Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 1203. Estimate CHF450.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF1700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, 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 Heyman -, and apparently unpublished.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.

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.