Nomos 4

THESSALY, Methylion. Circa 465-460 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.64 g 1). Forepart of a horse to left. Rev. ΜΕ - ΘV Barley grain in opening pod. Unpublished, but cf. Heyman 1 var, (drachm). Extremely rare, the second and finest known example. Boldly struck. Minor scrape on the obverse, otherwise, good very fine.

Ex CNG MBS 73, 13 September 2006, 189 ($7500).

The coinage of Methylion is very rare in general and must have been issued primarily as a sign of sovereignty and civic pride, rather than for true economic reasons. The local population undoubtedly enjoyed owning coins with their city’s name on them, but for everyday transactions they must have used coins from the more prolific mints in the neighborhood.
A note from BCD: Until quite recently the archaic silver of Methylion was only known from two drachms, in Berlin and Paris. None of the smaller coins exist in public or published collections.