CNG 99, Lot: 57. Estimate $2000. Sold for $1700. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of THRACE, Macedonian. Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (28mm, 17.12 g, 1h). Pella mint. Struck 286/5-282/1 BC. Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon / Athena Nikephoros seated left, arm resting on shield, spear in background; HP monogram to inner left, ornament on throne. Thompson 247 var. (no ornament); Müller –. EF, deep cabinet tone, very minor die shift on obverse. Extremely rare with ornament.

Ex Sotheby’s (20 April 1970), lot 115.

Thompson notes (p. 176, n. 1) that this particular ornament on the throne is commonly known on coins of Magnesia, but also occurs on rare issues of Mytilene and Ephesos. It appears, however, that unbeknownst to Thompson, it also occurs on rare issues of Pella (cf. Bourgey, March 1975, lot 30 [a variety of Thompson 248], CNG 81, lot 253 [a variety of Thompson 250], and Knobloch FPL 21, no. 67 [a variety of Thompson 252]). The appearance of the ornament on the type of Thompson 250 calls into question the assignment of Thompson 101 and 102. The latter two are not die linked to other issues of Magnesia, and appear to have been assigned there only for the appearance of the ornament on the throne. As the monogram on all of these issues is common for Pella, it is likely that all of these issues should be placed there.