Triton XV, Lot: 273. Estimate $150. Sold for $550. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Larissa. Early to mid 4th century BC. AR Hemidrachm (16mm, 2.92 g, 10h). Head of the nymph Larissa r., wearing pendant earring / ΛΑΡ[Ι] above, ΠΛΕ[Ι] in exergue, bridled crouching horse to l., about to roll, its rein dangling above and below the ground line; a plant growing below. McClean 4609, pl. 173, 5 (same obv. die); see also Nomos 4, 1137 (same dies). Fine, rev. slightly off centre.

This coin has an interesting pedigree involving three well known people who dealt and deal in ancient coins; unfortunately they cannot be named, especially as one of them is dead (this writer’s objective is to write a catalogue and not start a gossip column). For what it is worth it though, the coin cost DM 1500 in January 1990.