Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 219. Estimate $750.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $850. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BOIOTIA, Orchomenos. 395-364 BC. AR Tritetartemorion (0.65 g). Three wheat grains in a row, sprouting ends upward; ER below / Star of seven rays with central hub; E-R flanking one ray. This variety unpublished in the standard references. VF, even grey tone, struck on a broad flan. Possibly unique. ($750)

The relatively thin and spread flan of this unique coin and the total lack of concavity on its reverse suggest a later issue, towards the middle of the 4th century. However, as the city was destroyed in 364 BC, it can not have been struck later than this date. A refined date for this coin would therefore be "circa 370 BC", just about the time when Thebes issues its first bronze coins. Interestingly enough, this coin has the same reverse type as the bronze coins of Orchomenos with the Boiotian shield on the obverse (see lots 225 and 227 below). Another, apparently also unique, Orchomenos tritetartemorion in the Munich collection, illustrated in Imhoof-Blumer, Münzkunde, 45, pl. IX, 9, has a wheat wreath on its reverse, obviously borrowed from the hemidrachm (see below, lot 220). It seems that at the time the mint issued some "special reverse" issues for specific purposes, or sponsored by particular individuals. Such occurrences usually indicate a well organized mint in a thriving economy which can afford the luxury of such diversions.