Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 116 1 Oct 2019
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Pharsalus
Drachm signed by the artists TH and AMN circa 420-350, AR 6.29 g. Head of Athena r., wearing Attic helmet decorated with wreath; cheek guard turned up. Behind the neck, TH. Rev. Φ – Α – Ρ– Σ in part retrograde Forepart of a horse r.; behind truncation AM and in r. field, N retrograde. Jameson 2471 (this coin). Gillet 193 (this coin). Lavva 78a (this coin). BCD Thessaly I, 1283 (this coin). BCD Thessaly II, –.
Of the highest rarity, the second and finest specimen known. A very important issue
with an attractive portrait and a lovely old cabinet tone, minor marks on obverse
field and an unobtrusive scuff on reverse, otherwise extremely fine
Ex Leu/M&M 28 May 1974, Kunstfreund, 193 and Nomos 4, 2011, BCD, 1283 sales. From the Jameson and Charles Gillet collections.
Pharsalus was one of the preeminent cities of Thessaly and enjoyed some fame among the Greeks as one of the few Thessalian cities to oppose the advance of the Persian army in 480 BC. Thanks to this loyalty to the Greek cause, when Spartan forces arrived to punish Larissa and the other medizing cities of Thessaly, Pharsalus was established as head of the Thessalian League and came to dominate most of the lesser cities of Thessaly in the late fifth and early fourth centuries BC. Unfortunately, when the beleaguered Spartans ended their support of Pharsalus and its tyrant, Polydamos, in 375/4 BC, Polydamos was forced to cede Pharsalian leadership of the League to Jason, the powerful tyrant of Pherai. The present extremely rare and beautiful drachm of Pharsalus probably belongs to the late period of Pharsalian supremacy in Thessaly. Both the head of Athena and the galloping horse forepart are beautifully rendered. Feeling justifiable pride in their art, the engravers responsible for these two exquisite dies have gone so far as to sign their dies-a practice more commonly found in Sicily-with their names. The artist Th... was responsible for the Athena of the obverse and Amn... for the reverse.
Drachm signed by the artists TH and AMN circa 420-350, AR 6.29 g. Head of Athena r., wearing Attic helmet decorated with wreath; cheek guard turned up. Behind the neck, TH. Rev. Φ – Α – Ρ– Σ in part retrograde Forepart of a horse r.; behind truncation AM and in r. field, N retrograde. Jameson 2471 (this coin). Gillet 193 (this coin). Lavva 78a (this coin). BCD Thessaly I, 1283 (this coin). BCD Thessaly II, –.
Of the highest rarity, the second and finest specimen known. A very important issue
with an attractive portrait and a lovely old cabinet tone, minor marks on obverse
field and an unobtrusive scuff on reverse, otherwise extremely fine
Ex Leu/M&M 28 May 1974, Kunstfreund, 193 and Nomos 4, 2011, BCD, 1283 sales. From the Jameson and Charles Gillet collections.
Pharsalus was one of the preeminent cities of Thessaly and enjoyed some fame among the Greeks as one of the few Thessalian cities to oppose the advance of the Persian army in 480 BC. Thanks to this loyalty to the Greek cause, when Spartan forces arrived to punish Larissa and the other medizing cities of Thessaly, Pharsalus was established as head of the Thessalian League and came to dominate most of the lesser cities of Thessaly in the late fifth and early fourth centuries BC. Unfortunately, when the beleaguered Spartans ended their support of Pharsalus and its tyrant, Polydamos, in 375/4 BC, Polydamos was forced to cede Pharsalian leadership of the League to Jason, the powerful tyrant of Pherai. The present extremely rare and beautiful drachm of Pharsalus probably belongs to the late period of Pharsalian supremacy in Thessaly. Both the head of Athena and the galloping horse forepart are beautifully rendered. Feeling justifiable pride in their art, the engravers responsible for these two exquisite dies have gone so far as to sign their dies-a practice more commonly found in Sicily-with their names. The artist Th... was responsible for the Athena of the obverse and Amn... for the reverse.