Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 531. Estimate $500.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $525. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BOIOTIA, Thebes. Circa 395-338 BC. AR Stater (12.07 g). Klio(n)-, magistrate. Struck circa 368-364 BC. Boiotian shield / Amphora; KL-IW across field; all within incuse concave circle. Hepworth 69; Head, Boeotia p. 65; Myron Hoard pl. E, 8-9; BMC p. 83, 154-155; SNG Cop. 343. Good VF, even light grey tone, a few surface scratches. ($500)

Of this exact variety there were three FDC specimens in the Myron hoard and several others less well preserved. Hepworth has proved by means of die-linking this variety with the other two varieties of the same magistrate (which were absent from the Myron hoard) that the cut-off point of the magistrate sequence in the hoard came immediately after this variety. What is interesting is that all known coins of this magistrate (all three varieties) are struck from one obverse die which is not shared with an earlier or a later magistrate. It was therefore thought appropriate to place the obol issue of KL here, and not about ten years earlier, which would be the only other alternative. An obol issue for this magistrate, coming at a time when the Theban military machine was being polished to perfection, makes sense when various other activities connected to military matters are also taken into account.