Sale: CNG 69, Lot: 267. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 8 June 2005.  Sold For $775. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 400-380 BC. AR Drachm (6.10 gm, 9h). Reverse die signed by Ai-. Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left; dolphins flanking neck; [GEU on ampyx] / Horse grazing right, AI below belly. Lorber, Early, 16 (same dies); cf. Herrmann Group VII-I; SNG Copenhagen -. Good VF, patch of horn silver on obverse. Extremely rare with dolphins. ($500)

Lorber notes that the dolphins hark back to the Kimonean facing head types at Syracuse, which influenced this coinage at Larissa. Also, she notes that they serve as an allusion to the myth of Larissa's accidental drowning while playing ball by the banks of the Peneos.