Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 1224. Estimate CHF650.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF6000. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Pagasai. Mid - later 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 13mm, 2.34 g 5). Laureate head of Apollo Pagasaios facing, head turned slightly to right. Rev. ΠΑΓΑ - ΣΙ - ΤΩΝ Lyre with seven strings. Liampi 2005 p. 32, 1 = pl. 3, 3 (this coin). Unique. Dark brown patina, good very fine.

Liampi provides a complete discussion for this coin in her article in NC, where it was first published. It is here dated slightly later than in Liampi because of the full legend and the lack of any perceptible incuse on the reverse. In any event, the coinage of Pagasai must have only been issued out of civic pride, as a means for the city’s citizens to pay for small purchases using their ‘own’ money, rather than the ‘foreign’ coins from other Thessalian cities that must have been the mainstay of Pagasai’s currency system.