Triton XV, Lot: 446. Estimate $125. Sold for $4000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Meliboia. 2nd quarter of the 4th century BC. Æ Chalkous (14.5mm, 2.48 g, 9h). Head of nymph to r., wearing plain necklace and pendant earring; her hair decorated with a wheat diadem / ME above, Λ-I below, bunch of grapes and two vine leaves hanging from vine branch. This style and size of obverse portrait not found in the consulted reference sources. VF, dark greenish gray patina, some light pitting on surfaces; a very attractive portrait from a gifted artist.

There is no doubt that the obverse die of this bronze was created by the artist that sculpted the obverse for the previous coin, lot 445. The writer believes that these very attractive portrait coins preceded the facing head Dichalka and the plethora of smaller bronzes that will follow (lots 450 to 456 below); this celator must have been a widely recognized artist - probably not a local resident - who offered his services sparingly and against substantial remuneration.