Pharos - A Hitherto Unknown Thessalian City

Triton XV, Lot: 625. Estimate $150. Sold for $2500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

A hitherto historically and numismatically unknown Thessalian city. The writer was able to trace a reference to it in Stephanos Byzantios through Stählin and is therefore confident that the mint of Pharos can be added to the list of Thessalian poleis that issued coins [Φάρος ... ἔστι καὶ πόλις Περραιβική. ἐθνικὸν τὸ αὐτό. (Pharos ... is also a city in Perrhaibaia. Nationality is the same.)]. The head on the obverse is probably the city’s hero or its mythical founder. The reverse alludes to the well known horse Skyphios (see lots 1 to 23 in this auction) accompanied by Poseidon’s trident that released him when the god struck the rock with it. This first appearance of coins from the Thessalian mint of Pharos is offered here split in two separate lots so that a buyer will have two opportunities to acquire a coin from this up to now completely unknown city.

THESSALY, Pharos. Early to mid 4th century BC. Æ Chalkous (15mm, 2.86 g, 9h). Young male head l., wearing a wide head band binding his long hair / ΦAPAIΩ-N circular from below l., forepart of horse r., below, trident l. Unpublished, unknown and unique (?). Good Fine, green patina with some bronze showing from underneath.