AR Tetrobol, 3/2 centuries BCE, 2.33 g, 16 mm.
S.2496 v, BMC 64 v., BCD Euboia 392 v.,
CH VIII (1994), plate XXXIII, 12 (this coin)
O: Nymph hd r (
not one of the more pleasing portraits from this series)
R: nymph std on galley, I]Σ T[I]/AIEΩИ (retrograde "N") bipennis under galley with sigma before it.
Dealers auction note: "VF, minimally off-ctr on a good sized flan, tiny edge split, nice metal with lt tone, decent, Ex-BCD with his tag."
Ex: F. Robinson MBS 70, 6 November 2007, 31
Ex: BCD (not in Lanz Catalogue)
According to BCD's tag, "Ex: Aug 85/North of Lari. hd/Cost: 5000 drs"
at that time the drachm exchange would indicate a USD cost of between $43-$50 or thereabouts. (according to my wife who was in Greece in 1985 the drachm was exchanging at 100-115 to 1 USD)
According to Coin Hoards VIII (1994) the hoard in question is #517, North of Larissa, Greece 1985 (or per BCD August 1985).
The hoard was deposited circa BCE 75 and it's contents consisted of 1,260+ silver pieces of which more than 60% were either late Tetrobols of Histiaia or Hellenistic Triobols of Sikyon. The disposition of the hoard is noted as "in trade".
As noted above a number of pieces from the hoard are plated in CH VIII and this particular coin is one of them. (
thanks to Sveto K. for the info from CH VIII***)
Photo of CH VIII, plate XXXIII, #12 (as noted above).
Acquisition: 2007
Tantalus ID#35548
Another source regarding this hoard is found in a footnote appearing on p. 200 of John D. Grainger's book The League of the Aitolians (Brill, 1999), footnote #52 reads "The latest hoard to contain an Aitolian coin is dated from c. 75 BC (Coin Hoards VIII, 517, from North of Larisa in Thessaly)." According to CH VIII, 517; only one coin from the hoard was of the Aitolian League and that was a quarter stater.
AE 16x17 mm, 5.46 g, Antioch mint, c. BCE 121-120
