Unique Le Rider Plate Coin with Thyrsos

Sale: CNG 75, Lot: 129. Estimate $2500.  Closing Date: Wednesday, 23 May 2007.  Sold For $4750. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

KINGS of MACEDON. Philip II. 359-336 BC. AV Stater (8.55 g, 6h). Pella mint. Struck under Antipater, Polyperchon, or Kassander, circa 323/2-315 BC. Laureate head of Apollo right / Charioteer driving biga right, holding kentron and reins; thyrsos behind chariot, kantharos and S below horses. Le Rider 556a (D234/R402 - this coin); SNG ANS -. Near EF, light die rust on obverse. Extremely rare issue with thyrsos, the only known example of this variety.

Ex Münzen und Medaillen Liste 189 (April 1959), no. 16.

Le Rider failed to notice the thyrsos on this coin, but did note that the obverse die for this issue is linked to his cat. no. 615, which has a thyrsos and Boeotian shield below the horses. Both of these issues with the thyrsos are extremely rare, with only one die combination known for each.