Thessalian League. Lot of 4 coins.

Triton XV, Lot: 897. Estimate $150. Sold for $500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

Lot of 4 coins.

(897.1) THESSALY, Thessalian League. Mid – late 1st century BC. Æ Tetrachalkon or Trihemiobol (23mm, 11.76 g, 12h). Eubiotos and Petraios, magistrates. Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath / [ΘEΣ]ΣA-ΛΩN, Taurokathapsia scene: The hero Thessalos jumping from his horse, in background galloping right, onto a bull running right, the head of which he restrains with a band held in both of his hands; [EY]BIOTOY above, ΠETPAIOΣ below. Burrer p. 62; Rogers 58 corr. (scene misdescribed); see also Nomos 4, 1391 with additional reference to the article by Stoyas. Near VF, green patina.

The reason four of these coins are offered here together, is the attempt to show (by illustrating a variety of reverse dies) the taurokathapsia scene as clearly as possible. The man has just jumped off his horse, which is galloping away in the background, and has put the band around the bull’s forehead. On the last two coins, we can see one of his legs dangling in the air below the bull. His body is hidden by the bull’s body, but we can see his head and his arms, especially his right one.

(897.2) THESSALY, Thessalian League. Mid – late 1st century BC. Æ Tetrachalkon or Trihemiobol (22mm, 14.64 g, 12h). Eubiotos and Petraios, magistrates. Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath / [ΘE]ΣΣA-[ΛΩN], Taurokathapsia scene: The hero Thessalos jumping from his horse, in background galloping right, onto a bull running right, the head of which he restrains with a band held in both of his hands; [EY]BIOT-[OY] above, ΠETPAIOΣ below. Burrer p. 62; Rogers 58 corr. (scene misdescribed); see also Nomos 4, 1391 with additional reference to the article by Stoyas. Good Fine, dark green patina.


(897.3) THESSALY, Thessalian League. Mid – late 1st century BC. Æ Tetrachalkon or Trihemiobol (22mm, 12.26 g, 1h). Eubiotos and Petraios, magistrates. Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath / ΘEΣΣA-ΛΩN, Taurokathapsia scene: The hero Thessalos jumping from his horse, in background galloping right, onto a bull running right, the head of which he restrains with a band held in both of his hands; EYBIOTOY above, ΠETPAIOΣ below. Burrer p. 62; Rogers 58 corr. (scene misdescribed); see also Nomos 4, 1391 with additional reference to the article by Stoyas. Near VF, dark green patina.


(897.4) THESSALY, Thessalian League. Mid – late 1st century BC. Æ Tetrachalkon or Trihemiobol (22mm, 12.19 g, 12h). Eubiotos and Petraios, magistrates. Head of Zeus right, wearing laurel wreath / ΘEΣΣA-ΛΩN, Taurokathapsia scene: The hero Thessalos jumping from his horse, in background galloping right, onto a bull running right, the head of which he restrains with a band held in both of his hands; EYBIOTOY above, ΠETPAIOΣ below. Burrer p. 62; Rogers 58 corr. (scene misdescribed); see also Nomos 4, 1391 with additional reference to the article by Stoyas. Good Fine, brown-green patina.

Ex Künker 27 (27 September 1994), lot 191 (part).