THESSALY. Herakleia Trachineia . Circa 370-344 BC. Obol (Silver, 12.5 mm, 0.86 g, 5 h). Head of lion to left, with open mouth and protruding tongue; below, Ε. Rev. ΗΡΑ Club flanked by inscription and two ivy leaves. BCD II 87.1. Struck on a slightly irregular flan , otherwise, very fine.

From a European collection formed before 2005.

The coinage of Herakleia can be divided into two distinct groups depending on the way the lion’s head is made. One, as this, has a lion with an open mouth and protruding tongue; the second has a lion with a closed mouth. These styles seem to have alternated or have been used interchangeably; in any case, they must have ended by c. 350 when the city became the mint for the Oitaians.