Nomos 4

THESSALY, Atrax. Circa 360s-340s BC. Dichalkon (Bronze, 16mm, 3.91 g 10), Eu.... ΕΥ Head of the nymph Bura to right, wearing a pendant earring and with her hair rolled up at the back. Rev. ΓΙΩΝ /ΑΤΡΑ Lion walking right. Apparently unpublished, save for another piece, struck from the same dies, that has recently appeared as CNG MBS 85, 15 September 2010, 315, but which is inferior in quality. Extremely rare. Nicely struck, of fine style, and with a dark, brownish-red patina. About extremely fine.

In the note to lot 315 in the recent CNG MBS catalogue 85 it has been suggested that this type is actually a joint issue with Gonnos (see below, lot 1047). This is an interesting idea, though why it should have occurred unclear. Given the fact that neither city names the other on the coins, and distance between them (Larissa blocked the route), it might be that both cities independently found the types appealing. The magistrate’s initials on the obverse of this coin could be the abbreviated form of one of the two names that appear on the preceding two lots.