Triton XVIII, Lot: 544. Estimate $1000. Sold for $3500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

ELIS, Olympia. 134th-143rd Olympiad. Circa 244-208 BC. AR Drachm (18mm, 4.87 g, 8h). Teka–, magistrate. Eagle flying right, tearing at hare held in its talons / Vertical thunderbolt with central facing winged gorgoneion, volutes above and below; F-A flanking, TEKA(?) monogram to lower left. Elis Hoard Group IV, 41; BCD Olympia 266 var. (hippocamp on rev.); HGC 5, 510; SNG Copenhagen 427 (same dies); M&M AG 94, lot 429 var. (same). EF, toned, a little die wear. Very rare with gorgoneion on reverse.

From the RH Collection.

As noted by BCD, this type of thunderbolt with the facing gorgoneion is most unusual among the Elean series. It is also among the rarest, and should not be confused with similar issues that have a thunderbolt with central wings, but lack the gorgoneion (cf. BCD 260).