Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 1101. Estimate CHF650.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF3000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 500-479 BC. Obol (Silver, 0.69 g 10). Head of the nymph Larissa to left, with ribbon and with her hair bound at the back. Rev. Λ - Α - R - Ι Quadripartite incuse square with letter in each quarter. Apparently unpublished, save for Lanz 97, 22 May 2000, 217. Very rare. Bold and attractive. Nearly extremely fine.

This is a fascinating coin, but it is somewhat difficult to place chronologically because its style is quite different from the other early issues of Larissa. The head of Larissa is unlike that found on the “Jason’s sandal” issues: the type looks rather like an experiment that failed to find favor and was discontinued.