Meliboia

Triton XV, Lot: 445. Estimate $200. Sold for $10000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Meliboia (IACP 453)

According to the latest information, the Magnesia city of Meliboia has as yet not been securely identified, though stamped tiles with the city name are known. There are some extremely rare silver fractions, as well as less rare bronze, all date to the mid 4th century BC.

THESSALY, Meliboia. 2nd quarter of the 4th century BC. Æ Trichalkon (22mm, 9.13 g, 10h). Head of nymph to r., wearing plain necklace and pendant earring; her hair decorated with a wheat diadem; border of dots / ΜΕ[ΛΙ] above, ΒΟ[Ι]Ω below circular, bunch of grapes and two vine leaves hanging from vine branch. Rogers 391, fig. 205. VF, dark green patina with some roughness on part of the reverse surface; the obverse well struck and of superb style; an outstanding portrait on an extremely rare coin.

The combination of rarity and beauty is very elusive in ancient Greek bronzes and it is therefore difficult for a collector who has been blessed with a coin possessing both these qualities to put his feelings into words. When this coin was acquired, back in the 80’s, it suddenly felt as if the whole world around me became brighter and more beautiful; as if I was given a pair of wings so that I could fly high up above all the continents and take up the whole world in one single sweep. Now is the turn of someone else to own it and I hope he or she feels the same way.