Classical Numismatic Group, LLC
Electronic Auction 334 3 September 2014
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ASIA MINOR, Uncertain northwestern mint. 5th century BC. AR Hemiobol or Tetartemorion (6mm, 0.17 g, 2h). Helmet left / Amphora within linear square. Unpublished in the standard references, but for similar see CNG E-288, lot 258 and 259. VF, toned. Very rare.
Varieties of this type have appeared at auction recently, and have been tentatively attributed to Neandria in Troas, where an early fraction featured a helmet on the obverse. While an attribution to a mint in that region is reasonable, Neandria is probably not correct, as its early fractions consistently feature a ram or barley grain on the reverse, which were emblematic of the city. At the same time, the nearby city of Larissa consistently featured an amphora on the reverse of nearly all of its coinage, which would make it a more likely candidate.
Varieties of this type have appeared at auction recently, and have been tentatively attributed to Neandria in Troas, where an early fraction featured a helmet on the obverse. While an attribution to a mint in that region is reasonable, Neandria is probably not correct, as its early fractions consistently feature a ram or barley grain on the reverse, which were emblematic of the city. At the same time, the nearby city of Larissa consistently featured an amphora on the reverse of nearly all of its coinage, which would make it a more likely candidate.