Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 1297. Estimate CHF275.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF4000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, 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.

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.