Gonnos. Lot of 2 coins.

Triton XV, Lot: 74. Estimate $150. Sold for $1000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of 2 coins.

(74.1) THESSALY, Gonnos. Early to mid 4th century BC . Æ Trichalkon (18mm, 5.48 g, 3h). Ram standing r. on thin exergual line / [Γ]ΟΝΝΙΚΟΝ r. down, male figure in short chiton that folds over his l. shoulder, standing l., examining a shrub he holds with his r. hand at face level. Unpublished and unknown. VF, dark brown patina with areas of red, struck on a compact flan; extremely rare.

The legend here is engraved with bolder letters and the directions of both the ram and the standing figure have changed. This means that this early Gonnos coinage was not a one off experiment but was struck in some quantities, with more than one pair of dies. The subjects though remained the same and their stylistic resemblance suggests that one die cutter was responsible for all dies.

(74.2) THESSALY, Gonnos. Early to mid 4th century BC . Æ Trichalkon (18.5mm, 6.58 g, 12h). Ram standing l. on thick exergual line / [Γ]ΟΝΝΙΚΟΝ l. up, male figure wearing petasos stands r. in short chiton and holds a shrub with his r. hand. Unpublished and unknown. Good Fine, smooth dark green patina; extremely rare.

This fourth known (and third in this auction) of these amazing coins, although essentially the same type as lot 73 above, is from a different pair of dies and the male figure is now wearing a petasos. Could he be a local deity or the mythical founder of the city, to whom the community paid homage as a protector of shepherds and their flocks of sheep?