THESSALY, Melitaia. First half of the 4th century BC. AR 
Hemidrachm 3.03 g. 

Laureate head of Zeus right, hair and moustache finely trimmed. 
M-E-L, Forepart of bull right, head slightly facing; all within 
an oak wreath with acorns. 

Cf. Traité IV, 470 and pl. CCLXXXVIII, 7 (drachm with head 
of Zeus and bull reverse, surely by the same die cutter). 
Unique, a coin of great beauty and significance. Toned and 
of splendid early 4th century style. Extremely fine.

Sale: Nomos 3 & 4, Lot: 1198. Estimate CHF 2,500. 
Monday, 9 May 2011. Sold For CHF 60,000.

Ex The Numismatic Auction 2, 12 December 1983, 100 ($7500).

Only very few silver examples are known of Melitaia, 
the famous and unique drachm in Boston (ex collection of 
Photiades Pasha = Traité IV 470), this hemidrachm (from an
old Greek collection, the diobol cited in HN2, p. 301; (may 
be misdescribed), and an obol in Berlin (ex von Prokesch-
Osten = Traité IV 471 and SNG Munich 115.