Metropolis. Lot of 6 coins.

Triton XV, Lot: 481. Estimate $200. Sold for $800. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of 6 coins.

(481.1) THESSALY, Metropolis. Late 4th to early 3rd centuries BC. Æ Trichalkon (19mm, 5.62 g, 12h). Laureate head of Apollo r., linear border / MHTPO l. up, ΠOΛΙTΩN r. down circular, Aphrodite Kastnia standing l., holding dove; in front of her, Eros l., reaching up towards the bird. No reference found in the literature consulted. Good Fine, smooth dark green patina, traces of roughness in the centre of the reverse.


(481.2) THESSALY, Metropolis. 3rd century BC. Æ Trichalkon (18mm, 5.68 g, 10h). Laureate head of Apollo r. / [MHTPOΠOΛΙ]TΩN from l., up and around, circular, Aphrodite Kastnia standing l., holding dove; in front of her, Eros l., reaching up towards the bird; in field r., monogram. No reference found in the literature consulted. Near Fine, nice light green patina; struck on a tight flan with the obv. losing part of Apollo’s chin; the rev. partly flat struck, losing most of the inscription.


(481.3) THESSALY, Metropolis. 3rd century BC. Æ Trichalkon (18.5mm, 6.03 g, 4h). Laureate head of Apollo r. / MH-TPO[ΠOΛΙTΩN] from top l., to r. and down, circular, Aphrodite Kastnia standing l., holding dove; in front of her, Eros r., pleading with her; in field r., monogram, in field l., monogram. No exact reference found in the literature consulted, but see CNG e-sale 241 (29 September 2010) 61 (same rev. die). Near Fine, dark green patina with some red areas; obverse softly struck.


(481.4) THESSALY, Metropolis. 3rd century BC. Æ Trichalkon (18mm, 6.63 g, 10h). Laureate head of Apollo r. / [MHTPO]-ΠOΛΙTΩN up l. and r. down, circular, Aphrodite Kastnia standing l., holding dove; in front of her, Eros r., pleading with her; in field l., monogram. Rogers 408 var. [different monogram]. Fine, green patina; obv. struck on a short flan and slightly off centre; both sides softly struck.


(481.5) THESSALY, Metropolis. 3rd century BC. Æ Trichalkon (18.5mm, 6.41 g, 11h). Laureate head of Apollo r. / [MHTPOΠOΛ]ΙTΩN from l., up and around, circular, Aphrodite Kastnia standing l., holding dove; in front of her, Eros r., pleading with her; in field l. and r., monograms. No exact reference found in the literature consulted. Near Fine, greenish brown patina with some bronze color showing on high points, mainly on the obverse; die flaw in rev. field between 10 and 11 o’clock; both sides softly struck but centred on a tight flan.


(481.6) THESSALY, Metropolis. 3rd century BC. Æ Trichalkon (19mm, 8.36 g, 2h). Laureate head of Apollo r. / MHTP[O] above, ΠOΛΙTΩ[N] below, forepart of man headed bull to l., head turned back to r., below, monogram. Rogers 410, fig. 219. Good Fine, green patina; some minor pits and digs on the obv., part of the bull’s head flat struck on the reverse.

These coins must all belong to the 3rd century, if we are to judge from the style of the Apollo obverses. The man-headed bull reverses must refer to the local river that still exists in the area and is a good source of frogs, snared by the locals who consider them a delicacy. This writer fondly remembers his first visit in the area, back in the early 60’s, when he was introduced to a certain Mr. Kalamaras who, apart from other things, was the expert frog-catcher of the village.