415, Lot: 8. Estimate $100. Sold for $130. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

THRACE, Mesambria. Circa 350-300 BC. Æ (13mm, 2.00 g). Helmeted head of Melsas right / Ethnic in pelta. Karayotov II pp. 30–4; Topalov, Messambria 11; HGC 3, 1579 corr. (Melsas, not Athena). Good VF, dark green patina.

From the Belgica Collection. Ex Lanz 147 (2 November 2009), lot 39.

HGC 1579 appears to have erroneously aggregated two separate issues in to one. Both issues have a similar appearance, with a helmeted head right on the obverse and the ethnic in a pelta on the reverse. The earlier issue, circa 350-300 BC, features the portrait of the legendary founder of Mesambria, Melsas, distinguished by the plain helmet and lowered cheek guards. On the reverse, the ethnic is META. The later issue, struck circa 125-100/90 BC, features a portrait of Athena, distinguished by a helmet that has a star on the bowl and no cheek guards. On the reverse, the ethnic is spelled MEΣA. The photo of HGC 1579 is of the earlier type, while the text blends the obverse of the latter with the reverse of the former.