Larissa. Lot of 2 coins.

Triton XV, Lot: 373. Estimate $200. Sold for $800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of 2 coins.

(373.1) THESSALY, Larissa. Early to mid 4th century BC. AR Hemidrachm (14mm, 2.82 g, 9h). RΙ below, retrograde, Thessalos to r., naked but for chlamys over his shoulders, his petasos on his back, holding a band with both hands around the forehead of a bull’s forepart leaping r., all within a border of dots / Λ to l., ΑRΙ above, forepart of a bridled horse l., below, sandal of Jason to l., all in shallow incuse square. Lorber, Thessalian, p. 132, 2, pl. 41, 18 (same dies). VF, lightly toned, few areas of porosity, flat strike on rev. between 1 and 3 o’clock.

Ex NFA V (23 February 1978) 92, hammer $450.


(373.2) THESSALY, Larissa. Early to mid 4th century BC. AR Hemidrachm (15.5mm, 2.95 g, 6h). Thessalos to l., petasos on his back, his body obscured by the forepart of a bull leaping l., holding a band with both hands around the forehead of the animal; all within a border of dots / Λ to l., ΑRΙ above, forepart of a bridled horse l., below, sandal of Jason to l., all in shallow incuse square. Lorber, Thessalian, p. 133, 4, pl. 41, 20 (this coin). Near VF, lightly toned, obv. die flaw developing on bull’s body; very rare variety. For another of these rare taurokathapsia types with the man obscured by the bull’s body see below lot 509.1.

Ex Frank Robinson MBS 29 (6 April 1994) 61, hammer $130; NFA Summer 1993 Buy or Bid sale (9 September 1993) 122.

The obverse is described by Lorber (who gives the weight incorrectly as 2g. 99) thus: Bull forepart l., superimposed on bull wrestler standing facing on ex. line, head l., kausia behind head. This writer has adopted ASW’s terminology, calling the bull wrestler “Thessalos” and the kausia “petasos” but the terms could be interchangeable. Attention is also drawn to the band - probably made from leather - in the man’s hands, his only instrument for restraining the bull.