325, Lot: 36. Estimate $200. Sold for $1300. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Koinon of Thessaly. temp. Claudius. AD 41-54. Æ Assarion (17mm, 3.63 g, 1h). Antigonos, strategos. ANTIΓO–NOY, helmeted bust of Athena right, wearing aegis / ΣTP–A–THΓOY, horse galloping left; grain ear to left, monogram above. Burrer Em. 1, Series 6, 98 (A25/R83); RPC I Supp. S-1438A; BCD Thessaly II 929 (same dies; hammer of $1500); BCD Thessaly I 1403 (same dies; hammer of CHF 7000); CNG e299, lot 25 (same dies; hammer of $1900). VF, black patina. Extremely rare, the fourth known.

From the BCD Collection .

A note from BCD from the Triton sale: The writer remembers the day when he was offered the first one of these coins to ever appear in the trade. The owner knew he had an unpublished, completely new type in his hands and, quite nonchalantly, quoted a price that was ridiculously inflated. The reaction of the buyer was equally cool and after the transaction was completed he casually mentioned that for such a great rarity he would have easily paid double the amount and still would be very happy with his purchase. Needless to say, the seller never forgave himself for not asking a higher price.