Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 1292. Estimate CHF300.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF2000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, 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.

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.