Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 606. Estimate $7500.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $8500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BOIOTIA, Thespiai. Early-mid 4th century BC. AR Stater (12.00 g). Boiotian shield / Head of Aphrodite Melainis right; to right, vertical crescent facing left [partially visible]; QESPKIO[N] along lower edge; all within incuse circle. Pozzi 1459 = Pozzi (Boutin) 3321; McClean 5642, pl. 203, 9 (same dies); Weber 3314 (same dies). Near EF, even grey cabinet tone, a few scratches on obverse, minor striking flatness in the hair. Pleasing artistic workmanship. ($7500)

Ex Hess-Leu 45 (12 May 1970), lot 182.

This delicately styled reverse always appears coupled with the distinctly oblong shield and should be placed chronologically towards the end of the period during which Thespiai struck its staters. The hand of a different, probably younger and more "liberated" artist is at work here and the size of and hair detail on the reverse die, together with the barely visible flan concavity, suggest an issue towards the end of the first quarter of the century, if not later.