Thessalian League. Lot of 2 coins.

Triton XV, Lot: 883. Estimate $150. Sold for $400. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of 2 coins.

(883.1) THESSALY, Thessalian League. Mid – late 1st century BC. AR Stater (23mm, 5.83 g, 12h). Philippos and Themistogenes, magistrates. Head of Zeus right, wearing oak wreath / ΘEΣΣA/ΛΩN, Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear held in her right hand, shield on her left arm; ΦIΛΙΠ-ΠOY above spear, [Θ]EMIΣΤΟΓEN[HΣ] in exergue; in inner right field, Ennodia running right, holding two torches. SNG Copenhagen 296; see also Coin Hoards III, fig. 12, 11 (same dies). VF, toned.

The depiction of Ennodia on these issues has received various interpretations. Typically, in other art forms, she is shown riding a horse. Helly reported (RN 1966, p. 8, n. 2) that he had seen an example of these staters showing her on a horse, but there are no published examples with this plainly visible. It is more likely that, as here, the engraver attempted to display her in a running motion (as Artemis Phosphoros typically is shown on other coinage), but the dress is so poorly rendered that it appears to be alien to her form, such that the viewer may misinterpret the dress as a horse. See UBS 57 (15 September 2003), lot 187, for another example.

(883.2) THESSALY, Thessalian League. Mid – late 1st century BC. AR Stater (23mm, 6.07 g, 12h). Philippos and Themistogenes, magistrates. Head of Zeus right, wearing oak wreath / ΘEΣΣA/ΛΩN, Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear held in her right hand, shield on her left arm; [Φ]IΛΙΠ-ΠOY above spear, [ΘE]MIΣΤΟΓENH[Σ] in exergue; in outer right field, Ennodia running right, holding two torches. SNG Evelpidis 1636; see also Coin Hoards III, fig. 12, 12. VF, lightly toned; a faint linear circular die break on obverse.