Larissa. Lot of 6 coins.

Triton XV, Lot: 390. Estimate $250. Sold for $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of 6 coins.

(390.1) THESSALY, Larissa. Mid to late 4th century BC. Æ Dichalkon (17mm, 4.41 g, 7h). Head of nymph Larissa r., a pellet in her ear, her hair rolled up around her head; dotted border / ΛΑΡΙ below, ΣΑΙΩΝ above circular, crouching horse r., about to roll; bukranion below its belly. Rogers 291 var. [above, ΝΩΙΑΣ]. Near VF, green patina with quite a lot of bronze showing from underneath.

There is a small punch mark behind the head on the obverse that seems to contain the letter T in it. It would be difficult to risk a plausible guess as to its role (someone suggested that the coin was countermarked to serve as a Telecom [Larissa] token) and also explain why the nymph has, clearly, a pellet inside her ear and not underneath it in the form of an earring. The same person saw in this pellet an electronic hearing/speaking device, especially as it is connected to her mouth with a cord. However, this writer thinks that it was a little too early for such gadgets and that the faint line from the ear to the mouth is the beginning of a die break.

(390.2) THESSALY, Larissa. Mid to late 4th century BC. Æ Dichalkon (18mm, 4.63 g, 11h). Head of nymph Larissa r., her hair rolled up and bound in a plain saccos, wearing a triple pendant earring the central element of which resembles a bunch of grapes; dotted border / ΛΑΡΙ below, [ΣΑΙΩΝ] above circular, crouching horse r., about to roll. Rogers 288, fig 140; See also Münzen und Medaillen 79 (28 February 1994) 258. Near VF, nice green patina; both sides slightly off centre.


(390.3) THESSALY, Larissa. Mid to late 4th century BC. Æ Dichalkon (18mm, 4.35 g, 9h). Head of nymph Larissa r., her hair rolled up, wearing a plain wire necklace and a drop pendant earring; linear border / ΛΑΡΙ below, the P reversed, [Σ]ΑΙΩΝ above circular, crouching horse r., about to roll. Rogers 289 var. [IPAΛ with the P reversed]. VF, dark greenish brown patina, the letters above the horse weakly struck.

Here also the nymph has a pellet in her ear, quite distinct from the earring, which leads one to think that it may have been fashionable at the time to adorn the entrance to the ear with a small circular ornament, in addition to the earring hanging from the lower part of it.

(390.4) THESSALY, Larissa. Mid to late 4th century BC. Æ Dichalkon (18mm, 4.29 g, 12h). Head of nymph Larissa r., her hair rolled up, wearing a triple pendant earring the central element of which resembles a bunch of grapes; border of dots / [ΛΑΡΙ] above, ΣΑΙΩΝ in exergue, crouching horse r., about to roll. Rogers 295 var. [ΑΙΩΝ in exergue]. Near VF, greenish brown patina, the reverse weakly struck in parts.

Same obverse die as lot 390.5 below.

(390.5) THESSALY, Larissa. Mid to late 4th century BC. Æ Dichalkon (15.5mm, 2.78 g, 4h). Head of nymph Larissa r., her hair rolled up, wearing a triple pendant earring the central element of which resembles a bunch of grapes; border of dots / [Λ]ΑΡΙ below, ΣΑΙΩΝ above, crouching horse r., about to roll. Rogers 288, fig. 140; See also Münzen und Medaillen 76 (19 September 1991) 329. VF, green patina; the reverse a little crowded due to the small flan.

Same obverse die as lot 390.4 above. This is an excellent example of a weight and diameter difference between two coins (this one and lot 389.5) that would have most people think that they are different denominations. The fact that we can see them together, sharing the same obverse die, confirms this writer’s belief that weight and flan diameter are of no importance when trying to classify coins by denomination. The governing factor should be the size of the image stamped on the coin and nothing else.

(390.6) THESSALY, Larissa. Late 4th century BC. Æ Dichalkon (17.5mm, 4.17 g, 12h). Head of nymph Larissa r., her hair rolled up, wearing a drop pendant earring; border of dots / ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙ above circular, ΩΝ in exergue, crouching horse r., about to roll. This letter arrangement not found in the references consulted but see CNG e-sale 232 (28 April 2010) 49 for the same obverse die and the same hand for the rev. die. Near VF, olive brown patina, the obv. softly struck.

An unusual obverse style and reverse letter arrangement that could be a later or irregular issue.