Nomos 4

THESSALY, Pherai. Circa 280s-270s BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.51 g 1). Head of the water nymph Hypereia facing, turned slightly to left, wearing wreath of reeds in her hair, earring and necklace; to left, fish swimming upwards. Rev. ΦΕΡΑΙΩΝ Ennodia, wearing chiton and wreath in her hair and holding transverse torch across her body seated facing on horse to right; above left, lion’s head water spout to left. SNG Lockett 1614 (this coin). Traité IV, 625, pl. CCXCV, 3. Extremely rare. Dark patina as found with some minor scratches in the reverse field. Very fine.

Acquired from A. H. Baldwin & Sons in 1971 for £95, supposedly from the Empedocles collection and from the collection of C. S. Bement, Naville VI, 28 January 1924, 934.

A note from BCD: A smaller version of the previous coin, with dies crafted from the same hand. Both issues must have been very limited in terms of the quantity of coins struck if we take into account not only the surviving specimens but also the fast changing political situation at the time.