Sale: Triton IX, Lot: 226. Estimate $200.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 January 2006.  Sold For $200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

BOIOTIA, Orchomenos. Circa 210 BC. Æ 11mm (1.05 g, 11h). Bust of Arsinoe III (as Hera) right, veiled, sceptre over shoulder; border of dots / Tripod; EP downward on right, XO downward on left; all within laurel wreath tying below. Head, Boeotia p. 94, pl. 6, 11 = BMC 39, pl. VIII, 18. Good VF, dark green patina. Exceptional for issue. Rare. ($200)

A. Schachter ("A note on the reorganization of the Thespian Museia," NumChron 1961, pp. 69-70) suggests that these coins were struck on the occasion of the Charitesia, a festival at Orchomenos in honour of the Charites or Graces. Due to the similarity of the Orchomenian veiled head to that of the bronzes of Thespiai (see lots 611 to 616 below) and the attribution of the veiled head on the obverse of the latter to Arsinoe III, he identifies the "Hera" of this obverse as none other than Arsinoe in the guise of a Charis.