Pharsalos. Lot of 2 coins.

Triton XV, Lot: 662. Estimate $150. Sold for $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of 2 coins.

(662.1) THESSALY, Pharsalos. Mid to late 5th century BC. AR Hemidrachm (15mm, 2.87 g, 7h). Head of Athena r., wearing crested Attic helmet / ΦA-P r. down, horse’s head and neck r., all in an incuse square with rounded corners. Lavva 13 q (this coin). VF, nicely toned; a small edge die flaw above the face on the obverse.


(662.2) THESSALY, Pharsalos. Mid to late 5th century BC. AR Hemidrachm (18.5mm, 3.12 g, 1h). Head of Athena r., wearing crested Attic helmet / Φ-A-P-[Σ]-A from above l., r. circular, horse’s head and neck r., all in an incuse square with rounded corners. Lavva 18 (V12/R12). VF, lightly toned with a trace of double striking on the obverse profile.

This coin was acquired just a few years ago but it reputedly comes from a much older hoard that, amongst other Pharsalian and Phokian coins, included lot 261 of BCD Lokris-Phokis (NAC 55, 8 October 2010). That coin is in extremely fine plus condition and can be securely dated to 418 BC. On the other hand, the wear of this Pharsalos hemidrachm is considerable; the coin has seen some decades of circulation. If we therefore date it nearer to the 450s than to the end of the fifth century, the earlier hemidrachms and fractions should be moved nearer to 479 BC, the starting date of Lavva’s bracket for the earliest Pharsalos issues.