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Research Coins: Feature Auction

 

Olea Reattributed to Methylion

Sale: CNG 81, Lot: 415. Estimate $300. 
Closing Date: Wednesday, 20 May 2009. 
Sold For $575. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Methylion. Late 5th-early 4th century BC. Æ 12mm (1.76 g, 3h). Grain ear within partially opened husk; stem remaining; M-E across upper field, read left to right from the bottom, and Θ-V across lower field, read right to left from the top / Ram standing right [on double groundline]; ME-N[EK-PA-...] around; all within circular incuse. Franke, Erste pp. 1-3 = Triton VIII, lot 285 (same dies); CNG 79, lot 192; CNG 78, lot 468; Gorny & Mosch 147, lot 1404; otherwise unpublished. Good VF, dark brown patina. Extremely rare, the fifth known of this issue.


In Schweizer Münzblätter 37 (May 1960), P.R. Franke first published a coin of this type, which recently appeared at auction (Triton VIII, lot 285). On that example, the letters on the left side of the obverse were only partially visible. Franke interpreted them as an A, at the top, and an O, at the midline, leading him to attribute the coin to the city of Olea. Three other examples have appeared at auction recently, but none have been helpful in clarifying the reading. The present coin, struck from the same dies as Franke’s specimen, reveals the true reading: M-E-Θ-V. A survey of the early coinage at Methylion, all extremely rare, reveals the same ethnic and iconography on drachms (Traité I 1424), hemidrachms (CNG 73, lot 189), and obols (CNG 73, lot 190). While this bronze issue clearly postdates the silver coins, it certainly belongs to the earliest period of bronze coinage in Thessaly. An additional note on this type: Franke assumed the name on the reverse to be that of a magistrate, and also assumed the ending was -TOYΣ. However, none of the known coins show the full name, and the legend on the CNG 78 example ends with an A. Accordingly, we have left the legend incomplete.