Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 190. Estimate $200.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $130. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BOIOTIA, Orchomenos. Circa 525-480 BC. AR Obol (0.83 g). Wheat grain, sprouting end upward / Square incuse with thick Y-shaped relief leaving two larger recessed areas (each divided by a line), and small recessed area. This variety unpublished in the standard references. VF, minor porosity. ($200)

The pattern on the reverse of this coin appears to be the final derivative of the pattern that began in lot 187. Here, the three triangles that appeared in relief on the earlier coins have joined and taken on a single thickness, resulting in a Y-shaped form. As a result, the large triangle and square have lost portions of their linear form, and are now asymmetrical. One can easily imagine this as an early precursor to the "Aeginetan" pattern of the following series. Alternatively, it can be viewed as abstract art, which today sells much better than ancient coins.