Triton XV, Lot: 477. Estimate $100. Sold for $600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Metropolis. Second half of 4th century BC. Æ Trichalkon (18mm, 4.85 g, 6h). Laureate head of Apollo r., border of dots / MHTPOΠO-[ΛΙTΩN] from lower l., above to r. and down circular, Aphrodite Kastnia standing l., holding dove; in front of her, Eros l., reaching up towards the bird; below r., two monograms. Rogers 409, fig. 218. Good Fine, nice green patina, a little rough in places; a very attractive coin of the finest style. From the collection of Professor Peter R. Franke.

Acquired in May 1979 from Professor Franke, for DM 100.

See lot 101 above (Kierion), where the obverse die is from the same hand. The two poleis were situated very near one another and it was logical that they would share the expenses of bringing over a well known artist for the inauguration of their larger sized coins. The artwork on this type varies a great deal; the issue probably started around the third quarter of the 4th century and, as quite often is the case, the master engraver cut the first pair of dies. All subsequent dies were cut by less able engravers and the issue was repeated at irregular intervals into the 3rd century BC.