Nomos 4

THESSALY, Skotussa. Circa 460-440 BC. Hemidrachm (Silver, 2.85 g 9). The hero Thessalos, nude but for petasos and cloak hanging behind his neck, standing right, holding a band in both his hands around the head of the forepart of a bull rushing right. Rev. Σ-ΚΟ-ΤΕ Forepart of bridled horse rushing to right; all within incuse square. Triton XIII, 2005, 1135 (this coin, otherwise unpublished). Apparently unique. Lightly toned and very well struck. Extremely fine.

Ex Triton XIII, 5 January 2010, 1135 ($6500).

A note from BCD: This fascinating coin was acquired very recently, contrary to the usual practice of avoiding to buy something at auction if it is meant to be sold soon afterwards. However, the importance of this unique hemidrachm cannot be over estimated, at least for this collector. In spite of this coin being an experiment, rather than a mainstream issue, it fills a vital gap in the taurokathapsia series and reveals Skotussa’s ambivalent position in the web of tenuous alliances amongst the power centres of 5th century Thessaly.