Triton XV, Lot: 576. Estimate $150. Sold for $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Phalanna. Circa 322 BC. Æ Dichalkon (16mm, 2.74 g, 12h). Head of Ares l., in crested Attic helmet, border of dots / [Φ]AΛANNAIΩN from l., above circular, free horse trotting to r. Papaevangelou-Genakos period 2, plate 1, 10 (this coin); see also Nomos 4, 1257 (same reverse die; the obv. from the same hand). VF, nice green patina and reasonably well centred and struck; not in Rogers, a rare, historically interesting and attractive type.

Ares, the god of war, also features on the smaller denomination (see the next lot, 577); these two coins must be contemporary and are a departure from the nymph subjects, probably not without a reason. At the beginning of the Lamian War the Thessalians were allies of Macedon, but soon changed sides and supported the rebel forces that were led by the Athenians and included practically all the central and southern Greek cities. The outcome of the war was not in their favour but after the battle of Krannon the victorious Macedonians treated the Thessalians very leniently and life in the cities returned to normal quite quickly. It may be that the bronzes featuring Ares on the obverse were struck as one of the contributions of Phalanna when the Thessalian cities decided to join their southern neighbours in the fight against Macedonian imperialism.