Nomos 4

THESSALY, Thessalian League. Circa 470s-460s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.86 g 7). Forepart of horse to left; on body near truncation, monogram of ΝΑ (partly retrograde). Rev. Φ - Ε Wheat grain with hull; all within incuse square. Franke, 1970, 12 = SNG Lockett 1609. Very rare. Nicely toned and attractive. Nearly extremely fine.

Ex Leu 33, 3 May 1983, 301(CHF 2100).

A note from BCD: One wonders what the monogram letters (if they are ΝΑ) on the horse’s body stand for. If they were a Σ and a Κ it would be understandable as the name of the first Thessalian horse, which, according to the myth, was Skyphios. After a closer look at this monogram, which looks like a brand mark, it was observed that the bar of the Α clearly extends outside its right leg; also that the left leg of the so-called retrograde Ν may be vertical to this bar for a reason, perhaps to form a Γ. It may therefore be preferable to see a ΓΑ or some other letter combination starting with a Γ, especially as a clear Γ is engraved on the horse’s neck on some contemporary obols. If, however ASW would insist on ΝΑ there could be a connection between this horse and the horses on lots 1283 and 1333 below. Both of these drachms have a small Ν in the field in front of the horse forepart that defies explanation.