Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 1296. Estimate CHF250.  Closing Date: Monday, 9 May 2011.  Sold For CHF1200. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THESSALY, Pharsalos. Early 4th century BC. Chalkous (Bronze, 14mm, 2.08 g 3). Helmeted head of Athena Parthenos facing, turned slightly to the left. Rev. Φ-Α-Ρ-Σ...Ι-Ω-Ν Thessalian cavalryman, wearing petasos and chlamys, riding horse rearing to right. Lavva 354 = Rogers 488 (same dies) . Very rare. Dark, glossy patina. Traces of corrosion, otherwise, about extremely fine.

This is a very rare coin: known examples all seem to be from the same die pair. It has a very unusual arrangement of the reverse legend that begins on the bottom left and continues around in a spiral so that the Σ and Ν are opposite each other.