Exceptional “Euainetos” Obverse Die

Sale: Triton XIII, Lot: 1132. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Monday, 4 January 2010.  Sold For $800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 370-360 BC. AR Drachm (6.09 g, 11h). Head of the nymph Larissa left, wearing triple-pendant earring and pearl necklace / Horse advancing right. Lorber, Thessalian, pl. 45, 100; Hermann group V, pl. IV, 16; Moustaka 130; SNG München -; SNG Copenhagen -; BMC -; Traité -; Jameson 2468. Good VF, double struck on reverse. Fine style. Very rare.

This style of this issue is exceptional among the various issues of profile head types at Larissa. Hermann first noted stylistic parallels in the head of the nymph to the rendition of Arethusa on the famous Euainetos dekadrachms of Syracuse. Later numismatists have concurred, and the traditional dating of the issue has corresponded to the dekadrachm emissions. More recent hoard analyses, however, have necessitated a downward revision of the dating, making the connection between the two disparate issues unlikely. Nonetheless, the style of this issue is of the highest Classical form, and is comparable to the beautiful heads of Persephone on the contemporary staters of Lokris Opuntii. The rarity of this issue suggests that it was a short emission struck for a specific purpose, and the quality of the engraving implies that the occasion must have been of some importance.