Triton XV, Lot: 228. Estimate $200. Sold for $900. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Larissa. Early to mid 4th century BC. AR Drachm (19mm, 5.93 g, 11h). Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarter facing l., border of dots / [ΛΑΡΙ] above, horse to r. with straight legs nibbling at plant on the ground line. Lorber, Early, 41.2 (these dies); see also Nomos 4, 1140 (same obverse die). VF, lightly toned, small scratch on Larissa’s neck, rev. off centre and with some surface roughness above the horse.

Ex Auctiones 18 (21 September 1989) 654, hammer CHF 520; E. Bourgey 3 December 1928, 65; E. Bourgey 7 December 1908, 133.

This writer agrees with ASW in his description of the above referenced Nomos 4, coin that shares an obverse die with this specimen. He would even go one step further to say that the nymph on this die would just look sad if it wasn’t for her eyes being “fully open and staring at the viewer”. As it is, there is a worried look on that admittedly enchanting face, that causes the writer to wonder if there was a particular reason for the die cutter to project this image.