Triton XV, Lot: 286. Estimate $400. Sold for $4500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Larissa. Mid 4th century BC. AR Drachm (19.5mm, 6.11 g, 12h). Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarter facing l., wearing pendant earring and plain necklace; border of dots / ΛΑΡΙ in exergue, ΣΑΙΩΝ above, horse l., crouching and preparing to roll on solid ground line. See Peus 372 (30 October 2002) 171 (same obv. die). Good VF, lightly but very attractively toned, a sharp strike on both sides, well centred and with excellent surfaces; a very desirable coin.

This coin has a highly unusual “die flaw” below the letter P on the reverse. The die, at that particular point, suffered a couple of small digs or gouges, one on top of the other, and the result was transferred to the coin upon striking, in relief. In all probability, the instrument responsible was the die cutting tool and we now know, from the striations that were transferred to the coin, that the cutting edge of this tool was not straight but had indentations, like a miniature saw.