Triton XV, Lot: 771. Estimate $125. Sold for $1400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Trikka. 2nd half of the 5th century BC. AR Obol (10.5mm, 0.83 g, 9h). Free horse prancing r., border of dots / [T]PIKA (sic) r. down, the nymph Trikke standing r., fully draped, holding box in her l. and opening it with her r., all in incuse square. SNG Alpha Bank 280; see also Nomos 4, 1354 (same dies but see note below). Near VF, dark toning with silver highlights on the raised surfaces; the rev. not perfectly centred.

Ex SBV Basel 27 January 1987, 37, hammer CHF 700.

The Nomos 4, coin (see above reference) is better centred and allows us to see more letters on the reverse. However, the second K of the ethnic is not at all clear and some die flaws on it and around it further confuse the issue for the reader. On this coin, with the reverse die in an earlier state and without die flaws, the I and K before a clear A do not leave any doubt that the die cutter engraved only one K for the legend.