Skotussa. Lot of 2 coins.

Triton XV, Lot: 748. Estimate $150. Sold for $600. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of 2 coins.

(748.1) THESSALY, Skotussa. Early to mid 4th century BC. Æ Chalkous (12mm, 1.99 g, 9h). Head of bearded Dionysos r., wearing ivy wreath / Σ-K-O-T from above l., down, r. and up circular, bunch of grapes hanging from vine branch, all in circular incuse. See Nomos 4, 1339 var. [different style obv. and letters differently arranged]. Near VF, green patina; both sides marginally off centre; rare.


(748.2) THESSALY, Skotussa. Early to mid 4th century BC. Æ Chalkous (12mm, 1.26 g, 5h). Head of wreathed and bearded Dionysos r. / Σ-K-O-T from above r., down, l. and up circular, triangular bunch of grapes hanging from vine branch. See Nomos 4, 1339 var. [different style obverse and shape of reverse grapes; letters differently arranged]. Near VF, nice light green patina; reverse marginally off centre.

There must have been several die cutters working on the dies of this bronze fraction, as on the few known coins, all the obverse styles as well as the shapes of the grape bunches are clearly from different hands. There is of course another possibility, and just because the mint in question is Skotussa, it should not be thought of as absurd: there was only one die-cutter working on these small dies for this bronze fraction and, just to make his work more interesting, he consciously engraved differently styled heads and grape bunches on the various dies he was called upon to prepare.