Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 398 31 May 2017
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THESSALY, Atrax. Mid 4th century BC. Æ Dichalkon (17mm, 3.12 g, 3h). Bearded head of Atrax left; NI before / ATPA-ΓIΩN, bull charging right. Rogers 163; BCD Thessaly II 58.6 = HGC 4, 353 (same obv. die). VF, black patina.
From the BCD Collection.
A note from BCD from the Triton sale: The letters in front of the portrait of Atrax on this die are not mentioned in Grose's text of the McClean publication but show clearly on the plate photograph of the coin. The usual practice - in Thessaly and elsewhere - of discreetly placing one or two smaller letters under the neckline or behind the head to indicate the artist, is not followed here. An alternative that comes to mind is that this issue, struck from dies of high artistic quality, was subsidized by a wealthy citizen and as a result the two first letters of the sponsor's name were engraved in a more prominent manner. In this way the issue would be distinguished from others that were thought to be of inferior quality, such as lot 58.5 above. And yet, this is not the case. Lot 79 below has the same two, equally prominent, letters on its obverse. This can only mean that, apart from the two issues being contemporary or near contemporary, the same artist cut and signed these two obverse dies for the mints of Atrax and Gyrton.
From the BCD Collection.
A note from BCD from the Triton sale: The letters in front of the portrait of Atrax on this die are not mentioned in Grose's text of the McClean publication but show clearly on the plate photograph of the coin. The usual practice - in Thessaly and elsewhere - of discreetly placing one or two smaller letters under the neckline or behind the head to indicate the artist, is not followed here. An alternative that comes to mind is that this issue, struck from dies of high artistic quality, was subsidized by a wealthy citizen and as a result the two first letters of the sponsor's name were engraved in a more prominent manner. In this way the issue would be distinguished from others that were thought to be of inferior quality, such as lot 58.5 above. And yet, this is not the case. Lot 79 below has the same two, equally prominent, letters on its obverse. This can only mean that, apart from the two issues being contemporary or near contemporary, the same artist cut and signed these two obverse dies for the mints of Atrax and Gyrton.