★ An obol with numismatic interest ★

Troas. Skepsis circa 450-400 BC.
Obol AR

9mm., 0,48g.

Forepart of horse right, Σ-K-H around / Grape cluster, N to left, all within linear, dotted, and incuse squares.

nearly very fine

BMC Troas -; SNG München -; Traité -; SNG Copenhagen -; SNG von Aulock -; Klein -; Rosen -; SNG BnF -; Asia Minor Coins online #115.

"The letters NE and N which occur on some of the autonomous silver are supposed by Dr. Imhoof-Blumer (Z.f.N., i., 140 n.) to indicate νέα Scepsis, as distinguished from the original home of the Scepsians, which is called by Strabo (xiii. 607) Palaescepsis. Mr. Head objects to this explanation that we have no independent evidence that the town was ever formally called "New Scepsis" and he suggests that the letters in question may record an alliance with Neandria, though at the same time it is to be noted that only the types of Scepsis itself (Half Horse, rev. Fir-tree) are represented, and not, as would be rather expected, those of Scepsis and Neandria in combination", BMC Troas, Aeolis and Lesbos, p.xxiv.