A surprising win at a surprising price...

While killing a little time browsing at FAC auctions and their 'last chance' postings I came across this trihemiobol that had a $17.00 winning bid. I have a different 'variety' of it that I purchased last year which cost me about $75.00 shipped but a bit off center and of a lesser grade...... so I threw a $50.00 bid on this one to see if that came closer to the typical $75-$100.00 I believe this silver coin normally retails for. Remarkably, I now had the winning bid at $22.00 and actually won it for that plus combined shipping.

The details are quite sharp and it's so well-centered that I'm still wondering how I got so lucky LOL. Perhaps the small size just didn't appeal to those who viewed it at FAC?

I guess I'm opening the 'floodgates' for all of you to post the smallest coins you have....and I know so many of you have examples that make this one seem like a 'monster'.

Thracian Islands, Thasos; circa 411-350 BC.
AR Trihemiobol, 11mm, .8 grams.
Kneeling Satyr holding Kantharos.
THAS/ION, Amphora
Seaby 1755; SNG COP 290

 

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Nice score for the price. That's my ballpark I would love to get greek silvers in, even the small ones like this. Have none of this type.

 

Nice! Yeah, it happens sometimes. Everybody is chasing something else, opening bid was maybe set too low by mistake. Great stroke of luck on a great example of the type!

 

Well done, congrats on a nice looking coin.

 

I kneel before this amphora too, nice pickup !

Q

 

Thrace, Thasos
Coin: Silver Trihemiobol
- Satyr running with kantharos
- Amphora
Mint: Thasos (411-350 BC)
Wt./Size/Axis: 0.93g / 11.5mm / -
References:

• SNG Cop 1029

 

I'm guessing that .08g is a typo for 0.8g?

 

Absolutely, I just corrected it

@Pishpash That's a wonderful example!!!

 

There are a lot of those sold in grades higher and lower so a cheap realization in a sale suggests to me that this one was placed in the wrong auction and people there were looking for one with more detail or less cleaning. It certainly is worth the $22! I have been wanting one of these. There are two denominations smaller (at least) which we have seen here but they are dolphins. There are drachms and staters of Thasos with the Satyr and his Nymph. I believe this is the smallest one with Satyr and certainly the one to have with the reverse legend naming the town. The earlier ones have the punch reverse. There also are the two coins of this size usually attributed to Lete but sometimes allowed as a Thasos. Legendless early coins may never be certain. My recent show finds posts showed two dolphins and a Lete satyr but I do wish there had been one of these.

Specialists in these may want the similar types with him shown 3/4 from the front or 3/4 from the back. We can never have them all.

 

Nice @Mikey Zee I was looking at that & pondering bidding on it. I didn't go as far as looking at the bid history though. There were others that peaked my interest and a Pax I probably overpaid a tad for. Those closing fights got tired of losing them, lol.
Had I not been involved with other bids I may have looked more at that one. I've gone WAY OVER budget this month.

Great OP pick up there Mikey. You seem to have a good eye or maybe we appreciate common coins.

 

Great price for one of my favorite coins.

 

I know how that feels LOL. I've gone a bit too far as well...and just went a bit further by agreeing to purchase that Athens Tet you may have noticed. It seems the bidder that jumped over me and won it contacted the seller stating he didn't have the funds to pay for it.......so the seller offered it to me for my last bid.

And I have a bid or two still out there---but then it's DEFINITELY 'on the wagon' time for a while.

I think we just appreciate the same types

 

Thanks @Bing !!!

WOW, your first post mesmerizes me---I LOVE IT!!!

 

Superb catch indeed. You did fast and well. Congrats..

 

Mikey, I really do not focus on Greek. But I can tell you did very well on this little guy! What a great coin. Congrats!

 

Nice score and nice price! Here's a 3/4 facing version, one of my favorite little coins.

 

He got a hell of a deal. Out of respect I'd have passed on it anyway. I try to be a good guy.
I was chasing a Caracalla Pax which I think I overpaid just a little bit though. I wanted it damnit.

 

WOW!!! If I had the money, I'd try to give you a substantial profit.

I tried getting this type a little while back, but I got hooked on Alexander III coins.

 

A sweet deal

 

That is sooo super cool!!!