Watch List notes:

THESSALY. Magnetes. Gordian III, 238-244. Diassarion (Bronze, 25 mm, 7.44 g, 5 h). MA AN ΓΟΡΔΙΑΝΟC Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust of Gordian III to right. Rev. ΜΑΓΝΗΤΩΝ AΡΓΩ The ship Argo sailing left with rowers; above ship but not visible on this specimen, B. BCD Thessaly II 441.2 (same reverse die). Rogers 379, fig. 196 (described as laureate but the illustrated example is radiate). RPC VII.2 Online, unassigned ID 26561. Very rare - only two specimens noted in the RPC. Light porosity, otherwise, very fine.


The reverse shows the voyage of the ship Argo filled with Argonauts. The Magnetes were hardy mountaineers and also sailors and provided Jason with several of his fellow adventurers on his quest to discover the Golden Fleece, somewhere in the region of Colchis at the eastern end of the Black Sea.