Triton XV, Lot: 329. Estimate $150. Sold for $475. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Larissa. Mid to late 4th century BC. Æ Tetrachalkon (20mm, 8.83 g, 9h). Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarter facing l., wearing plain necklace, drop earring and ampyx; border of dots / ΛΑΡΙ above, Σ r. down, ИΩΙΑ in the exergue, bridled horse trotting r., below, trident upwards and to l. Rogers 278 [does not specify the trident’s direction]; see CNG e-sale 224 (16 December 2009) 116 corr. [the trident is described as grain ear]. VF, light green patina with some bronze showing under it; obv. slightly off centre. From the collection of Professor Peter R. Franke.

Acquired from Professor Franke, May 1979, for DM 250.

These well known large bronzes of Larissa have been termed Tetrachalka by ASW in Nomos 4. This writer believes that there were very few of these quadruple units in Thessaly and that they all belong to the 3rd century and later. Although the weight is not a reliable guide, in the case of an organized and high volume mint such as Larissa in the mid 4th century, it should be taken into account. These coins average the weight of two Larissan dichalka and therefore, with some reluctance, they will be called Tetrachalka instead of Trichalka.