Triton XV, Lot: 767. Estimate $200. Sold for $350. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Trikka. 2nd half of the 5th century BC. AR Hemidrachm (17mm, 2.91 g, 3h). Youthful hero, Thessalos, naked but for cloak and petasos over his shoulders, holding a band with both hands below the horns of the forepart of a bull leaping r., border of dots / TPI-K-KAI-И (sic) from l. up, to r. and down circular, forepart of bridled horse prancing r., all in incuse square with rounded edges and corners. This die combination not found in references consulted. VF, lightly toned; reverse die flaw at horse’s truncation.

Trikka produced vast quantities of hemidrachms if we are to judge from the number of dies that have survived. Probably a kind of agreement was reached with Larissa that produced equal amounts of taurokathapsia drachms because, up to now, no Trikka drachms are known to us. Larissa did strike hemidrachms of this type but in small quantities and from few dies. They were probably exceptional issues and most of them have various symbols or are signed by the die cutters, indicating a special purpose or status.