facing on horse to right; above left, lion's head water spout to left.

Rogers 531. Lovely, glossy olive-green patina. A very well preserved coin, very rare thus. About extremely fine.

250

1,5:1

1325 1,5:1

1325 Pherai. Circa 280s-270s BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 2.20 g 3). Head of the water nymph Hypereia facing, turned slightly to left, wearing wreath of reeds in her hair, earring and necklace; to left, fish swimming upwards. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙΩΝ Ennodia, wearing chiton and wreath in her hair and holding transverse torch across her body seated facing on horse to right; above left, lion's head water spout to left.

Rogers 533. A rare and attractive piece with a dark, reddish-brown patina. Good very fine.

125 From the old stock of Jacob Hirsch, and from the Rhousopoulos Collection, acquired from Bank Leu in January 1975.

1326

1326 Proerna. Circa 306-283 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 4.54 g 11). Head of a nymph facing, her head turned slightly to the right, wearing a simple hair band and a pendant earring in her right ear. Rev. ΠΡΩΕΡΝΙΩΝ Demeter standing facing, her head to left, holding long torch in her left hand and two ears of wheat in her right; to left, Φ. Rogers 534. Very rare. Dark patina. Reverse rather softly struck, otherwise, about extremely fine/about very fine.

200 The coinage of Proerna is virtually unknown, with only a single type, this one, in Rogers. The obverse is very clearly copied from the widespread issues of Larissa and it ought to be dated to the later 4th century. As for the following two lots, the nymph who appears on their obverses is a much more original creation and must be somewhat later in date.

1327

1327 Proerna. Circa 306-283 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 23mm, 7.22 g 6). Head of a nymph facing, turned slightly to the right, wearing a necklace of pearls and with her hair in wild disorder. Rev. ΠΡΩΕΡ / ΝΙΩΝ Demeter standing facing, wearing grain wreath and long robes, and holding a long torch with her left hand and grain ears in her right; to left, monogram of ΦΙ. Rogers -. SNG Copenhagen 248. Very rare, with a superb nymph’s head, conceived in a most original fashion. Dark, greenish-red patina. Very fine.

275 In many ways the obverse of this coin bears one of the finest nymph’s heads in Thessalian coinage. She is certainly not the serene goddess one finds at Larissa and elsewhere: these coins may have an emotional strength as well, but this nymph from Proerna has an intensity that is nothing short of astounding. It just goes to show that even a small and minor city could commission work from a great artist.

A note from BCD: This and the next coin are much scarcer than the standard middle-sized bronzes of Proerna.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1328

1,5:1

1,5:1

1328 Proerna. Circa 306-283 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 2.36 g 12). Head of a nymph facing, turned slightly to the right. Rev. ΠΡΩΕΡ / ΝΙΩΝ Demeter standing facing, wearing grain wreath and long robes, and holding a long torch with her left hand and grain ears in her right; to left, monogram of ΦΙ. SNG Munich 178. Very rare. Glossy, dark olive-green patina. Good very fine.

150

1329 1,5:1

1,5:1

1329 Rhizos. Circa 352-344 BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 7.94 g 2). Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. ΡΙΖΟΥΣΙ[ΩΝ] Vine branch with bunch of grapes and two leaves; above grapes and below branch to left, Λ. Rogers 537. Traité IV, 746, pl. CCC, 18. Warren 1961, pl. I, 3. Very rare. Very well struck in high relief, of lovely style and with a fine dark green patina. Extremely fine.

750

1330 2:1

2:1

1330 Rhizos. Circa 352-344 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 1.69 g 11). Head of Artemis to right, wearing earring, necklace and with her hair tied in a bun at the back. Rev. Ρ-Ι-Ζ-Ο-Υ-Σ-Ι-Ω within the rays of an eight-pointed star. Rogers 536. Extremely rare. A splendid, gem-like coin of superb style, with a fine, dark green patina. Minor edge nick on the reverse, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

400 A note from BCD: This small Rhizos denomination is much rarer than the previous coin and is probably struck earlier: its reverse design derives from the early obols of Lokri Opuntii (see BCD Lokris-Phokis 7). ASW would disagree with that since while the coins of Lokri Opuntii have stars on their reverses, these stars do not really have letters within their rays in a systematic way (just Λ and O on opposite sides). More likely parallels, with letters arranged between the rays of a star or something similar, might be from Orchomenos in Boiotia (as BCD Boiotia 225) or Megara (as BCD Peloponnesos 3): those coins are roughly contemporary wih this coin from Rhizos. BCD said "derives", not "contemporary" as ASW thinks was implied.

1331 2:1

2:1

1331 Skotussa. Circa 462/1-460 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.66 g 10). Head and neck of bull to left, head facing; above, dolphin to left. Rev. §Κ - Ο Head of bridled horse to right; all within incuse square. Liampi, 1996, V1/R1. Very rare. Somewhat rough surfaces. Very fine.

350 A note from BCD: Liampi knew of only three Taurokathapsia obols for Skotussa; two more have surfaced since her article was written, the last one selling for $15,000 (CNG MBS 85, 15 September 2010, lot 328). Christodoulos made a forgery out of this last type (see JIAN XXI, pl. G. 187 for the obverse, the reverse is unpublished) that was quite successful as copies were offered as genuine by: Jacques Schulman 265, 28 September 1976, lot 12; Robert Myers, FPL November 1977, 52; and Joel Malter 49, 15 November 1992, 369. Two out of these three forgeries are now in this collector’s Black Cabinet; the whereabouts of the Myers piece is not known to this writer.

121

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1,5:1

1332

1,5:1

1332 Skotussa. Circa 460-440 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.85 g 9). The hero Thessalos, nude but for petasos and cloak hanging behind his neck, standing right, holding a band in both his hands around the head of the forepart of a bull rushing right. Rev. Σ-ΚΟ-ΤΕ Forepart of bridled horse rushing to right; all within incuse square. Triton XIII, 2005, 1135 (this coin, otherwise unpublished). Apparently unique. Lightly toned and very well struck. Extremely fine.

1200 Ex Triton XIII, 5 January 2010, 1135 ($6500).

A note from BCD: This fascinating coin was acquired very recently, contrary to the usual practice of avoiding to buy something at auction if it is meant to be sold soon afterwards. However, the importance of this unique hemidrachm cannot be over estimated, at least for this collector. In spite of this coin being an experiment, rather than a mainstream issue, it fills a vital gap in the taurokathapsia series and reveals Skotussa’s ambivalent position in the web of tenuous alliances amongst the power centres of 5th century Thessaly.

1333

1333 Skotussa. Later 5th century BC. Drachm (Silver, 6.02 g 5). Forepart of horse to right; below, ΠΥ - Ν (last letter retrograde) Rev. ΣΚ - Ο Barley grain; all within incuse square. Auctiones 7, 1977, 164 (same obverse die). Traité IV, 626, pl. CCXCV, 6. An attractive and clear example. Nearly extremely fine. 900 This coin type was commonly dated to the immense period of c. 480-400 in earlier literature, then to the 460s BC alone. The fact that there are what seem to be magistrates’ initials on the obverse makes it clear that this coin was surely not struck before c. 450. In addition, the style of the unpublished hemiobol in the following lot, which almost certainly must accompany this drachm, brings the date down even further.

1334 2:1

2:1

1334 Skotussa. Later 5th century BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.44 g 7). Head of youthful hero, Thessalos, to right, wearing petasos. Rev. ΣΚ - Ο Barley grain; all within incuse square. Apparently unpublished and unknown. Unique, a coin of great interest. Slightly rough surfaces. Good very fine.

500 This piece is quite extraordinary, and brings a host of problems with it! Stylistically it is certainly 5th century (it could be early 4th but that definitely seems too late) but it can not be much earlier than the 440s or so. It is also clearly connected with the horse forepart/barley grain series, thus down-dating some of those coins to even later in the 5th century too. But it is clearly earlier than the following lot..

2:1

1335

2:1

1335 Skotussa. End 5th century BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.31 g 12). Head of Herakles facing, with wide open eyes and a lionskin headdress. Rev. ΣΚ-Ο Bunch of grapes hanging from branch; all within incuse square.

Demetriadi 2000, 4 and pl. 6, 4 (this coin). Unique. A tiny coin but with a portrait of startling intensity.

Very fine.

400 When this coin was first published, the author was struck by the wild, unkempt, even ferocious look conveyed by Herakles’ portrait. The fact that the top of the head is rather smooth and has an indentation at the center indicates that what we have is the usual lion skin headdress, but with its whiskers and hairs blended in with Herakles’ own. The coin’s reverse type is quite reminiscent in its design to that found on contemporary obols from Lokri Opuntii (as BCD Lokris 5-6), and probably can be dated to roughly the same time period.

A note from BCD: BCD is obviously pleased that ASW agrees with his updating of lots 5 and 6 in BCD LokrisPhokis. These coins were up to now thought to be much later, their reverse incuse square being hard to notice.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1336 1,5:1

1,5:1

1336 Skotussa. Circa 394-367 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.95 g 12). Head of bearded Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. Σ - ΚΟ Forepart of bridled horse to right, his head slightly lowered; all within shallow circular incuse. BMC 2. Jameson 1108 = Traité IV, 627, pl. CCXCV, 7 (this coin). SNG Lockett 1616 (same dies). A lovely example, nicely toned. Slightly porous surfaces. Extremely fine. 900 Ex Leu 36, 7 May 1985, 120 (CHF 12,000), and from the collections of W. Niggeler, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen, 3 December 1965, 264 and R. Jameson.

This coin is particularly well designed: the head of Herakles is very civilized in feeling, with his short, well trimmed beard and elegant appearance. It must, however, have been a very small issue since, while no die study has been made of them, the known examples all seem to have been struck from the same obverse die, coupled with up to three reverse dies.

A note from BCD: Actually there exists another, earlier looking, obverse die, probably the prototype for this denomination.

1,5:1

1337

1337

1337 Skotussa. Circa 394-367 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 14mm, 2.72 g 12). Head of youthful, beardless Herakles to left, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. Σ - ΚΟ / ΦΠΑ Forepart of bridled horse to right, his head slightly lowered; all within shallow circular incuse. Rogers 541. SNG Copenhagen 255. Struck in high relief with an attractive, chocolate-brown patina. Extremely fine.

300 A note from BCD: A rare coin, especially in this condition. The three letters above the reverse type remain unexplained.

1338

1338 Skotussa. Circa 394-367 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 17mm, 5.32 g 5). Kantharos with high handles. Rev. ΣΚ / Ο-Τ Club in saltire with an uncertain object. SNG Morcom 951 (misread and described as being from an uncertain western mint) otherwise unpublished. Extremely rare, a lovely, solid coin with a dark, glossy patina. Good very fine.

350 This coin must be related to the smaller coin which follows: the way their legends are arranged is quite singular and is not found on any other Skotussan bronze type. Exactly what crosses the club on the reverse is uncertain: perhaps it is a lagobolon or a shorter club.

1,5:1

1339

1,5:1

1339 Skotussa. Circa 394-367 BC. Hemi-chalkous (Bronze, 11mm, 1.40 g 6). Head of bearded Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. Σ-Κ-Ο-Τ Bunch of grapes hanging from branch; all within shallow circular incuse. Apparently unpublished. Extremely rare, only a few examples known. Dark, glossy patina.

Good very fine.

125 This coin’s very small size argues that it was meant to be less than a chalkous in value. This is especially true when it is compared with the preceding lot, with which it must be related in time.

123

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1340 1,5:1

1,5:1

1340 Skotussa. Circa 352-344 BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 22mm, 8.14 g 10). Head of nymph facing, turned slightly to right, her hair bound with a ribbon. Rev. ΣΚΟΤΘΥΣΣΑΙ / Ω - Ν Vine branch supporting bunch of grapes between two leaves. Rogers 543. SNG Copenhagen 256. Traité IV, 633, pl. CCXCV, 13-14. Fine glossy olive-green patina, and with a fascinating spelling mistake within the legend.

Nearly extremely fine.

175 Most interestingly, the second omicron in the legend has mistakenly been engraved as a theta: this, perhaps, reflects the way the name was pronounced in ancient times (or at least the way it was by the engraver!).

A note from BCD: More likely the engraver was illiterate (or inebriated) and he couldn’t tell the difference between an omicron and a theta.

1341 2:1

2:1

1341 Skotussa. Late 3rd century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.41 g 10). Head of Artemis facing, turned slightly to left, wearing a ‘melon’ hairstyle tied at the back and a plain necklace. Rev. ΣΚΟΤΟΥ / ΣΑΙΩΝ Poseidon seated left on stone; holding dolphin in his right hand and trident with his left. SNG Copenhagen 253. Quite rare, especially in good condition. Toned, but with some minor marks, otherwise, good very fine.

325 Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 71, 3 May 1995, 216 (DM 2500).

These coins must have circulated for a considerable time, since almost all known examples are considerably worn.

Their low weight, which is not solely due to wear, seems to be similar to the reduced Aeginetic standard of the widespread issues of the Achaean League, which were struck in the 2nd and 1st centuries BC. While this reduced standard started in the late 3rd century, the possibility that the Skotussan issues were struck later may be supported by the style of some apparently contemporary bronze coins from the same mint (see below, the note to lot 1343).

A note from BCD: If Skotussa could produce this appealing "hemidrachm" in the "late 3rd century BC", I do not see why lots 1207 (Metropolis), 1253 (Phalanna) and 1346 (Thebai) could not have been produced at the same time (see my note after lot 1346).

1342

1,5:1

1342

1342 Skotussa. Circa late 3rd - 2nd century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 6.95 g 5). Head of bearded Herakles wearing lion skin headdress to right. Rev. ΣΚΟΤΟΥ / ΣΑΙΩΝ Club to left. Rogers 549. Rare.

Bold, and with a dark patina. Very fine.

175

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1343

2:1

2:1

1343 Skotussa. Circa late 3rd - 2nd century BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 5.66 g 9). Head of Athena wearing close-fitting helmet adorned with a crest and plume. Rev. ΣΚΟ Bridled horse prancing to right.

CNG electronic auction 208, 2009, 58 (same dies, but misidentified). Rogers 546 var. SNG Copenhagen 257-258 var. A lovely, clearly struck coin with a fine dark patina. Nearly extremely fine.

225 This coin type is usually dated to the 3rd century BC but it probably is later, almost certainly 2nd century. This is because the helmet of Athena is strikingly similar in basic form to that worn by Roma on early denarii, struck from c.

211 until the earlier 2nd cenury (as Crawford 51 ff. - of course the Roma’s helmet bears a wing rather than a plume, but the shape is the same).

A note from BCD: Head, in his Historia Numorum 2, p. 310, identified the obverse of this and of the next lot as "Ares(?)" and this writer tends to agree with him rather than with ASW. Admittedly, the similarity with the obverses of lots 1257 and 1258 above is not striking but, then, the Skotussa coins are much later.

1344

1344

2:1

1344 Skotussa. Circa 300-190 BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 20mm, 5.10 g 10). Head of Athena wearing closefitting helmet adorned with a crest and plume. Rev. ΣΚΟΤΟΥ / ΣΑΙΩΝ Bridled horse prancing to right; below tail, Φ. Rogers 546 (the Φ is there termed a bunch of grapes in error). SNG Copenhagen 258 var. (Φ beneath horse). A lovely clear coin with a dark brownish-black patina with golden highlights).

About extremely fine.

100

1345 1,5:1

1,5:1

1345 Skotussa. Circa 300-190 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 2.64 g 12). Thessalian helmet to right. Rev. ΣΚΟΤΟΥ / [Σ]ΑΙΩΝ Animal (horse or hound) standing to right on club. Rogers 548. Dark greenishbrown patina. Nearly extremely fine.

125 The animal on the reverse of this coin has long been identified as a ram, which would be reasonable except for the fact that it does not have horns, it is also set rather high on its legs and, frankly, does not look like a sheep at all!

Given the short head it is most likely a hound, though it could possibly be a rather odd horse.

A note from BCD: BCD thinks that there are short horns (barely visible) on the animal of this coin and also that its skin is somewhat patterned, an attempt to indicate its wooly cover. But this could also be some form of blanket covering the animal, which brings to mind the famous Thessalian racing horse of the time of Demetrios Poliorketes, Θαλασσομπισκοτο. Or perhaps not.

125

126

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1346

2:1

2:1

1346 Thebai. Circa 302-286 BC. Drachm or Tetrobol (Silver, 4.19 g 12), A coin on both the Attic and Aeginetan standards. Head of Demeter to left, wearing grain wreath and veil. Rev. ΘΗΒΑΙΩΝ Protesilaos, wearing crested helmet and armor, and holding shield in his left hand and sword in his right, advancing to right; behind him to left, prow of galley. Gorny & Mosch 151 (2006)), 152 (same dies).

Hirsch XXV, 1909, 711 (same dies). Moustaka 1983 pp. 116 and 132, 92 and pl. 11, 92 (the coin on the right, same dies, but misidentified as a hemidrachm = NCirc November 1970, 12392). SNG Delepierre 1153 . Extremely rare. Lightly toned but with some deposits and minor marks. Nearly extremely fine. 550 The actual denomination of this coin is surprisingly controversial. In some ways it would make most sense as an Aeginetan tetrobol, but why should such an unusual denomination be issued at this time? In fact, it has always been termed a drachm in the few places it has appeared (except for Moustaka, of course), presumably an Attic one: it is a little light in weight, but none of the coins of this type known are in perfect condition and all must have suffered some weight loss. This coin is definitely similar in weight to the late drachms of the Thessalian League (below, lots 1371 ff.), which are certainly Attic drachms; this is significant (though I do not believe this coin is that late in date).

If these silver coins of Thebai were issued under the aegis of Demetrios Poliorketes, as it has been assumed they were, it might be that they were intended to facilitate exchange between his mass tetradrachm issues and the local economy. Locally they could be rather unusual tetrobols, but they were probably thought of as drachms on a par with those issued by Demetrios from his mints in Macedon. As for the smaller silver coins from Thebai (see the following lot), they could pass equally as either Aeginetan triobols or Attic tetrobols.

A note from BCD: Without meaning to sound unconventional just for the sake of it BCD thinks that this coin is definitely later than the hemidrachm of the next lot. He believes that it was struck at about the same time as lots 1207 and 1253, above, during the late 220’s BC when Thessaly became independent from Macedon and joined the newly formed Hellenic League. The rarity of these coins could then be explained by the fact that very soon afterwards Philip V put an end to any aspirations of independence amongst the poleis of Central Greece. I am afraid I don’t agree - I know of no reason why 1207 should be as late as the end of the 3rd century, and I think a date for the Phalanna, 1253, in the 220s is out of the question, despite Humpris’ careful argument.

1347

2:1

2:1

1347 Thebai. Circa 302-286 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.62 g 11), Aeginetan standard, or, interchangeably, an Attic tetrobol. Head of Demeter to right, wearing grain wreath and veil. Rev. ΘΗΒΑΙΩΝ Protesilaos, wearing crested helmet and armor, and holding shield in his left hand and sword in his right, advancing to right over waves of the sea on the shore; behind him to left, prow of galley. BMC 1. Moustaka pl 11, 92 (the coin on the left). SNG Copenhagen 259. An attractive, clear example. About extremely fine.

375 This was quite a limited coinage: the drachms all seem to have been struck from the same pair of dies while the hemidrachms were produced using only around 3 or 4 die pairs, used somewhat interchangeably.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1348 1,5:1

1,5:1

1348 Thebai. Circa 302-286 BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 22mm, 7.67 g 1). Head of Demeter to left, wearing grain wreath and veil. Rev. ΘΗΒΑΙΩΝ Protesilaos, wearing crested helmet and armor, and holding shield in his left hand and sword in his right, advancing to right; behind him to left, prow of galley; to right, monogram of ΑΧ. Rogers 550 and fig. 306 (this coin). Rare. Very well centered and with a dark green patina. Good very fine.

300 From the collection of C. Morcom, Classical Numismatic Group 76/1, 12 September 2007, 421 ($850) and from the collection of the Reverend E. Rogers.

A note from BCD: Most of the Rogers coins went to the British Museum and even the "leftovers" had been dispersed via Baldwin's by the time I started collecting. To finally acquire a coin that once belonged to the legendary pastor collector and was also illustrated in his book that has been a faithful companion for decades, was a cause for celebration.

1,5:1

1349

1,5:1

1349 Thebai. Circa 302-286 BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 5.68 g 19). Head of Demeter to left, wearing grain wreath and veil. Rev. ΘΗΒΑΙΩΝ Horse prancing to right; below, monogram of ΑΧ. Rogers 552.

Rare. Dark reddish-brown patina. Very fine.

175

1350 1,5:1

1,5:1

1350 Thebai. Circa 302-286 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 2.06 g 6). Head of Demeter to left, wearing veil.

Rev. ΘΗ within laurel wreath tied at the bottom. Apparently unpublished. Extremely rare, if not unique.

Dark green patina. Good very fine.

125

1351

1,5:1

1351

1351 Trikka. Circa 440-400 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.80 g 6). Youthful hero, Thessalos, nude but for cloak and petasos hanging over his shoulder, striding right, holding a band in both his hands around the head of the forepart of a bull moving right. Rev. ΤΡΙ - ΚΚ - ΑΙΟΝ (retrograde) Forepart of bridled horse to right; all within very shallow incuse circle. Peus 380, 2004, 347 (same dies). Cf. Traité IV, 546 var. Nicely struck and sharp, though reverse slightly lightly struck. Nearly extremely fine.

250

127

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1352

1352

1,5:1

1352 Trikka. Circa 440-400 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.91 g 5). Hero, Thessalos, nude but for cloak hanging over his shoulder, his petasos fallen to the ground below his feet, striding right, his bearded head partially facing the viewer, holding a band in both his hands around the head of the forepart of a bull rushing right.

Rev. ΤΡΙ - Κ - ΚΑΙ - ΩΝ (retrograde) Forepart of horse to right (without bridle). Apparently unpublished.

Rare, a very intriguing coin, with a most unusual obverse. Good very fine.

325 The obverse of this coin shows us an elderly and bearded man struggling with the bull: this is quite unexpected since the normal ‘bull-wrestler’ is a beardless youth. Who could this be?

A note from BCD: I’m surprised ASW is not aware of this well known depiction of Triccos, the Celtic tribal chieftain who, according to legend, emigrated to Hellas with his retinue of bulls in search of warmer weather and founded the city of Trikka. His tribe, the Turones, were instrumental in the development of the Touraine region in modern-day France and in fact issued commemorative coins of him and his bulls around the middle of the 1st century BC (see H. de La Tour, Atlas des monnaies gauloises, Paris 1892, 6997). He also introduced a form of gift exchange in Thessaly, going from door to door with his bulls and loudly shouting, “Triccos or Treatos”, thus compelling the sturdy burghers of the area to give him treats, otherwise his bulls would rampage through their houses.

1353 1,5:1

1,5:1

1353 Trikka. Circa 440-400 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.87 g 10). Youthful hero, Thessalos, nude but for cloak and petasos hanging over his shoulder, striding right, but facing front; twisting, with both hands, a band around the head of the forepart of a bull, rushing to right. Rev. Τ - ΡΙ - ΚΚ - ΑΙ - ΩΝ (partially retrograde) Forepart of horse to right. Traité IV, 547, pl. CCXCI, 17 var. A rare variety. Nicely toned.

Good very fine.

225 Ex Sternberg VI, 25 November 1976, 42 (CHF 1800).

This coin is clearly a bit later in date than the previous piece, but the pose is very similar. However, here we have a youth struggling with the bull; and the struggle is not as rough as the last, since our hero has not lost his hat!

1,5:1

1354

1,5:1

1354 Trikka. Circa 440-400 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.97 g 1). Horse galloping to right. Rev. ΤΡΙΚΚΑ The Nymph Trikka standing right, fully draped, holding a box in her left hand and opening it with her right; all within a shallow incuse square. As CNG electronic auction 230, 24 March 2010, 46 (same dies). Cf. Traité IV, 553, pl. CCXCII, 3 (but horse to left). Very rare. Rough surfaces. About very fine.

125

1,5:1

1355

1,5:1

1355 Trikka. Circa 440-400 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.86 g 5). Horse galloping to right. Rev. ΤΡΙΚ / ΚΑΙΟΝ Athena striding left, wearing helmet, aegis and robes, hurling horizontal spear with her right hand and with shield over her left shoulder; all within incuse square. Cf. Traité IV, 551 (but horse to right). Rare.

Somewhat rough surfaces with some minor marks, but with clear and well centered types. Good very fine.

200

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1356 2:1

2:1

1356 Trikka. Later 5th century BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.58 g 6). Youthful bare male head to right. Rev. ΤΡ ΙΚ Forepart of horse to right; all within shallow incuse. Cf. CNG MBS 82, 2009, 481 (apparently the same dies, but otherwise seemingly unpublished). Extremely rare and the finest example known. A coin of lovely style, very well struck. Some slight surface roughness, otherwise, extremely fine.

325 A note from BCD: The Christodoulos forgery of this type is illustrated by Svoronos in his article, "C. Christodoulos et les faussaires d’Athènes", JIAN 20, 1920, pl. G, 188 (obverse) and 187 (reverse).

1357 2:1

2:1

1357 Trikka. Later 5th century BC. Hemiobol (Silver, 0.51 g 3). Youthful bare male head to right. Rev. ΤΡ ΙΚ Forepart of horse to right, turned slightly towards the viewer; all within shallow incuse square.

Apparently unpublished. A lovely coin, of unusually fine style. Nicely toned. Extremely fine.

325 This coin is clearly slightly later than the preceding lot. On that coin, we have a rather cool, early Classical head, while this one is reminiscent of the early issues of the Chalkidian League.

1,5:1

1358

1358

1358 Trikka. First half of the 4th century BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 21mm, 8.42 g 7). Head of the nymph Trikka to right, wearing a pendant earring and with her hair in a roll. Rev. ΤΡΙΚΚΑΙ - ΩΝ Asklepios, draped to the waist, seated right on backless stool, holding staff over his left shoulder and holding dove by its wings in his right hand, feeding it to a snake coiled to left on the right; below stool, Α. Rogers 552.

SNG Copenhagen 267. SNG Munich 192. Rare and clear. Dark, greenish-black patina. Very fine.

250 A note from BCD: Although a professional source initially assured BCD that snakes do not eat birds, she subsequently changed her mind. It is possible that the scene may have some kind of ritualistic meaning rather than just showing a snake being fed. In any case, for what it is worth, people who have eaten snakes usually remark that they taste like chicken.

1359

1,5:1

1359

1359 Trikka. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 1.98 g 10). Head of the nymph Trikka to right, with triple-pendant earring and rolled hair. Rev. ΤΡΙΚ- Κ[ΑΙΩΝ] Warrior, nude but for conical helmet, charging to right, with spear held in his right hand and large oval shield in his left. G. Hirsch Nachf. 263, 22 September 2009, 2277 (same dies). Rare. An attractive coin with a dark green patina. Reverse a little weakly struck. Nearly extremely fine / very fine.

125 The reverses of this and the following lot are intriguing: they are clearly different warriors; or at least, the engravers who produced their dies had completely different concepts in mind. The fighter here has a conical helmet and an oval shield, on the following lot he wears a standard Greek helmet, perhaps Corinthian and has a round shield. Perhaps the one with the conical helmet is either Podalirios or Machaon, sons of Asklepios, while the more standard representation is either Achilles or Ajax, two of the better known heros of the Trojan War.

129

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1360 1,5:1

1,5:1

1360 Trikka. First half of the 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 15mm, 3.15 g 5). Head of the nymph Trikka to right, with pendant earring and rolled hair. Rev. ΤΡΙΚΚ - ΑΙΩΝ Warrior striding right, wearing Corinthian helmet and holding short sword in his right hand and round shield with his left; within shield, hippocamp (?) to right. Rogers 553 var. Rare. Fine, glossy dark patina. Good very fine.

150

1361 1,5:1

1361

1,5:1

Tripolis. Circa 370s-350s BC. Trichalkon (Bronze, 18mm, 5.83 g 6). Laureate head of Apollo to right.

Rev. ΤΡΙΠΟ / ΛΙΤΑΝ Tripod. K. Liampi, Ein numismatisches Zeugnis für den Bund der perrhaibischen Tripolis im zweiten Viertel des 4.Jh.v.Chr., JNG 40 (1990), pp. 11-22, 16, dies V2/R1. Extremely rare.

Nicely centered and with a fine, dark patina. Good very fine.

500 A note from BCD: Coins of the Tripolis mint in northern Thessaly were unknown until the late Martin Price, a few years before his untimely death, identified the first known specimen, now in the collection of D. Doukas in Athens. A few more have surfaced since that time but none are in a public collection. This attractive and well centered example is probably among the best known.

1362 1,5:1

1,5:1

1362 Islands off Thessaly: Ikos. 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 3.04 g 9). Head of Poseidon to right, wearing wreath of water plants. Rev. ΙΚ-ΙΩ-Ν Trident head upwards, between two opposed dolphins swimming downwards. Lindgren II, 1417 (this coin). Rogers 558 (almost certainly the same dies) = Traité IV, 757. Extremely rare. Glossy black patina and of good style, but with some pitting on the obverse.

Very fine.

600 From the collection of H. C. Lindgren II, 1989, 1417.

A note from BCD: An island bronze whose rarity and desirability cannot be overestimated. The heraldic reverse type and indeed its entire design appear to be quite similar to the famous bronze of Helike (see BCD Peloponnesos 497).

1,5:1

1363

1,5:1

1363 Islands off Thessaly: Peparethos. Circa 361-340 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 2.09 g 10). Head of bearded Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. Π-Ε High-handled Kantharos from which grow two vine tendrils with a bunch of grapes hanging from each; above, ivy leaf. BMC 1. Rogers 559. SNG Copenhagen 359. Traité IV, 768/770, pl. CCCII, 5 & 7 (but 770 misdescribed as having a beardless head of Dionysos). A very pretty example with a glossy black patina. Minor traces of corrosion, otherwise, about extremely fine.

175

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1364 1,5:1

1,5:1

1364 Islands off Thessaly: Peparethos. Second century BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 15mm, 4.26 g 1). Youthful head of Dionysos to right, wearing ivy wreath. Rev. ΠΕ / Π-Α / Ρ-Η Kantharos. BMC 7. Rogers 563.

SNG Munich 273. SNG Copenhagen 363. A pleasant, bold example with a dark green patina. Good very fine.

125

1365

1,5:1

1,5:1

1365 Islands off Thessaly: Peparethos. Augustus. 27 BC - 14 AD. Trichalkon (Bronze, 19mm, 8.47 g 1). ΣΕΒΑΣ Bare head of Augustus to right. Rev. ΠΕΠΑ Bearded head of Dionysos to right. RPC I, 1420.

Rogers 568. A neat, clear example with a brown patina. About very fine.

300 A note from BCD: An extremely rare coin that is obviously under appreciated by ASW. In fact, there are several more obscure or little known coins in this catalogue to which this collector has tried to draw the reader’s attention.

Perhaps some of them will be recognized, appreciated and bought by the few collectors left who appreciate true rarity. Well, there are 13 of them in the RPC. But isn’t one of the great joys of being a specialist collector the ability to perceive the awesome rarity of a coin that is dismissed as minor by everyone else? And it is thanks to BCD that the estimates in this sale are as low as they are: whenever ASW began to get excited about the beauty and rarity of a coin, and wanted an estimate to reflect that, the red pencil has come out! Another fact is that when there are people who display the same knowledge and perspicacity of BCD, they tend to delightedly present him with coins like this and then, saying, “Of course you realize how rare this coin is!”, ask a price that would boggle the mind of all those simple, under-appreciating numismatists out there. BCD would like to add that all 13 of these coins mentioned in the RPC are in public collections and suggest that ASW would find it rather difficult to locate one in a list or auction catalogue that was issued during his lifetime.

1366

2:1

2:1

1366 Islands off Thessaly: Skiathos. Circa 350-344 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 1.81 g 12). Male head wearing taenia to left. Rev. ΣΚΙ /ΑΘΙ Kerykeion. Rogers 573. A beautiful coin with a wonderful pale green patina. Some breaks in the patina, otherwise, extremely fine.

225 The style of the obverse head is particularly fine, with a delicacy of line that is absolutely marvelous. Was the engraver a local craftsman, or could he have been merely a visitor who was captivated by the island’s beauty, as are many today, and so repaid his hosts by making the dies for this exquisite coin?

131

132

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1367

1367 Islands off Thessaly: Skyros. c. 485-480 BC. Didrachm (Silver, 8.75 g 12). Two long horned and bearded goats, opposed vertically, back to back, with their heads turned inwards and their legs extended; between them, five-lobed fig leaf. Rev. Stellate design composed of a large central globule surrounded by four smaller ones and by two rays (towards the upper left and lower right) and two three-lobed fig leaves (towards the upper right and lower left); all within incuse square; die breaks at top, mid left edge and lower left edge. Balcer dies A.7/P.4 (same dies, and with the same die breaks as Balcer 16-18). Very rare.

Darkly toned. Roughly struck, otherwise, good very fine.

3000 Ex Myers 13, 9 December 1976, 157 ($3200).

The coinage of Skyros has been particularly problematic since its first discovery. This is because it was almost immediately copied, and copied very well, by Constantine Christodoulos, Svoronos’ great enemy. As a result, until Balcer’s study of 1978, some people believed that all Skyrian coins were inventions, while others were convinced that some were and some, obviously, were not. Having the BCD examples to study helps to clarify things. The key factor is the behaviour of the didrachm reverse die, Balcer’s P4 (this was carefully copied by Christodoulos, Balcer P3, but the shape of the incuse square is uneven and the individual parts of the design are differently sized). What we see is that there are a number of progressive faults in the die, which grow and change over time.1) On the lower left there are a pair of faults that appear as holes, which soon take over part of the fig leaf (the fact that these faults are advanced on Balcer 5-6 surely means that they were, in fact, struck marginally later than Balcer 7-18).2) At the top of the reverse there is a curly fault, looking like a tendril, that comes out of the ray on the upper left: this clearly visible on Balcer 12, 14, 16-18. This fault is coupled with another fault that comes out of the left side of the incuse square.

However, both of these defects were removed since they do not appear on Balcer 5, 9, 13, etc. where the fault on the lower left is actually larger!3) On the obverse, a diagonal fault begins at the bottom and can be easily seen on Balcer 9-10, 13-17. At some point, however, the entire obverse die is recut (!) to produce Balcer A.6 (!!), which has goats that are almost hornless, a differently shaped fig leaf, slightly different legs, etc. Yet it is clear that Balcer A6 and A7 are the same, as can be seen when Balcer 7 and 11 are compared. The apparent differences (as between Balcer 10 and 11, for example) are surely solely due to die wear.

This leads me to suggest that the original coinage must have been a very extensive one, struck from crudely made dies that were highly subject to wear and deterioration. The coinage itself must have served as a way for the Skyrian pirates to utilize their ill gotten gains, but its non-Skyrian owners must have melted them down, hence their extreme rarity today.

1368

1368 Islands off Thessaly: Skyros. Circa 485-480 BC. Tetrobol (Silver, 2.87 g). Two long horned and bearded goats, opposed vertically, back to back, with their heads turned inwards and their legs extended; between them, three-lobed fig leaf. Rev. Stellate design composed of a large central globule surrounded by four smaller ones and by two rays (towards the upper left and lower right) and two three-lobed fig leaves (towards the upper right and lower left); all within incuse square. Balcer 24 (this coin). Extremely rare.

Toned. Good fine.

800 Ex Myers 12, 4 December 1975, 177 ($850) and Hamburger 98, 3 April 1933, 807.

1369

1369 Islands off Thessaly: Skyros. Circa 485-480 BC. Trihemiobol (Silver, 0.84 g). Foreparts of two horned and bearded goats facing each other, above exergual line; between them, pellet. Rev. Stellate design composed of a large central globule surrounded by four rays; all within incuse square. Balcer A.10/P.7, 27-30. Extremely rare. Nicely toned. Very fine.

450 Ex Numismatic Fine Arts VI, 27 February 1979, 239 ($575), apparently consigned by R. Hecht who got it from Bank Leu.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1370

1370 Thessalian League. Second half 2nd century BC. Stater (Silver, 6.23 g 10), Poli.... Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath; behind head, monogram. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; in field to left and right, Π-Ο / Λ-Ι.

BMC 4. SNG Berry 554. A bright and attractive example. Traces of overstriking on the obverse. About extremely fine.

125 A note from BCD: The number of magistrates on the staters and, to a lesser extent, the smaller denominations of the 2nd-1st century League is quite a challenge for the specialized collector. Here, ASW has chosen just a small selection, but his well-trained eye picked not only for style and quality but also for rarity.

Actually, ASW had wanted to put in dozens and dozens of magistrates, being as complete as possible - in the manner of his Peloponnesos catalogue - but, thanks to BCD’s sensible rules about not being ridiculous, he was forced to pick only coins that were truly nice.

1371

1371 Thessalian League. Second half 2nd century BC. Drachm (Silver, 4.11 g 11), Poly.... Laureate head of Apollo to right; to left, monogram of ΖΩ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; in field to left and right, Π-Ο / Λ-Υ. BMC 38.

Attractively toned. About extremely fine.

150

1372

1372 Thessalian League. Second half 2nd century BC. Drachm (Silver, 4.01 g 2). Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet with griffin on the bowl; behind, monogram. Rev. ΘΕΣ / ΣΑΛΩΝ Bridled horse trotting to right; below, monogram of ΠΟΛΥ (or ΠΟΛΙ). SNG Berry 560. Of good style and nicely toned. Minor marks, otherwise, extremely fine.

200 A note from BCD: This is by far the most frequently appearing monogram on the entire Athena/horse drachm series, but even this variety is not easily found in this condition.

1373

2:1

2:1

1373 Thessalian League. Second half 2nd century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.19 g 11), Gaua... and Poly....

Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath; behind, ΓΑΥΑ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; in field to left and right, Π-Ο / ΛΥ; to right, below spear, bunch of grapes. Apparently unpublished. Rare. A clear and attractive coin.

About extremely fine.

300

133

134

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1374

1374 Thessalian League. Second half 2nd century BC. Drachm (Silver, 4.22 g 3), Eu... and Pho.... Laureate head of Apollo to right; to left, monogram of ΕΥ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; in field to left and right, Φ / Ο. SNG Copenhagen 304. SNG Ashmolean 3819. Attractively toned and very nice. Minor die rust on the obverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

150

1375 1,5:1

1,5:1

1375 Thessalian League. Second half 2nd century BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.05 g 12). Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath; behind, monogram of ΑΝ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; at right, on top of Athena’s spear, owl standing right. BMC 44 var. (possibly unpublished). Rare. A lovely piece, toned and of good style. About extremely fine.

200 A note from BCD: BCD would like to add here that the obverse is in high relief but weakly struck and that the monogram behind the head looks more like AY.

1376 1,5:1

1,5:1

1376 Thessalian League. Second half 2nd century BC. Tetrachalkon (Bronze, 25mm, 13.81 g 12), Ortho....

Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath; behind, monogram of ΣΩΤ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; in field to left and right, Ο-Ρ / Θ-Ο. Apparently unpublished. Extremely rare. A bold and attractive coin with a dark patina.

About extremely fine.

250 A note from BCD: This early, large sized and apparently very short-lived bronze issue of the League was completely unknown up to now. It is linked to one of the earliest silver staters, which bears on its reverse the same obverse control monogram that is found on this coin.

1377.2

1377.1

1377.3

1377 Thessalian League. Second half 2nd century BC. Lot of three bronze coins: a trichalkon and two chalkoi. 1377.1 22 mm, 8.42 g 3. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia to right, monogram of ANT to right. Rogers 14 var. 1377.2 17 mm 4.18 g 11. Laureate head Zeus to right.

Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia to right, monogram of ΥΦΕ to right. Rogers 52. 1377.3 14 mm, 4.09 g 3. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia to right, monogram of ΚΡ to right.

Rogers 42b var. The second scarce, all with nice green patinas. Good very fine or better (3).

200

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1378

1378 Thessalian League. Late 2nd - early 1st century BC. Stater (Silver, 6.33 g 1), Sosibios and Simy....

Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath; behind, ΣΩΣΙΒΙΟΥ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; in field to left and right, ΣΙ / Μ-Υ; to right, above spear, fly to left. Klose Group II, cited on p. 344. A lovely well struck piece.

Extremely fine.

100 Ex Schweizerische Bankverein Zurich 38, 12 September 1995, 135 (CHF 390).

1379

1379 Thessalian League. Late 2nd - early 1st century BC. Stater (Silver, 6.19 g 1), Philok.. and Epikratid....

Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; above Athena's spear, ΦΙ-ΛΟΚ; in exergue, ΕΠΙΚΡΑΤΙ; in field to right, monogram of ΓΑ. Klose p. 341, 24 (this coin). Bold and sharply struck.

Extremely fine.

150

1380

1380 Thessalian League. Late 2nd - mid 1st century BC. Stater (Silver, 6.15 g 12), Menedemos, Pherekrates Neoteros ( = Pherekrates the Younger) and Ni.... Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath; behind, ΜΕΝΕΔΗ / ΜΟΣ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; in field to left and right, starting above the spear and continuing down, ΦΕ-ΡΕ / ΚΡ-ΑΤΗ / Σ Ν-ΕΩ / ΤΕ-ΡΟΣ; below Athena's shield, ΝΙ. Klose 16 var. Some minor marks, otherwise, lightly toned and interesting. Nearly extremely fine.

125

1381

1381 Thessalian League. Late 2nd - mid 1st century BC. Stater (Silver, 5.82 g 12), Eurydamas and Hegesaretos. Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; above spear, ΕΥ-ΡΥΔΑ; in field to left and right, Μ-Α / Ν-Τ / Ο-Σ; in exergue, ΗΓΗΣΑΡΕΤΟΣ. Cf. Klose p. 345, but surely misread. Very attractive and perfectly struck. Lightly toned. Extremely fine.

125

135

136

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

2:1

1382

1382 Thessalian League. Late 2nd - mid 1st century BC. Drachm (Silver, 4.19 g 12), Sosipatros, Alketas and two monograms. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet with griffin on the bowl; behind, Φ; below, ΣΩΣΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Bridled horse trotting to right; below, monogram of ΤΚ; in exergue, ΑΛΚΕΤΟΥ. Unpublished and otherwise unknown apart from its two previous auction appearances. A superb and very pretty piece, beautifully preserved. Hairline crack, otherwise, good extremely fine.

550 Ex Triton VII, 12 January 2004, 195 ($2000) and Credit de la Bourse, 19 April 1995, 1252.

A note from BCD: The Credit de la Bourse catalogue arrived two days after the auction; when I opened it, it felt like a stab in my heart as I immediately recognized this unique coin for what it was. A phone call to Paris informed me that a Japanese buyer had acquired it at a price of FF 14,000, FF 2000 below the estimate. I immediately wrote a letter for the buyer, with various exchange and/or direct purchase suggestions at very favorable terms, and I’m sure that my offers (including polaroid photos) were forwarded to Japan by the very kind principal of the company.

Unfortunately there was no reply, but almost nine years later the coin came up for sale again. This time I was present at the auction and was determined not to let it escape. The hammer price was $2000 and I am curious as to what it will go for this time, seven years later. Unique coins should never change hands like that, traveling all over the world; they should find a loving home and stay there for a long, long time. ASW adds: gathering dust or maturing like a good wine? He further adds that he remembers one rare coin, much sought after by true collectors like BCD, that was purchased by a wealthy and elderly gentleman in order for it to be made into jewelry for his much younger wife. We later found out where it was meant to go...

1383

1383 2:1

1383 Thessalian League. Late 2nd - mid 1st century BC. Drachm (Silver, 4.09 g 12), Alketas, Sosipatros, Xe..., and monogram. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet with plain bowl; behind, monogram. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Bridled horse trotting to right; below, ΞΕ; above, ΑΛΚΕ / ΤΟΥ; in exergue, ΣΩΣΙΠΑΤΡΟΣ. SNG Ashmolean 3824. Rare. Nicely toned and clear. About extremely fine.

350 From the collections of O. Knoepke, Glendining & Co., 10 December 1986, 190 (£1650), C. S. Bement I, Naville VI, 28 January 1924, 949, and P. Barron, Hirsch XXX, 11 May 1911, 478.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1384

2:1

2:1

1384 Thessalian League. Late 2nd - mid 1st century BC. Drachm (Silver, 4.28 g 12), Kraterophron and Amynandros. Bust of Athena to right, wearing crested Corinthian helmet with plain bowl. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Bridled horse trotting to right; above, ΚΡΑΤΕ / ΡΟΦΡΟ / ΝΟΣ; in exergue, ΑΜΥΝΑΝΔΡΟΣ. SNG Hart 572. Very rare. An attractive coin with types in high relief. Extremely fine.

600 Ex Giessener Münzhandlung 48, 2 April 1990, 274 (DM 11,000).

This coin has the distinction of probably being the most expensive coin of the late Thessalian League ever sold. We blush to indicate the amount here but as BCD has often pointed out, if wonderful quality and great rarity come together, there are some collectors who lose their heads.

A note from BCD: Indeed I have been accused of losing my head over coins but, let’s face it, sometimes the little critters are really worth it! Also, in the case of auctions, it takes at least two people to reach an absurd price, which means that people who loose their heads usually go in pairs. ASW adds: but let’s be honest, many times when BCD put his hand up there were people who just automatically put up theirs; especially when they knew he would not put his down and there would be no risk of actually getting the coin. They thought it was fun and, sometimes, the auctioneer would buy them a bottle of champagne afterwards.

1385.1

1385.2

1385.3

1385.4

1385 Thessalian League. Late 2nd - mid 1st century BC. Lot of four bronze coins: three trichalka and one dichalkon. 1385.1 20 mm, 10.30 g 1. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ-ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia standing to right; above, ΘΡΑ and owl. Rogers 20. 1385.2 20 mm, 7.22 g 12. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ-ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia standing to right; above, ΙΠΠ-ΟΛΟ; to left and right, Α-Ρ. Rogers 21. 1385.3 22 mm, 6.97 g 12. Laureate head of Apollo to right, between ΓΕΝ-ΝΙ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ-ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia standing to right; above, ΓΕΝ-ΝΙΠΠΟΥ; to left and right, the two caps of the Dioskouri surmounted by stars. Rogers 35. 1385.4 19mm, 5.37 g 12. Helmeted head of Athena to right; around, ΝΥΣ-ΣΑΝ-ΔΡΟΥ. Rev. ΘΕΣ-ΣΑΛΩΝ Horse prancing right; to right, grain ear. Rogers 46. A most attractive group with fine patinas. Good very fine or better (4).

200

137

138

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1386

1386 Thessalian League. Third quarter of the 1st century BC. Drachm (Silver, 4.18 g 12), Androsthenes and Aristokles. Laureate head of Apollo to right; behind head, ΕΠΙ ΑΝΔΡΟ / ΣΘΕΝΟΥΣ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; above spear, Α-ΡΙΣ; in field to left and right, ΤΟ /ΚΛΗ / Σ. Helly 1966, 14 = SNG Berry 559. Rare. Attractive and toned. Good very fine.

175 Ex Kirk Davis FPL 27, August 1999, 53 ($375).

A note from BCD: Kirk always surprises me with his neat and attractive coins; when I saw this one in his list I could not resist it. Its style is so different from the earlier League drachms, and yet this late Hellenistic Apollo reveals the rare sensitivity of a supremely gifted artist.

1387

1387 Thessalian League. Third quarter of the 1st century BC. Drachm (Silver, 4.05 g 12), Aga.... Helmeted head of Athena to right; above, ΑΓΑ. Rev. ΘΕΣ / ΣΑ-ΛΩ-Ν Bridled horse prancing right. SNG Copenhagen 309. Unusually nice and clear, an exellent example. Nearly extremely fine.

125 While other coins of this type must be late 2nd or early 1st century in date, this piece has to be later. The use of such an abbreviated magistrate’s name on the obverse would seem to be early, but the reverse arrangement, with the horse’s hooves breaking up the legend and with no added names, would be unprecedented for such an early period.

In addition, the seemingly poorer quality silver used to strike this piece is reminiscent of the rare half stater in lot 1389 below, which itself dates down to the 40s. The possibility that some locally used silver coins of low denomination were debased, while good silver was used for imports or official payments, would make sense, especially at this period.

1388

1388 Thessalian League. Mid 40s BC. Stater (Silver, 6.19 g 1), Nikokrates, Philoxenides and Petraios. Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath; behind, ΝΙΚΟΚΡΑΤΟΥΣ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; to right, palm branch; above spear, ΦΙΛΟΞ-ΕΝΙΔΟΥ; in exergue, ΠΕΤΡΑΙΟΣ. Klose p. 350, S = SNG Copenhagen 298. A superb example, beautifully struck and centered on a very broad flan. Good extremely fine.

225 Acquired from Spink’s in November 1985 for £350, and from the collections of Hajo Zwager, Van Zadelhof, Maastricht, 14 October 1985, M102 (the entire collection) and Apostolo Zeno, III, Dorotheum, 26 March 1957, 3593.

Interestingly enough, this bright, beautiful coin first came into a modern collection in the second quarter of the 18th century!

1389

1389 Thessalian League. Mid 40s BC. Half-stater or drachm (Silver, 2.88 g 12), Nikokrates, Philoxenides and Petraios. Laureate head of Apollo to right; behind and below head, ΝΙΚΟΚΡΑΤΟΥΣ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Artemis striding right, wearing long chiton and holding torch in each hand; above, ΦΙΛ -ΟΞΕ; in exergue, monogram of ΠΕΤΡΑ. De Luynes 1879 = Klose p. 350, O. Very rare. Toned but with somewhat rough surfaces. Good very fine.

175 The apparently lower quality silver used for this coin is similar to that used for the drachms signed by Aga... (lot 1387 above), and indicates that they may be contemporary in date.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1390

1390 Thessalian League. Circa 44-40 BC. Stater (Silver, 6.07 g 12), Polyxenos and Eukolos. Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear with her right hand and extending shield in her left; above spear, ΠΟΛΥ-ΞΕΝΟΥ; in exergue, ΕΥΚΟ[ΛΟΣ].

Helly 1966, 2. SNG Copenhagen 291. Attractive, toned and remarkably well centered for this issue.

Extremely fine.

200

1391

1391 Thessalian League. Circa later 30s - 27 BC. Tetrachalkon or Trihemiobol (Bronze, 23mm, 16.91 g 12), Eubiotos and Petraios. Head of Zeus to right, wearing oak wreath. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ The hero Thessalos jumping from his horse, in background galloping to right, onto a bull rushing to right, the head of which he restrains by the use of a band held with both of his hands; above, ΕΥΒΙΟΤΟΥ; below, ΠΕΤΡΑΙΟΣ. Burrer p. 62. Rogers 58 (but misdescribed). SNG Munich 238-240 (but misdescribed). Y. Stoyas, Rare Pseudo-autonomous Issues of the Thessalian League struck in Imperial Times (in modern Greek), Studies Touratsoglou (Athens 2009), p. 452, fig. 10 (this coin). Bold and with a dark, brown patina, amongst the clearest examples in existence. Very fine.

300 The reverse of this coin is taken from the standard types of 5th century Thessalian coinage; it is also a particularly ambitious artistic representation, though it is not, alas, entirely successful. The reprise, in the late 1st century BC of a coin type that dates to the 5th and 4th centuries, is an example of how contemporary viewers both knew about their past, and took pride in it.

1392

1392 Thessalian League. Third quarter of the 1st century BC. Dichalkon or Obol (Orichalcum, 18mm, 8.45 g 1), Nikokrates and Eubiotos. Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Artemis striding right, wearing long chiton and holding two torches; one in each hand, ΝΙΚΟΚΡΑΤH[Σ] /ΕΥΒΙΟΤΟΥ.

Burrer p. 62. Rogers 56 and fig. 9 (but the name of Eubiotos has been omitted in the text, though visible in the figure). Rare. Dark patina. Very fine.

100

1393

1393 Thessalian League. Circa late 30s - 27 BC. Obol (Bronze, 20mm, 6.99 g 1), Philokrates, Italos and Petraios. ΦΙΛΟΚΡΑ / ΤΟΥΣ Helmeted and draped bust of Athena to right. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ Athena Itonia standing to left, holding Nike in her outstretched right hand and spear and shield in her right; above, ΙΤΑ-ΛΟΥ; below, ΠΕΤΡΑΙΟΣ. Burrer p. 62. Rogers 59. SNG Munich 241. Dark patina. An unusually complete example, with full legends and very clearly struck. Good very fine.

150 The magistrates signing this issue also sign those bearing the head of Octavian, as in the following lot, and must be nearly contemporary. The broad flan of this coin, so different from its usual appearance, suggests that it may have been made for presentation purposes; perhaps for the friends of the magistrate responsible for the issue.

139

140

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1394

1394 Thessalian League. Octavian. 31 - 27 BC. Obol (Bronze, 20mm, 6.36 g 7), Ita(los) and Pet(raios), 31-27 BC. ΘΕΟΣ ΚΑΕ-ΣΑΡ ΘΕΣΣΑΛ Bare head of Octavian to right; below head, ΙΤΑ. Rev. ΛΕΙΟΥΙΑ ΗΡΑ Head of Livia to right, her hair in a roll; below neck, monogram of ΠΕΤ. Burrer 4. RPC I 1427. A clear and sharp piece with a fine green patina. About extremely fine.

200 The appearance of Livia on this coin shows how much she was revered in many parts of the Empire, especially for her connections to the provinces.

1395

1395 Thessalian League. Augustus. 27 BC - 14 AD. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 17mm, 4.35 g 4), Sosandros, circa 23/22 BC. ΣΩΣΑΝ-ΔΡΟΥ Helmeted head of Athena to right. Rev. ΘΕΣ / ΣΑΛΩΝ Horse trotting to right. Burrer 33. RPC S-1425A. Very Rare. Light green, glossy patina. Good very fine.

150 From the reign of Augustus through that of Hadrian many of the denominations given for the coins here differ from those given by Burrer: most have been halved (as with the present coin, which Burrer termed an Assarion) This is based on RPC II, p. 68, which is surely correct. The coins themselves, except for the largest denominations, are simply too small in size to have had the value Burrer assigned to them.

A note from BCD: Perhaps ASW underestimates the fact that this was an era of standardized fiduciary coinage and what really mattered was the type (iconography) of the coin (and later, the mark of value on it) rather than size and weight that, for a multitude of reasons, could vary widely (see my note after lot 1402).

1396

1396 Thessalian League. Augustus. 27 BC - 14 AD. Assarion (Bronze, 19mm, 4.38 g 5), Sosandros and Megalokles, Circa 23/22 BC. ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ ΘΕΣΣΑΛ[ΩΝ] Bare head of Augustus to right. Rev. ΜΕΓΑΛΟΚΛ[ΗΣ] / ΣΩΣ-ΑΝΔΡΟΥ Athena Itonia hurling spear to right; to right, monogram of ΑΡ. Burrer 46. RPC I 1426. Attractive green patina. Some scratches, otherwise, very fine.

125

1397

1397 Thessalian League. Augustus. 27 BC - 14 AD. Tetrassarion or Sestertius (Bronze, 30mm, 18.97 g 6), Megalokles, 4-14 AD. [Σ]ΕΒΑΣΤ[ΟΣ] [ΘΕΣ]ΣΑΛΩΝ Laureate head of Augustus to right. Rev. [Μ]ΕΓΑΛΟΚΛΕ[...] Laurel wreath, closed with a gem at the top and tied at the bottom, the tie ends fluttering upwards. Burrer 60. RPC S-1426A. Rare, the finest example known. Fine olive-green and red patina. Legend not fully struck or slightly off center, otherwise, extremely fine.

375 A note from BCD: This large denomination, in addition to its rarity, never has the reverse peripheral legend fully struck up and complete, the size of the wreath being too big for the flan.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1398

1398 Thessalian League. Augustus. 27 BC - 14 AD. Diassarion or Dupondius (Bronze, 22mm, 11.51 g 6), Megalokles and Arist..., 4-14 AD. ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗ-ΩΝ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΩΝ Laureate head of Augustus to right. Rev. ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΟΥ ΜΕ-ΓΑΛΟΚΛΕΟΥΣ ΑΡΙ Athena Itonia standing right with shield and spear; to right, monogram of ΦΥ. Burrer 91. RPC I 1428. Fine dark patina and in unusually nice condition.

Extremely fine.

125 Ex Münzen und Medaillen Deutschland 1, 16 September 1997, 377 (DM 350).

1399

1,5:1

1,5:1

1399 Thessalian League. Augustus. 27 BC - 14 AD. Trihemiassarion (Bronze, 20mm, 9.29 g 7), In the name of Tiberius Caesar, Megalokles and Aris..., 4-14 AD. ΤΙΒΕΡΙΣ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗΩ Laureate head of Tiberius Caesar to right. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑΛ-Ω ΜΕΓΑΛΟ Laureate head of Apollo to right; at end of legend, monogram of ΑΡΙΣ(Τ?). Burrer 108. RPC I 1429. Rare. Clear and with a good dark patina.

Good very fine.

225

1400 1,5:1

1,5:1

1400 Thessalian League. Augustus. 27 BC - 14 AD. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 15mm, 3.83 g 7), Megalokles and Kalit..., 4-14 AD. ΣΕΒΑΣ-HI (sic!) ΘΕΣΣΑΛΩ Helmeted head of Athena to right. Rev. ΜΕΓΑΛ-ΟΚΛ ΚΑΛΙΤ Artemis striding to right, holding two torches. Burrer 113 var. (reverse as R 92 but obverse die, with the mistaken legend, unknown to Burrer). RPC S-1429B. Rare. Fine dark green patina. About extremely fine.

200

1401

1401 Thessalian League. Claudius. 41-54. Diassarion or Dupondius (Bronze, 25mm, 13.70 g 12), Antigonos, 45/6-54. ΘΕΣΣΑΛΩ-Ν ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗΩΝ Laureate head of Claudius to left. Rev. ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΟΥ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΟΥ Apollo Kitharoedos standing right, playing his lyre; behind to left, monogram of Antigonou. Burrer 9. RPC I 1433. Bold, well struck, and with a dark, greenish-brown patina. Nearly extremely fine.

150

141

142

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1402

1,5:1

1,5:1

1402 Thessalian League. Claudius. 41-54. Assarion (Bronze, 21mm, 6.33 g 12), Antigonos, 45/6-54. ΘΕΣΣΑΛU-Ν ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗUΝ Bare head of Claudius to left. Rev. ΑΝΤΙΓΟΝΟΥ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΟΥ (but P retrograde) Asklepios standing facing, head to right, holding long staff entwined with a snake with his left hand; to right, monogram of Antigonou. Burrer Emission 1, Serie 3, Gruppe 2/Serie 4 var. = obverse A23/reverse -. RPC I 1437. Brown patina. Nearly extremely fine.

150 In his study, Burrer was able to divide the coins of RPC 1437 into two groups by size: one of diassaria and the other of assaria. This coin utilizes an obverse die (Burrer’s A23) that was clearly meant for the smaller assaria, but the reverse die, unknown to Burrer, was clearly meant for the larger coins. An interesting curiosity showing what is, presumably, an ancient mint worker’s mistake.

A note from BCD: Admittedly we are here dealing with exactly the same type of coin in two sizes. But it would be unreasonable to expect the average man in the (muddy) Thessalian street to differentiate between them, especially as the differences are nor very clear-cut due to size and weight fluctuations. What probably happened is that the minting authorities decided, for some reason, to reduce the size and weight of the coin while the issue was still in production. Another scenario could be that a supplementary quantity was requested from the fiscal authorities in charge of the operation but there was not enough metal to produce the required amount of coins. The result was a reduction in the size of the reverse type and also of the weight. It is interesting to note though that the size of the emperor’s portrait was not reduced.

1403

1,5:1

1,5:1

1403 Thessalian League. Claudius. 41-54. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 16mm, 4.40 g 2), Antigonos, 45/6-54. ΑΝΤΙΓΟ-ΝΟΥ Helmeted and draped bust of Athena to right, wearing aegis. Rev. ΣΤΡ-Α-ΤΗΓΟΥ Horse running to left; to left, grain ear; above, monogram of Antigonou. Burrer 98. RPC S-1438A. Extremely rare. Well struck and with an olive-green patina. Good very fine.

250

1404

1404 Thessalian League. Nero. 54-68. Tetrassarion or Sestertius (Bronze, 32mm, 19.41 g 1), Laouchos, 66/767/8. ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙ-Σ[ΑΡ Θ]ΕΣΣΑΛΩΝ Laureate head of Nero to right, aegis on the point of his neck truncation to right. Rev. ΛΑΟΥΧΟΥ Σ-[ΤΡ]-ΑΤΗΓΟΥ On right, Thessalia standing facing, holding, in her right hand, the reins of a horse standing right. Burrer 38 ff., A-/R35. RPC I 1442. An impressive piece with a dark patina and a fine portrait of Nero. Flan crack and some smoothing in the fields, otherwise, nearly extremely fine.

450

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1405

1405 Thessalian League. Nero. 54-68. Diassarion or Dupondius (Bronze, 26mm, 10.04 g 1), Laouchos, 66/767/8. ΝΕΡΩΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡ ΘΕΣΣΑ[ΛΩΝ] Laureate head of Nero to right. Rev. ΛΑΟΥΧ[ΟΥ ΣΤ-] ΡΑΤΗΓΟΥ Apollo, nude, seated right on high-backed throne, holding kithara in his left hand and bow in his right. Burrer 78. RPC I 1444. Glossy, dark grey-green patina. Reverse very slightly off center, otherwise, extremely fine.

300 Ex Münz-Zentrum 143, 16 April 2008, 310 (b 1050).

1406

1406 Thessalian League. Nero. 54-68 . Trihemiassarion (Bronze, 24mm, 10.05 g 12), Laouchos, 66/7-67/8. Ν’Ρ&Ν ΚΑΙCΑΡ Θ’CCΑΛ&Ν Laureate head of Nero to right. Rev. ΛΑΟΥΧΟ-Υ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΟ-[Υ] Nike standing to left on globe, crowning magistrate's name with wreath held in her right and holding palm branch in her left. Burrer 89. RPC I 1445. Lovely olive-green patina. Good very fine.

200 A note from BCD: This type is especially difficult to find well struck and centered on both sides.

1407

1407 Thessalian League. Domitian. 81-96. Assarion (Bronze, 18mm, 5.66 g 7). ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝΟΝ ΚΑΙΣΑΡΑ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΙ Laureate head of Domitian to right Rev. ΔΟΜΙΤΙΑΝ ΣΕΒΑΣΣΤΗΝ Draped bust of Domitia to right, her hair in a long queue tied up at the back. Burrer 21. RPC II 277. A splendid piece with a glossy, dark patina. Centering mark on the reverse, otherwise, about extremely fine.

125 The League coinage for Domitian must have been quite abundantly struck. It circulated over a wide area, and for a very long time, almost certainly until the reign of Gallienus.

1408

1408 Thessalian League. Time of Domitian. 81-96. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 16mm, 3.52 g 7). ΘΕΣΣ-ΑΛΩΝ Apollo, nude, seated left, his hand on his head. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣΑ The nymph Larissa standing to left, holding a purse in her right hand. Burrer 41. RPC II 280. A sharp and unusually nice example with a dark patina.

About extremely fine.

100 The nymph Larissa is usually described as holding a ball in her hand, reminiscent of the city’s silver fractions of the 5th and 4th centuries BC. However, the way she is clutching the ‘round object’ in her hand would be a very awkward way to hold a ball, and one wonders whether it might, in fact, be a purse. This would be most appropriate as a type for a coin that would be the smallest in daily circulation.

A note from BCD: Hmmm....

143

144

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1409

1409 1,5:1

1409 Thessalian League. Hadrian. 117-138. Assarion (Bronze, 21mm, 5.10 g 12), Nikomachos, circa 123125. ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΝ ΚΑΙCΑΡΑ ΘΕCCΑΛΟΙ Laureate and draped bust of Hadrian to right. Rev. (monogram of Strategos) ΝΙΚ-ΟΜΑΧΟΥ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear. Burrer 17, 1 (this coin). A fine piece with a good portrait and an attractive green patina. About extremely fine.

125

1410

1,5:1

1,5:1

1410 Thessalian League. Hadrian. 117-138. Hemiassarion (Bronze, 16mm, 2.82 g 6), Nikomachos, circa 123-125. ΑΧΙΛ-ΛΕΥΣ Head of Achilles to right, wearing Attic helmet ornamented with Pegasos flying right on the bowl. Rev. ΝΙΚΟΜΑ - ΧΟΥ Horse prancing to right; below, monogram similar to the last. Burrer 152.

SNG Copenhagen 341-2. A very attractive example with a fine green patina. About extremely fine.

225 This coin seems to be accurately dated to the earlier 120s AD, which is a pity since it would be fun to see it as a disguised portrait of Antinoos; alas he died in 130, making that theory impossible.

A note from BCD: A scarce and desirable coin, especially in this condition and with no metal or surface problems as is often the case for this issue. Achilles, the son of the Thessalian king Peleas and the sea nymph Thetis is here honoured again on a coin of Thessaly, this time with his name fully spelled out. For an earlier and very different portrait of Achilles, see above, lot 1175.

1411

1411 Thessalian League. Marcus Aurelius. 161-180. Tetrassarion or Sestertius (Bronze, 31mm, 21.67 g 3), mid - late 160s. ΑΥΤ Μ ΑΥΡ - ΑΝΤ&Ν’ΙΝΟC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Marcus Aurelius to right. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛ&Ν Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear. Burrer, MA-G 1.

Rogers 94. Extremely rare. A clear and attractive example with a dark, reddish-green patina. About extremely fine.

350 Ex H. J. Berk, Buy or Bid Sale 81, 31 March 1991, 708 ($300).

The portrait of Marcus Aurelius on this coin is a decidedly provincial one, but its short and neat beard points to it having been issued rather earlier in his reign than later. If so, and the coins of Faustina II seem to fit in the same period (see lots 1414 - 1415, below), the issue was probably struck in the mid - late 160s. For this lot, and those that follow, we would like to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Friedrich Burrer for making available his unpublished corpus of the coinage of the Thessalian League from Marcus Aurelius to Gallienus.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1412

1412 Thessalian League. Marcus Aurelius. 161-180. Diassarion or Dupondius (Bronze, 22mm, 9.45 g 6). ΑΥΤ Μ ΑΥΡ ΑΝΤ - &Ν’ΙΝΟC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Marcus Aurelius to right. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ ’CCΑΛ&Ν Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear. Burrer, MA-G 2. Rogers 95a.

Attractive and with a lovely olive-green patina. About extremely fine.

150 Ex Freeman & Sear Internet Offering, June 2007 ($500).

1413

1,5:1

1,5:1

1413 Thessalian League. Marcus Aurelius. 161-180. Hemiassarion or Semis (Bronze, 12mm, 2.14 g 7).

Wheat grain on stalk, between the two open halves of its husk. Rev. Θ’C / CΑΛ / &Ν across field.

Burrer, MA-G 4. Rogers -. Y. Stoyas. Rare Pseudo-autonomous Issues of the Thessalian League struck in Imperial Times (in modern Greek), Studies Touratsoglou (Athens 2009), pp. 447-455, 3β (this coin).

Extremely rare. Dark green patina. Nearly extremely fine.

150 The first known example of this coin was only published in 2002, as part of a donation to the Byzantine Museum in Ipati (Hypata). By 2009, Stoyas was able to track down a total of 6 examples, of which this is the best (another piece has recently come on the market). He also very perceptively pointed out that the type of a wheat grain within a husk was taken from the League coinage of the 5th century BC, struck over 600 years earlier. This emphasizes the knowledge that the ancient magistrates and die cutters had about the past coinage of their area. By using a type that dated to ‘ancient times’, the moneyers of the 2nd century AD stressed its connection to the modern coinage of the day.

1414

1414 Thessalian League. Faustina II. 145-175. Tetrassarion or Sestertius (Bronze, 31mm, 20.68 g 4). ΦΑΥCΤ’ΙΝΑ C’ΒΑCΤΗ Draped bust of Faustina II to right, her hair bound in a knot at the back. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛ&Ν Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear. Burrer MA-G 5. Rogers 97.

Extremely rare. Bold and particularly nice. Dark, blackish-green patina, about extremely fine.

350 For the probable date of the Thessalian coinage of Faustina II, see, above, the note to lot 1411.

1415

1415 Thessalian League. Faustina II. 145-175. Assarion (Bronze, 20mm, 10.28 g 5). ΦΑΥCΤ’ΙΝΑ C’ΒΑCΤΗ Draped bust of Faustina II to right, her hair bound in a knot at the back. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛ&Ν Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear. Burrer MA-G 7. Rogers 98a. Fine dark brown patina. Extremely fine.

125

145

146

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1416

1416 1,5:1

1416 Thessalian League. Septimius Severus. 193-211. Triassarion (Bronze, 24mm, 9.46 g 11), circa 198-209. [ΑΥ] ΛΟ C’ΠΤ - C’ΒΗΡΟC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Septimius Severus to right. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ / Θ’CCΑΛ&Ν Nike driving triga galloping to right; below horses, Γ (= 3 assaria). Burrer MA-G 10. Rogers 101. Dark patina and very well preserved. Nearly extremely fine.

150

1417

1,5:1

1,5:1

1417 Thessalian League. Septimius Severus. 193-211. Diassarion or Dupondius (Bronze, 22mm, 5.49 g 8), with a portrait of Geta Caesar, circa 198-209. ΑΥ ΛΟ C’ΠΤ - C’ΒΗΡΟC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Septimius Severus to right. Rev. ΛΟΥ C’Υ Γ’ΤΑΝ Θ’CCΑΛΟΙ B (=Diassarion) Bare-headed and draped bust of Geta Caesar to right. Burrer MA-G 13 (this coin). Unique. Unpublished save for Burrer’s listing). Dark brownish-red patina, about extremely fine.

500 A note from BCD: I consider this dynastic issue of Septimius Severus with his son Geta to be one of the highlights of the Thessalian Roman Provincial coins in my collection. Its astounding rarity, together with its quality and the very attractive portraits, make it a very desirable coin indeed.

1418

1418 1,5:1

1418 Thessalian League. Julia Domna. 193-217. Triassarion (Bronze, 22mm, 8.26 g 7), circa 198-209. ΙΟΥΛΙΑ ΔΟΜΝΑ•C’ Draped bust of Julia Domna to right. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ / Θ’C / CΑΛΩΝ Nike driving triga galloping to right; below horses, Γ (= 3 assaria). Burrer MA-G 19 var. Rogers 105 var. An unusually nice piece with a dark patina. Extremely fine.

150

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1419

1419 1,5:1

1419 Thessalian League. Caracalla. 198-217. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 28mm, 10.82 g 1), circa 198-206. ΑΥΤΟΚ ΜΑΡ ΑΥ ΑΝΤ&Ν’ΙΝΟC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right, beardless.

Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛ&Ν Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear. Burrer MA-G 21. Very rare.

Dark patina. Good very fine.

125

1420

1420 1,5:1

1420 Thessalian League. Caracalla. 198-217. Triassarion (Bronze, 26mm, 11.35 g 6), circa 213-217. ΑΥ ΜΑΡ ΑΥΡ ΑΝΤΩΝΙΝΟC Laureate, bearded and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right; to right, star of eight rays. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear. Burrer MA-G 28.

Rogers 108. A lovely, sharp example with a fine dark green patina. Extremely fine.

150

1421

1421 1,5:1

1421 Thessalian League. Caracalla. 198-217. Diassarion (Bronze, 21mm, 7.94 g 12), Circa 213-217. ΜΑ ΑΥ ΑΝΤΩΝΕΙ Laureate, bearded and cuirassed bust of Caracalla to right; to right, star of eight rays. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear. Burrer MA-G 33 var. Rogers 109. A bold piece with a black patina. Extremely fine.

125

147

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nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1422

2:1

2:1

1422 Thessalian League. Geta Caesar. 198-209. Diassarion (Bronze, 24mm, 5.62 g 3). ΛΟΥΚC’ ΠΤ Γ’ΤΑC Bare-headed, draped and cuirassed bust of Geta to right. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛ&Ν Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear. Burrer MA-G 26 (this coin). Extremely rare. Attractive olive-green patina. About extremely fine.

450 A note from BCD: Rogers did not know of any Thessalian issues of Geta and to discover such a splendid example of an otherwise unknown coin was one of the most gratifying experiences in all those years of collecting Roman Thessaly. Looking at the not particularly faithful portrait of the young Caesar, I often thought that the local diecutter had probably scarcely finished working on his Geta dies before the news came that from then on all portraits should be of the sole emperor Antoninus. It is also quite possible that the already issued coins of Geta were withdrawn and recycled, hence their extreme rarity today.

1423

1423 1,5:1

1423 Thessalian League. Maximinus. 235-238. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 24mm, 12.26 g 7). [Γ]ΑΙΟΥ ΟΥΗ ΜΑΞΙΜ’ΙΝΟC Laureate and draped bust of Maximinus to right. Rev. ΚΟΙ]ΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛ[ΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear. Burrer MA-G 42. Rogers 118. Bold, and with a nice, albeit imaginative, portrait. Dark green patina. Good very fine.

100

1424

1424 1,5:1

1424 Thessalian League. Valerian. 253-260. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 21mm, 6.43 g 12). ΑΥ Κ ΠΟ Λ ΟΥΑΛ’ΡΙΑΝΟ Radiate and cuirassed bust of Valerian to right. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear; behind, Δ (= 4 assaria). Burrer MA-G 47. Rogers 124 var. Bold strike.

Dark patina. Good very fine.

100

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1425

1425 1,5:1

1425 Thessalian League. Gallienus. 253-268. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 24mm, 9.46 g 12). ΑΥΤ Κ ΠΟ Λ ΓΑΛΛΗΝΟC Radiate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gallienus to right. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear; behind, Δ (= 4 assaria). Burrer MA-G 53. Rogers 126 var.

Dark, greenish-brown patina. Good very fine.

125

1426

1426 1,5:1

1426 Thessalian League. Salonina. 253-268. Tetrassarion (Bronze, 24mm, 8.96 g 6). ΚΟΡΝ CΑΛΩΝΙΝΑ Diademed and draped bust of Salonina on crescent to right. Rev. ΚΟΙΝΟΝ Θ’CCΑΛΩΝ Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear; behind, Δ (= 4 assaria). Burrer MA-G 56. Rogers 132. Very clear and with a strong portrait. Nearly extremely fine.

125

1427

2:1

2:1

1427 ELIMIOTIS, Aiani. Derdas II. Circa 380 BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14 mm, 3.17 g 10). Head of youthful Herakles to right, wearing lionskin headdress. Rev. ΔΕΡΔΑ Club and spear point. K. Liampi, The Coinage of King Derdas and the history of the Elimiote Dynasty, Essays Hersh, pp. 5-11, 18a and pl. 2, 18a (this coin). Unique. Well struck and with a brown patina. Nearly extremely fine.

350 This coin is actually not properly Thessalian, but since it is from an adjacent area, and was said to have been found in Thessaly, it was decided to include it here! Inhoof-Blumer, in his article “Syrakosai - Lysimachos - Derdas”, Corolla Numismatica, Numismatic Essays in Honour of Barclay V. Head (London, 1906), pp. 160-165, was the first to publish a coin of Derdas, but even 100 years later almost nothing is known of him. We do not even know whether the issuer of this coin was actually the second ruler of this name as he is usually considered to be. Liampi assumes, undoubtedly rightly, that this coin was the last of his issues: it was the only example of the type known to her.

149

150

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1428 Larissa, Pelinna, Phalanna, Pharsalos, Pherai and Skotussa. Lot of twelve Thessalian Silver Drachms of the later 5th and earlier 4th centuries. A lovely lot containing coins that are attractive, often rare, and have fine pedigrees.

Larissa (7): 1428.1 5.70 g 11. Youthful hero wrestling bull to left/Horse to right. Herrmann pl. 3, 20.

Ex Münzen und Medaillen 54, 26 October 1978, 204 (CHF 3300) and from the collections of W. Niggeler, Bank Leu/Münzen und Medaillen, 5 December 1965, 257, R. Jameson, 1087, and R. Carfrae, SWH 23 May 1894, 17.

1428.2 5.98 g 2. Head of Larissa left/Horse to right. Herrmann pl. 4, 12 var.

Ex Burgan V.S.O., 11 January 1986, 22 (FF 5100).

1428.3 6.16 g 2. Head of Larissa right/Horse to left. Herrmann pl. 4, 10 (obverse)/ 13 (reverse).

Ex CNG electronic auction 97, 8 September 2004, 33 ($350).

1428.4 5.99 g 1. Bull rushing right/Horseman to right. Herrmann pl. 4, 18.

1428.5 6.24 g 3. Head of Larissa facing, slightly to right/Horse to left. Lorber, Middle, Series 1, O1/R3.

1428.6 6.09 g 3. Head of Larissa facing, slightly to left/Horse and foal to right. Lorber, Middle, Series 6, O1/R1.

1428.7 6.09 g 6. Head of Larissa facing, slightly to left/Horse to right, preparing to roll. Herrmann pl. 5, 5.

Pelinna: 1428.8 5.93 g 2. Horseman to right/Warrior attacking to left. BMC 4.

Ex Bank Leu 30, 28 April 1982, 103 (CHF 6000) and Hess-Leu 11, 24 March 1959, 187.

Phalanna: 1428.9 5.60 g 7. Male head right/Horse to right. BMC 1.

Pharsalos: 1428.10 6.00 g 4. Head of Athena right/Horseman. Lavva 156.

Ex SBV 38, 12 September 1995, 141(CHF 950).

Pherai: 1428.11 5.64 g 6. Head of Ennodia to right, torch before/Lion’s head to right. Jameson 1107 = Traité IV, 613, pl. CCXCIV, 15 (this coin).

Ex Münzen und Medaillen 85, 11 April 1997, 65 (CHF 4250), Hess-Leu 7, 16 April 1957, 200, and from the collection of R. Jameson.

Skotussa: 1428.12 6.08 g 1. Forepart of horse left/Wheat grain. SNG Copenhagen 250.

Ex Sternberg XIV, 24 May 1984, 89 (CHF 2000).

A varied lot with many appealing pieces, nicely toned and deserving to be offered individually. Some with minor marks or corrosion, otherwise, very fine or better (12).

4000 The coins in this lot form a broad cross section of the drachm coinage of Thessaly from the 440s to the 350s BC. All the coins are attractive and as a group they are remarkable - almost anywhere else they would be sold as single lots.

A note from BCD: Special care was taken so that this and all subsequent multiple lots would include coin varieties or types not offered in the main body of the auction. Therefore, readers who consult this catalogue as a reference work and look for a particular type of coin are urged to refer to the index of mints and make sure they check all numbers listed there.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, z端rich 10 may 2011

1428.1

1428.2

1428.3

1428.4

1428.5

1428.6

1428.7

1428.8

1428.9

1428.10

1428.11

1428.12

1428.5 1,5:1

1428.1 1,5:1

1428.6 1,5:1

1428.7 1,5:1

1428.8 1,5:1

1428.9 1,5:1

1428.10 1,5:1

151

152

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1429 Ainianes, Demetrias, Lamia, Larissa, Oitaioi, Phalanna, Pharsalos, Pherai, Thebai, Trikka and Skotussa.

Lot of twelve Thessalian silver hemidrachms of the 5th through the earlier 3rd centuries. A very nice group, including a wide selection of mints and some scarce coins.

Ainianes: 1429.1 2.81 g 5. Head of Zeus left/Phemios to left. BMC 2.

Demetrias: 1429.2 2.44 g 1. Head of Artemis right/Prow to right. BMC 1.

Lamia: 1429.3 2.69 g 12. Head of Dionysos/Amphora. BMC 1.

Larissa (2): 1429.4 3.00 g 7. Hero with bull/Forepart of horse right. SNG Lockett 1565.

Ex Numismatic Fine Arts Summer MBS, 27 June 1986, 225 ($350).

1429.5 Head of nymph facing/Horse right preparing to roll. Herrmann pl. V, 15-18 var.

Oitaioi: 1429.6 2.62 g 5. Head of lion left/Herakles standing facing. SNG Copenhagen 176.

Ex Glendining 21 June 1972, 163 (£66).

Phalanna: 1429.7 2.70 g 12. Male head right/Horse to right. BMC 2.

Ex The New York Sale II, 2 December 1999, 71 ($500) and Giessener Münzhandlung 95, 9 March 1999, 219 (DM 675).

Pharsalos: 1429.8 3.00 g 11. Head of Athena to right/Horse head to right. Lavva 121.

Pherai: 1429.9 2.70 g 12. Head of Ennodia/Hypereia. BMC 20.

Thebai: 1429.10 2.58 g 11. Demeter/Protesilaos. Moustaka 92.

Ex Glendining, 21 June 1972, 164 (£46).

Trikka: 1429.11 2.56 g 2. Hero and half bull right/Forepart of horse right. BMC 8-9 var.

Ex Spink’s 32, 30 November 1983, 31 (£190).

Skotussa: 1429.12 2.81 g 2. Forepart of horse right/Grain. BMC 1.

Ex Sotheby’s, Brand 5, 1 February 1984, 123 (£400).

A lovely lot of hemidrachms, all in better than average condition and all toned.

Very fine or better (12).

2000

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, z端rich 10 may 2011

1429.1

1429.7

1429.2

1429.3

1429.4

1429.8

1429.9

1429.10

1429.1 1,5:1

1429.7 1,5:1

1429.2 1,5:1

1429.3 1,5:1

1429.5

1429.6

1429.11

1429.12

1429.3 1,5:1

1429.5 1,5:1

1429.8 1,5:1

1429.9 1,5:1

1429.9 1,5:1

1429.11 1,5:1

153

154

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1430.1

1430.6

1430.2

1430.7

1430.4

1430.3

1430.9

1430.8

1430.5

1430.10

1430 Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. Lot of ten silver drachms of Larissa, all of Lorber, Early, Group 3. All have a head of Larissa facing, turned slightly to right or left on the obverse, and a horse grazing to right or about to roll on the reverse.

1430.1 6.13 g 10. Lorber, Early, Group 3, O17.

1430.2 6.00 g 3. Lorber, Early, Group 3, O19.

1430.3 6.14 g 4. Lorber, Early, Group 3, O22 (but reads ΣΙΜΟ on obverse).

1430.4 5.86 g 3. Lorber, Early, Group 3, O23.

1430.5 6.01 g 6. Lorber, Early, Group 3, O25.

1430.6 6.07 g 4. Lorber, Early, Group 3, O27.

1430.7 6.27 g 9. Lorber, Early, Group 3, O31.

Ex Sotheby’s New York, 9 December 1993, 128 (part).

1430.8 6.11 g 10. Lorber, Early, Group 3, O42.

1430.9 6.04 g 9. Lorber, Early, Group 3, O53.

1430.10 5.94 g 1. Lorber, Early, Group 3, O56.

A most interesting group with a number of unusual heads of Larissa. About very fine or better (10). 2500 The early facing head issues of Larissa often bear heads of the nymph that are weirdly bizarre in style. It may be that the engravers were not attempting to portray her as a beautiful goddess, but as a powerful, numinous being who was not always kind or well intentioned towards human beings.

1430.5 1,5:1

1430.6 1,5:1

1430.7 1,5:1

1430.9 1,5:1

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1431.1

1431.2

1431.3

1431.5

1431.4

1431 Larissa. Circa 380-365 BC. Lot of five silver drachms of Larissa, all with rare reverses.

1431.1 5.89 g 1. Facing head of Larissa turned slightly to left/Horse prancing right. Lorber, Early, Group I, O2/R1.

1431.2 6.03 g 3. Facing head of Larissa turned slightly to left/Horse trotting right, looking back.

Lorber, Early, Group I, O2/R12.

1431.3 6.06 g 6. Facing head of Larissa turned slightly to right/Horse pacing right; to right, ΣΙΜΟ.

Lorber, Early, Group I, O57/R3.

1431.4 6.06 g 4. Facing head of Larissa turned slightly to left/Hero standing right, with horse standing right. Lorber, Middle, Series 3, O3/R2.

1431.5 5.99 g 8. Facing head of Larissa turned slightly to left and wearing grain wreath/Horseman prancing left. Lorber, Middle, Series 4, O1/R1 c (this coin).

Ex Sternberg XIV, 24 May 1984, 85 (CHF 4500) and Hess-Leu 11, 24 March 1959, 183.

All rare or very rare, but: 1431.1 Tiny marks on the obverse and a grafitto of a sideways Α below on the reverse. 1431.2 Traces of surface corrosion on the reverse fields. 1431.3 Light scratch in the field below the horse, lightly double struck and with some softness on the upper part of the reverse. 1431.4 Die flaw on the reverse between 12 and 1. 1431.5 Corrosion on horse’s head and on parts of the reverse.

Very fine (5).

2500 The horses on the facing head drachms of Larissa are normally shown feeding or preparing to roll over; thus, the coins in this lot are most unusual in their representations. The first harks back to earlier drachms with a running horse, the second and third show lively horses - one looking back and the other proudly pacing - and the last two show horses with human accompaniment.

1431.1 1,5:1

1431.4 1,5:1

1431.2 1,5:1

1431.3 1,5:1

1431.5 1,5:1

155

156

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1432 Larissa. Circa 365-340s BC. Lot of twelve of the late facing head silver drachms of Larissa. All of these drachms have a facing head of the nymph Larissa turned slightly to left on their obverses; on their reverses all show a horse preparing to roll over - on the first two all four hooves are on the ground, on the remaining ten the left forefoot is raised and bent; the legend on the first ten is ΛΑΡΙΣ / ΑΙΩΝ, on the last two, ΣΑΙΩΝ / ΛΑΡΙ.

1432.1 6.02 g 12. Herrmann pl. V, 7 and 9 var.

1432.2 6.06 g 7. Herrmann pl. V, 7 and 9 var.

1432.3 5.87 g 9. Herrmann pl.V, 5 and 8 var.

1432.4 5.79 g 10. Herrmann pl.V, 5 and 8 var, 1432.5 5.95 g 9. Herrmann pl.V, 5 and 8 var.

1432.6 6.06 g 6. Herrmann pl.V, 5 and 8 var.

1432.7 5.56 g 6. Herrmann pl.V, 5 and 8 var.

1432.8 5.97 g 3. Herrmann pl.V, 5 and 8 var.

1432.9 5.99 g 5. Herrmann pl.V, 5 and 8 var.

1432.10 5.68 g 5. Herrmann pl.V, 5 and 8 var.

1432.11 6.16 g 11. Herrmann pl. V, 6 var.

1432.12 6.05 g 5. Herrmann pl. V, 6 var.

A nice group, all lightly toned and attractive, some struck from rare dies. Very fine or better (12).

2500

No attempt has been made to give these coins more than the most general reference: we hope the buyer of this lot will enjoy searching out other examples from the same dies in the literature! In any case, it is remarkable how the artists who engraved the dies for this prolific coinage managed to produce such uniformly attractive heads in the later stages of Larissa’s minting of drachms. Unlike the often startling heads of Larissa on the earlier issues of the facing head type (as seen on the coins of lot 1430 above), here the nymph seems to be much friendlier and more human. In addition, almost all of the heads seem to have been taken from a single model, except, perhaps, 1432.11, which implies that the mint officials were exercising strict control over their engravers. This is in stark contrast to the heads on the early and middle period drachms, which were designed by their engravers with far more artistic freedom.

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, z端rich 10 may 2011

1432.1

1432.7

1432.2

1432.8

1432.3

1432.9

1432.1 1,5:1

1432.2 1,5:1

1432.8 1,5:1

1432.9 1,5:1

1432.4

1432.10

1432.5 1,5:1

1432.10 1,5:1

1432.5

1432.11

1432.6

1432.12

1432.7 1,5:1

1432.11 1,5:1

157

158

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1433.1

1433.2

1433.6

1433.7

1433.3

1433.8

1433.5

1433.4

1433.9

1433.10

1433 Thessalian Confederacy, Larissa, Pelinna, Pharkadon, Pharsalos and Skotussa. Mid 5th-early 4th century BC. Lot of ten Thessalian silver obols, most scarce and some rare.

Thessalian League: 1433.1 0.85 g 5. Head of bridled horse right/ΦΕ-ΘΑ Grain. Franke 1970, 4 and fig. 5.

Larissa (5): 1433.2 0.85 g 3. Head of Larissa right/Sandal to left. Herrmann pl. I, 4.

1433.3 0.68 g 9. Head of Larissa left/Sandal to left. As above, lot 97.

1433.4 0.86 g 12. Bull’s head and neck right/Head of bridled horse to right. Liampi 1996 IA, 18.

1433.5 0.92 g 3. Horse to left/Nymph with hydria to right. Herrmann pl. I, 11.

1433.6 0.95 g 5. Horse to left/Nymph standing left with ball. Traité IV, 679 var. (horse to right).

Pelinna: 1433.7 0.82 g 7. Horse to left/Warrior advancing left. Pozzi 1236 (this coin).

Ex Naville I, Pozzi, 4 April 1921, 1236.

Pharkadon: 1433.8 0.89 g 1. Bull’s head and neck right/Horse’s head right. Liampi 1996 IIE, 4a (this coin).

Pharsalos: 1433.9 0.95 g 9. Head of Athena right/Horse’s head right. Lavva -, but cf. 14.

Skotussa: 1433.10 0.84 g 11. Head of Herakles right/Forepart of horse right. Apparently unpublished.

Ex Lanz 97, 22 May 2000, 235 (DM 400).

An attractive lot, including a number of very rare pieces and all in excellent condition. Very fine or better (10).

1500

1433.3 2:1

1433.9 2:1

1433.10 2:1

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1434.1

1434.2

1434.6

1434.7

1434.3

1434.8

1434.4

1434.5

1434.9

1434.10

1434 Ainianes, Kierion, Lamia, Larissa, Metropolis, Oitaioi, Phalanna, Pharsalos, Pherai and Skotussa.

4th-3rd century BC. Lot of ten different silver coins from Thessaly: eight obols and two trihemibols, some scarce and some rare.

Ainianes: 1434.1 0.87 g 9. Head of Zeus left/Sword in scabbard and javelin. SNG Copenhagen 3.

Ex Peus 284, 9 December 1974, 228 (DM 210).

Kierion: 1434.2 0.83 g 3. Horse right, about to roll/Warrior advancing to right. Moustaka 139.

Lamia: 1434.3 0.87 g 10. Head of Dionysos left/Amphora. Traité IV, 459.

Ex Sternberg XII. 18 November 1982, 139 (CHF 1500).

Larissa: 1434.4 0.93 g 5. Head of nymph Larissa facing/Horse feeding right. Herrmann pl. V, 19.

Metropolis: 1434.5 0.76 g 12. Facing head of river god/Dionysos seated left. BMC 1 = Traité IV, 522, pl. CCXC 11.

Jameson 1098. Moustaka 97.

Ex Bankhaus Aufhäuser 7, 9 October 1990, 85 (DM 1850).

Oitaioi: 1434.6 0.84 g 9. Lion’s head left/Bow and quiver. SNG Copenhagen 177.

Ex Malter 49, Wilkinson, 15 November 1992, 362 ($325).

Phalanna: 1434.7 Trihemiobol, 1.26 g 10. Male head right/Horse right. BMC 3.

Ex G. Hirsch 167, 26 September 1990, 322 (DM 450).

Pharsalos: 1434.8 0.95 g 2. Head of Athena right/Horse head right. Lavva 136.

Pherai, Alexander: 1434.9 0.84 g. Double ax/Wheel viewed at an angle. Unpublished.

Skotussa: 1434.10 Trihemiobol 1.11 g 12. Head of Herakles right/Demeter standing left. Traité IV, 629.

An interesting group with some scarce and rare pieces: all attractive and toned. Good very fine or better (10).

1500

1434.4 2:1

1434.5 2:1

1434.7 2:1

1434.8 2:1

159

160

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1435 Ainianes, Atrax, Ekkarra, Gomphi, Gyrton, Halos, Homolion, Kierion, Krannon, Lamia, Larissa, Larissa Kremaste, Magnetes, Meliboia, Melitaia, Methylion, Metropolis, Oitaioi, Orthe, Pelinna, Perrhaiboi, Peuma, Phakion, Phalanna, Pharkadon, Pharsalos, Pherai, Proerna, Skotussa, Thebai, Trikka. Circa 4th-2nd Century BC. Lot of 31 bronze coins from 31 different Thessalian mints, many scarce or rare and all unusually well preserved.

Ainianes: 1435.1 Dichalkon, 18 mm, 5.97 g 3. Head of Zeus to left/Slinger left. Rogers 137. From the Lindgren Collection, 1392, acquired in May 1991 for $125. • Atrax: 1435.2 Dichalkon, 15 mm, 3.63 g 6.

Head of Zeus to left/Bull right. Rogers 163. • Ekkarra: 1435.3 Chalkous, 12 mm, 1.86 g 12. Head of Zeus left/Artemis. Rogers 207. • Gomphi-Philippopolis: 1435.4 Tetrachalkon, 19 mm, 7.20 g 12. Head of Hera facing/Zeus seated left. Rogers 215. • Gyrton: 1435.5 Dichalkon, 16 mm, 5.20 g 12. Helmeted head of Ares right/Head of Gyrtona right. Rogers 230. • Halos: 1435.6 Chalkous, 14 mm, 2.36 g 11. Head of Zeus right/Phrixos on ram. Rogers 242. • Homolion: 1435.7 Tetrachalkon, 21 mm, 7.26 g 9. Head of Philoktetes left/Serpent right. Rogers 259. • Kierion: 1435.8 Dichalkon, 15 mm, 2.17 g 9. Head of Zeus right/Arne right. Rogers 173. • Krannon: 1435.9 Dichalkon, 16 mm, 3.89 g 9. Horseman right/Hydria on cart. Rogers 201. Acquired from Baldwin’s in May 1970 for £1/15/-. • Lamia: 1435.10 Chalkous, 14 mm, 1.96 g 1. Head of Lamia right/Philoktetes right. Rogers 387. • Larissa: 1435.11 Dichalkon, 17 mm, 4.84 g 11. Head of Larissa left/ Horse feeding left. Rogers 294. • Larissa Kremaste: 1435.12 Chalkous, 13 mm, 2.24 g 9. Head of nymph right/Harpa in wreath. Rogers 317. • Magnetes: 1435.13 Tetrachalkon, 19 mm, 8.99 g 8. Head of Zeus right/Chiron right. Rogers 339. • Meliboia: 1435.14 Chalkous, 12 mm, 1.83 g 5.

Head of nymph right/Bunch of grapes. Rogers 392. • Melitaia: 1435.15 Chalkous, 13 mm, 2.22 g 9. Head of Zeus left/Bee. Rogers 398. Acquired from Brian Kritt, February 1987 for $300. • Methylion: 1435.16 Dichalkon, 18 mm, 4.51 g 2. Male head left/Nike left. Rogers 405. • Metropolis: 1435.17 Dichalkon, 18 mm, 6.56 g 3. Head of Apollo right/Aphrodite left. Rogers 408. Acquired from Michael Brandt, November 1991, DM 800. • Oitaioi: 1435.18 Dichalkon, 16 mm, 4.73 g 12. Head of Apollo right/Spearhead and jawbone. Rogers 418. • Orthe: 1435.19 Trichalkon, 23 mm, 7.64 g 10. Head of Athena right/Forepart of horse right. Rogers 421. • Pelinna: 1435.20 Chalkous, 13 mm, 2.11 g 12.

Horseman right/Warrior left. Rogers 426. • Perrhaiboi: 1435.21 Tetrachalkon, 19 mm, 8.19 g 6. Facing head of Hera/Zeus. Rogers 438. • Peuma:1435.22 Chalkous, 12 mm, 1.81 g 6. Head of Achilles right/Monogram. Rogers 442. • Phakion: 1435.23 Trichalkon, 20 mm, 5.34 g 11. Head of nymph right/Horseman right. Rogers 444. • Phalanna: 1435.24 Trichalkon, 20 mm, 7.65 g 11. Male head right, ΠΟ behind/Head of nymph right, Π behind. Rogers -, but cf. 450. • Pharkadon: 1435.25 Dichalkon, 17 mm, 2.23 g 6. Horse right/Star and crescent. Rogers 462-3 var. • Pharsalos: 1435.26 Chalkous, 15 mm, 2.96 g 11. Head of Athena left/Horseman right. Rogers 483. • Pherai: 1435.27 Dichalkon, 17 mm, 4.57 g 4. Head of Ennodia right/Lion’s head right. Rogers 512. • Proerna: 1435.28 Dichalkon, 17 mm, 3.61 g 11. Facing head of nymph/Demeter. Rogers 534. • Skotussa: 1435.29 Dichalkon, 15 mm, 2.91 g 3. Head of Herakles left/Forepart of horse right. Rogers 541. • Thebai: 1435.30 Dichalkon (see the tetrachalkon that appears as lot 1348, above: the present coin is much smaller, thinner and lighter), 17 mm, 2.95 g 3. Head of Demeter left/Protesilaos to right. Rogers 550. Purchased in November 1996, but at a price so high BCD was too embarrassed to record it, just terming it, "expensive"! One hesitates even to imagine what that could be. • Trikka: 1435.31 Trichalkon, 22 mm, 8.17 g 12. Head of Trikka to right/Asklepios seated right. Rogers 552.

A splendid group of Thessalian bronzes, all with nice patinas or toning, all unusually attractive, and all very well preserved. About very fine or better (31).

2500

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, z端rich 10 may 2011

1435.2

1435.1

1435.8

1435.7

1435.13

1435.14

1435.19

1435.16

1435.20

1435.27

1435.3

1435.4

1435.9

1435.15

1435.21

1435.28

1435.10

1435.29

1435.6

1435.11

1435.12

1435.17

1435.16

1435.22

1435.5

1435.23

1435.24

1435.30

1435.18

1435.25

1435.31

161

162

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, z端rich 10 may 2011

1436 Thessalian League. Augustus - Gallienus.

A lot of 10 bronze coins, all minted by the Thessalian League during Roman times.

1436.1 Augustus. Assarion, c. 23/22 BC. 20 mm, 7.98 g 12. Head right/Athena left. Burrer 13, 1 (this coin). RPC 1425.

1436.2 Tiberius. Diassarion, 23 mm, 16.66 g 6. Radiate head of Divus Augustus left/Apollo. Burrer p.

124, 8. RPC 1430.

1436.3 Claudius. Diassarion, 22 mm, 11.89 g 1. Bust of Livia left/Larissa standing left. Burrer 40. RPC 1434 (but wrongly classed under Tiberius).

1436.4 Nero. Assarion, circa 66-68, 20 mm, 7.69 g 12. Radiate head of Nero right/Youth struggling with bull to right. Burrer 35. RPC 1440.

1436.5 Faustina II. Diassarion. 24 mm, 11.86 g 10. Bust of Faustina right/Athena Itonia right. Rogers 98.

1436.6 Septimius Severus. Triassarion. 23 mm, 8.05 g 11. Laureate bust of Severus right/Triga to right.

Rogers 102.

1436.7 Septimius Severus. Assarion. 20 mm, 5.91 g 7. Bust of Septimius Severus to right/Warrior to right.

Rogers 100.

1436.8 Caracalla, sole reign, 212-217. Triassarion. 22 mm, 7.77 g 7. Bearded bust right/Nike in triga right. Rogers 112 ff.

1436.9 Caracalla, sole reign, 212-217. Assarion. 18 mm, 6.15 g 2. Laureate head right/Warrior to right.

Rogers 110.

1436.10 Gallienus, sole reign, 261-268. Triassarion. 21 mm, 5.93 g 12. Radiate bust of Gallienus to right/Nike in triga to right. Rogers 131.

All scarce to rare and all above average in condition. About very fine or better (10).

This lot provides a good overview of the Imperial coinage of the Thessalian League.

1000

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, z端rich 10 may 2011

1436.2

1436.1

1436.7

1436.6

1436.2 1,5:1

1436.7 1,5:1

1436.3

1436.8

1436.4 1,5:1

1436.4 1,5:1

1436.4

1436.5

1436.10

1436.9

1436.3 1,5:1

1436.9 1,5:1

163

164

nomos . . . . . . auction 4, zürich 10 may 2011

1437 THESSALY. 5th and 4th centuries BC. A lot of 6 silver fractions, either from Thessaly or of Thessalian type, most unique, but all of uncertain mints.

1437.1 Possibly Krannon. Hemiobol, 0.42 g 12. Head of a young man (Thessalos?) to right, wearing petasos; above, Π - Ι. Rev. Κ[Ρ?]Α Horse's head right. Assuming that the Ρ is certain, this would be an unpublished and unknown issue of Krannon, dating to around the last quarter of the 5th century (or perhaps a bit later). It would have been inspired by the 5th century Taurokathapsia issues (as above, lots 77-80), but is clearly later and might be an archaizing revival.

1437.2 Possibly Phalanna. Obol, 0.75 g 2. Bust of a nymph to right, holding a mirror before her face; behind, uncertain letter; before, ?. Rev. Φ...Ν...ΩΝ Figure wearing short hunting dress standing before horse to right. Unpublished and unique, but the obverse type seems related to the chalkous from Phalanna that appears, above, as lot 1261.

1437.3 Possibly Phaloria. Trihemiobol, 0.93 g 10. Head and neck of a wolf to right, with a bone in its jaws and with its paws outstretched to right. Rev. Figure on horseback to right, possibly holding a lagobolon in his upraised right hand - traces of letters in the field.

1437.4 Unknown mint. Obol (?), 0.94 g 10. Head of Athena to right, wearing crested Attic helmet. Rev. ...ΟΝΟΥ...ΩΝ Dionysos standing left, holding cup (?) in his outstretched right hand and resting his left at his waist; in lower field to right, bunch of grapes. Unpublished and unknown.

1437.5 Possibly Macedonian (?). Obol (?), 0.64 g. Horse feeding to left. Rev.Quadripartite incuse square Unpublished, but from the same reverse die as the following coin.

1437.6 Possibly Macedonian (?). Obol (?), 0.46 g. Horse feeding to right. Rev. Quadripartite incuse square, from the same die as the last. Unpublished.

A fascinating group of coins, but what are they? All with some traces of corrosion, otherwise, good fine or better (6).

600 The above commentaries on the individual coins are based on BCD’s own opinions; what follows are ideas from ASW. These coins are the kind of enigmas every serious collector tends to accumulate. They are all said to have been found in Thessaly, but either have no identifying inscription, or only tantalizing traces of one. 1437.1 is almost certainly Krannon: its types immediately are reminiscent of the bronzes from Krannon that appear above as lot 1082.

While BCD prefers to view this coin as a 5th century issue, its connection with the later bronzes makes me think it is early 4th century. While it was originally thought to be an obol, 1437.3 is quite corroded and must have lost a good deal of weight - it is also struck on a very broad flan, which makes it look too large to be anything less than a trihemiobol. The animal forepart on the obverse could be a wolf, but it may well actually be some sort of hunting dog: it is remarkably well made. As for 1437.4, this is one of those maddening coins that has a nearly legible inscription, but we still do not know what it says. I am tempted by the idea that it is not Thessalian at all, but that is probably the counsel of despair! BCD thinks it looks rather Asia-Minorian: if so it remains a problem but not, as it were, our problem! As for 1437.5-6, these coins are surely not Thessalian and must come from Macedonia. In any case the reverse incuse die they share is not one that was used by any of the normal Thessalian mints. While Thessalian horses have surely influenced the obverses of these coins, the horses we see here are also not very Thessalian, especially the second with its large head and prominent eye: he seems rather Northern in style.

A note from BCD: Unfortunately, this time ASW will not have the last word (he did on BCD Peloponnesos). The "normal Thessalian mints" he mentions have never produced coins with an unepigraphic incuse square, not to our knowledge, anyway. However, there is a rumour of a Larissa stater existing with an obverse exactly like the obverse of lot 1095 in this catalogue, only on a larger scale, and with an incuse square reverse. But this is only a rumour and until the coin appears somewhere and can be examined, its supposed existence can not be used as an argument.

So perhaps it is about time to propose a minting location for lots 1437.5 and 1437.6, and I believe that a Thessalian mint would fit the bill equally well as a Macedonian one. The weights, already being very different, are of no consequence at this time and even if more specimens are located, and weighed, it would still be unwise to expect them to conform to the Aeginetan weight standard. These were early times and the issue would obviously be more of a trial than the regular, bulk output of an established mint. As far as the "large head and prominent eye" being "rather Northern in style", such criteria can hardly be of value for distinguishing horse breeds of two adjacent areas. Finally, for the "unbelievers", such as ASW and possibly many others, I have an alternative "compromise" solution. Even if these horse/incuse coins were struck at a northern mint, why do they always have Thessalian provenances and find spots? We know that coins tended to gravitate or "emigrate" to areas where their iconography was familiar to the locals and therefore more likely to be accepted without raising any doubts. Could it be that this type was struck by an early Macedonian king for "export", i.e. with the Thessalian market in mind? If so, it has a right to be listed in a Thessaly catalogue, the same way as the well-known ΕΡΜΙΑΣ Rhodian imitations struck by Perseus appear in many auction catalogues under "Thessaly".

nomos . . . . . . bvdujpo!5-!{Â sjdi!21!nbz!3122

1437.1

1437.2

1437.2 2:1

1437.5 2:1

1437.1 2:1

1437.6

1437.5

1437.4

1437.1 2:1

1437.3

1437.2 2:1

1437.5 2:1

1437.3 2:1

1437.4 2:1

1437.6 2:1

1437.3 2:1

1437.6 2:1

1437.4 2:1

165

166

nomos . . . . . . bvdujpo!5-!{Â sjdi!21!nbz!3122

Index Aiani, Elimiotis: 427.

Ainianes: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 429.1, 434.1, 435.1.

Alexander of Pherai: 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314,315, 434.9.

Atrax: 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 435.2.

Demetrias: 34, 429.2.

Derdas II: 427.

Dia: 35.

Ekkarra: 36, 435, 3.

Eurea: 37.

Eurymenai: 38, 39.

Gomphi-Philippopolis: 40, 41, 42, 43,44, 435.4.

Gonnos: 45, 46, 47.

Gyrton: 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54.1, 54.2, 55.1, 55.2, 435.5.

Halos: 56, 57, 58, 59, 435.6.

Herakleia Trachinia: 60, 61, 62, 63.

Homolion: 64, 65, 435.7.

Ikos, Island: 362.

Iolkos: 66.

Kierion: 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74,75, 76, 434.2, 435.8.

Krannon: 77, 78, 79, 80, 81.1, 81.2, 82, 83, 84.1, 84.2, 85, 86, 87, 88, 435.9, 437.1(?).

Lamia: 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 429.3, 434.3, 435.10.

Larissa: 95, 96, 97, 98,99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 139, 140,141, 142,143, 144.1, 144.2, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161, 162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 167.1, 167.2, 168, 169.1, 169.2, 170, 171.1, 171.2, 171.3, 172.1, 172.2, 173, 174.1, 174.2, 428.1, 428.2, 428.3, 428.4, 428.5, 428.6, 428.7, 429.4, 429.5, 430.1, 430.2, 430.3, 430.4, 430.5, 430.6, 430.7, 430.8, 430.9, 430.10, 431.1, 431.2, 431.3, 431.4, 431.5, 432.1, 432.2, 432.3, 432.4, 432.5, 432.6, 432.7, 432.8, 432.9, 432.10, 432.11, 432.12, 433.2, 433.3, 433.4, 433.5, 433.6, 434.4, 435.11.

Larissa Kremaste: 175, 176, 177, 435.12.

Magnetes: 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 435.13.

Meliboia: 195, 196, 197, 435.14.

Melitaia: 198, 199, 435.15.

Methylion: 200, 201, 202, 203, 204, 435.16.

Metropolis: 205, 206, 207, 208.1, 208.2, 209, 434.5, 435.17.

Mopsion: 210.

Oitaioi: 211, 212, 213, 214, 215, 216, 217, 429.6, 434.6, 435.18.

Olosson: 218.

Orthe: 219, 220, 221, 435.19.

Pagasai: 222, 223, 224.

Peirasia: 225.

Pelinna: 226, 227, 228.1, 228.2, 229, 230, 231, 232, 233, 234, 428.8, 433.7, 435.20.

Peparethos, Island: 363, 364, 365.

Perrhaiboi: 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 240, 241, 242, 243, 244, 245, 246, 247, 435.21.

Peumata: 248, 435.22.

Phakion: 249, 435.23.

Phalanna: 250, 251, 252.1, 252.2, 253, 254, 255.1, 255.2, 255.3, 255.4, 256, 257, 258, 259.1, 259.2, 260, 261, 428.9, 429.6, 434.7, 435.24, 437.2(?).

nomos . . . . . . bvdujpo!5-!{Â sjdi!21!nbz!3122

Phaloria: 262, 263, 264, 437.3(?).

Pharkadon: 265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 272, 273, 274, 275, 276, 433.8, 435.25.

Pharsalos: 277, 278, 279, 280, 281, 282, 283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289, 290, 291, 292, 293, 294, 295, 296, 297, 298, 299, 428.10, 429.8, 433.9, 434.8, 435.26.

Pherai: 300, 301, 302, 303, 304, 305, 306, 307, 308, 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 428.11, 429.9, 434.9, 435.27.

Proerna: 326, 327, 328, 435.28.

Rhizos: 329, 330.

Skiathos, Island: 366.

Skotussa: 331, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, 428.12, 429.12, 433.10, 434.10, 435.29.

Skyros, Island: 367, 368, 369.

Teisiphon of Pherai: 316.

Thebai: 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 429.10, 435.30.

Thessalian League (early): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 433.1.

Thessalian League (late): 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377.1, 377.2, 377.3, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384, 385.1, 385.2, 385.3, 385.4, 386, 387, 388, 389, 390, 391, 392, 393, 394, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 401,402, 403, 404, 405, 406, 407, 408, 409, 410, 411, 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 417, 418, 419, 420, 421, 422, 423, 424, 425, 426.

Trikka: 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 429.11, 435.31.

Tripolis: 361.

Uncertain mints: 437.1, 437.2, 437.3, 437.4, 437.5, 437.6.

Roman Period: Imperial Times: 189, 190, 192, 391, 392, 393, 408.

Octavian: 394.

Augustus: 365, 395, 396, 397, 398, 399, 400, 436.1.

Tiberius: 399, 436.2.

Claudius: 401, 402, 403, 436.3.

Nero: 190, 191, 404, 405, 406, 436.4.

Domitian: 407, 408.

Domitia: 407.

Hadrian: 409, 410.

Marcus Aurelius: 411, 412, 413.

Faustina II: 414, 415, 436.5.

Septimius Severus: 193, 416, 417, 436.6, 436.7.

Julia Domna: 418.

Caracalla: 419, 420, 421, 436.8, 436.9.

Geta: 417, 422.

Elagabalus: 194.

Maximinus: 423.

Valerian: 424.

Gallienus: 425, 436.10.

Salonina: 426.

167

Notice for Nomos Auctions 3 & 4 All coins struck in mints that lie within the modern boundaries of Italy were in the physical possession of Nomos AG, either in the USA or in Switzerland, prior to 19 January 2011.

All other coins presented in both Auctions 3 & 4 were in the physical possession of Nomos AG in Switzerland prior to 8 February 2011.

Nomos AG will provide appropriate documentation to assist with importation of purchased lots into the USA.

8.3125 8 5/16

13/32

13/32

8.3125 8 5/16

0.625 5/8

11.25 11 11 1/4

0.625 5/8

0.625 5/8

.3437 0.4062 11/32 0.4062

auction 4

nomos 4

z端rich, 10 may 2011

nomos ag, numismatists

nomos ag, numismatists z端rich, switzerland

0.625 5/8

z辰hringerstrasse 27, postfach 2664, ch-8022 z端rich, switzerland telephone +41 44 250 51 80, fax +41 44 250 51 89 info@nomosag.com, w w w.nomosag.com

04_NOMOS_Cover_3_4.indd 2

02.03.11 21:28