Skotussa. Lot of 4 coins.

Triton XV, Lot: 757. Estimate $150. Sold for $1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

The four coins in this lot are put together to show the variation of flan size for coins that not only belong to the same issue but their dies (where they are not die duplicates) were cut by the same hand(s). It may be that the reverse dies were cut by one individual and the obverses by another. When these obverse dies are compared to the obverse dies of other mints, and specifically Larissa, we find that lots 757.2 below and 396.4 above share an obverse die. Earlier in the catalogue, more coins from different mints were found to be from the same obverse die: lots 71.12 and 396.6 as well as 71.10 and 396.7. A traveling artist carrying his dies with him or centralized minting in one location?

Lot of 4 coins.

(757.1) THESSALY, Skotussa. Late 3rd or 2nd centuries BC. Æ Trichalkon (24.5mm, 8.03 g, 10h). Head of nymph facing, turned slightly to l., wearing pearl necklace, her hair bound with a ribbon; all in circle of dots / ΣKOTOYΣΣΛI (sic) above circular, Ω-N to l. and r. below, bunch of grapes on a stalk, hanging from a vine branch; to l. and r., vine leaves and tendrils. These dies not found in consulted literature. Good Fine, green - brown patina; obv. weakly struck; rev a little off centre and partly flat struck.


(757.2) THESSALY, Skotussa. Late 3rd or 2nd centuries BC. Æ Trichalkon (22mm, 5.30 g, 10h). Head of nymph facing, turned slightly to l., wearing pearl necklace, her hair bound with a ribbon; all in circle of dots / ΣKO[TOYΣΣAI] above circular, ΩN below, bunch of grapes on a stalk, hanging from a vine branch; to l. and r., vine leaves and tendrils. These dies not found in consulted literature. VF, green patina; both sides marginally off centre.


(757.3) THESSALY, Skotussa. Late 3rd or 2nd centuries BC. Æ Trichalkon (19.5mm, 7.24 g, 6h). Head of nymph facing, turned slightly to l., wearing pearl necklace, her hair bound with a ribbon; all in circle of dots (hardly visible here) / ΣKOTOYΣΣA[I] above circular, ΩN below, bunch of grapes on a stalk, hanging from a vine branch; to l. and r., vine leaves and tendrils. Traité IV, 633, pl. CCXCV, 14 (same dies); Rogers 544, fig. 301 (same obv. die). Near VF, dark brown patina; surface slightly rough.


(757.4) THESSALY, Skotussa. Late 3rd or 2nd centuries BC. Æ Trichalkon (18mm, 8.65 g, 10h). Head of nymph facing, turned slightly to l., wearing pearl necklace, her hair bound with a ribbon / ΣKO[TOYΣΣAI] above circular, ΩN below, bunch of grapes on a stalk, hanging from a vine branch; to l. and r., vine leaves and tendrils. These dies not found in consulted literature. Near VF, brown patina; centred and well struck but rev. die too big for the small flan.

Below and to the l. on the reverse the vine tendrils are shaped in such a way that they resemble an owl standing right, looking at the viewer.