Magnetes. Lot of 4 coins.

Triton XV, Lot: 423. Estimate $100. Sold for $800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of 4 coins.

(423.1) THESSALY, Magnetes. 1st century BC. Æ Chalkous (?) (15mm, 2.30 g, 6h). Head of Artemis r., her hair rolled up around her head and ending in an upturned tuft behind / ΜΑΓΝΗT from r., up circular to l., ΩN below, prow r. Not found in consulted literature. Fine, green patina with red hues; surfaces a bit rough; very rare.

A type that apparently is missing from all published collections.

(423.2) THESSALY, Magnetes. 1st century BC. Æ Chalkous (?) (16mm, 2.59 g, 6h). Head of Artemis r., her hair rolled up around her head; border of dots / ΜΑΓ below, ΝΗ r. up, ΤΩΝ circular above and to l., upside down, prow r., above, monogram, all in dotted circle. Not found in consulted literature. Fine, dark brown, slightly rough patina; flan a little irregular; very rare.

Another very rare type, either a very late autonomous or an early Imperial municipal issue.

(423.3) THESSALY, Magnetes. 1st century BC. Æ Chalkous (?) (14.5mm, 2.19 g, 3h). ΜΑΓΝΗ from l. to r. above and circular, the centaur Chiron advancing r., branch above his l. shoulder, his r. arm extended forward; border of dots / ΑΡΓ[Ω] below, the ship Argo, with rowers, sailing l. Rogers 357, fig. 181 var. [ship without a sail and to r.]. Good Fine, brown patina, a little rough, the obv. slightly off centre on a tight flan; very rare.

A charming miniature engraving of the mythical ship Argo, illustrating many details that only a specialist on ancient Greek galleys could name. However, it is worth mentioning that this particular die is one of the few that include an unfurled sail. This die-cutter obviously did not think that the Argonauts relied on their rowing alone for their long trip to the east.

(423.4) THESSALY, Magnetes. 1st century BC. Æ Chalkous (?) (20mm, 4.15 g, 3h). ΜΑΓΝΗ above circular, the centaur Chiron advancing r., branch above his l. shoulder, his r. arm extended forward; border of dots / ΑΡ[ΓΩ] below, the ship Argo, with rowers, sailing l. Rogers 357, fig. 181 var. [ship without a sail and to r.]. Near Fine, green-brown surfaces; partly flat sruck.

Size comparison with the previous coin (lot 423.3) shows again the inconsistency in weights and coin sizes that prevailed at the time.