Triton XV, Lot: 126. Estimate $500. Sold for $3250. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Lamia. Circa 300 BC. AR Drachm (21mm, 5.44 g, 6h). Head of the nymph Lamia r., wearing hair band and pendant earring / ΛΑΜΙ l. up, ΕΩΝ r. down, youthful Herakles, naked, seated l. on rocks covered by his cloak; he holds his bow and quiver with his r. hand, resting it on his r. knee; his l. hand rests on the rock behind him. Georgiou, Mint, p. 166 and pl. 2, 19 (period D); Jameson 1083A (this coin); see also Naville - Ars Classica VI (28 January 1924) Bement II, 910 (same dies). VF, attractive old collection toning, minor porosity. From the collection of Robert Jameson.

Acquired in January 1972 from R. Hecht through Baldwin’s for £ 300; ex Hess - Leu [19], 12 April 1962, 196; J. Hirsch XXVI (23 May 1910) 487.

Perhaps because of the story behind this rarity (see this writer’s note after lot 1094 in Nomos 4) the two coins of this type have been the source of immense pleasure during all the years of owning them. This particular specimen has been even more desirable in a way as it carried with it the old world flavour of a great collector and had also been auctioned by one of the most fascinating personalities in the realm of ancient coin dealing.