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Sextus Pompey

Sextus Pompeius Pius Magnus: Imperator, Prefect of the Fleet, and Youngest Son of Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus (Pompey the Great). Brigand and pirate or the last bastion of the Republican struggle and (to turn a sentence of Sear's on its head) "... the [ ]worthy sole inheritor of a once great cause)..."? (Sear CRI, p. 200). Although I am interested in the issues surrounding the career of Sextus and its revision, you will not find those discussed here. What you will find are a beautiful Q. Nasidius (alas, not the great rarity depicting a sea battle) and three wonderful examples of Crawford 511s, namely a 2 and a 3 and a 4, with some very nice pedigrees. Perhaps someday I'll add a Crawford 511/1 to this gallery? In the interest of your health and welfare please do not hold your breath. I will not be holding mine.

7 files, last one added on Jun 14, 2020

Larissa

The city of Larissa was named after the local water nymph, said to be the daughter of Pelasgos. He was said to be the ancestor of the pre-Greek Pelasgians. According to myth Larissa drowned while playing ball on the banks of the Peneios river. In the sixth century BC Larissa became the preeminent city of Thessaly. Minting (silver coinage) began in the first half of the 5th century BC and apparently continued down to the early 2nd century BC, both in terms of fractional silver based upon a reduced Aiginetic standard and bronze. (HGC 4 p. 130 and 131). Currently this album contains five facing head drachms, four bull wrestling drachms, and small denominations depicting Larissa, bulls, a bull hoof, and the ever present horse. I like to include auction catalogs when I am able.

18 files, last one added on Jun 12, 2021

Vabalathus and Aurelian

The joint billon antoninianus coinage of Vabalathus and Aurelian at Antioch, c. November 270 AD to c. March 272 AD. Or should that be the joint coinage of Aurelian and Vabalathus? Which side is the obverse and which side is the reverse is one of the things, besides the general history of the Palmyrene empire and its relations with Rome, that interests me in this coinage. All eight officina are represented here, including the inverse Z. Apparently the claim in some of the literature of a ninth officina is mistaken.

9 files, last one added on Mar 27, 2021

Severina

Ulpia Severina, wife of the emperor Aurelian, Augusta 274 AD. That there was an interregnum between the murder of Aurelian and the Senatorial appointment of Tacitus as emperor is undisputed. What is disputed, however, is the length of the interregnum as well as its meaningfulness. For whatever period of interregnum that did exist, did Severina actually rule the empire? The single coin in this gallery representing the type Concordia Militum has at various times been taken as an example of the coinage minted during the interregnal period between Aurelian and Tacitus. But was it? Perhaps in the future other of Severina's coin types will join the single coin in this gallery.

1 files, last one added on Apr 20, 2019

Aurelian and the Palmyrene Empire

The theme of this gallery is a simple one, in theory. It is intended to be filled with the coinage of Aurelian that, in the opinion of Sylviane Estiot in her monumental work Monnaies de L'Empire romain XII.1/XII.2: D'Aurelian à Florien, directly references the Palmyrene Empire in terms of the threats that it posed to Rome, the movement of Aurelian's troops towards Palmyra, the victories over it that Aurelian accomplished, etc. In praxis, however, I find the theme not so easy to collect. Learning to read French is more time consuming then the time that I currently have, and at first blush it appears to me that many of the coins that fit the theme are quite rare and so I assume that I won't be obtaining them. Spending more time learning French, scouring Estiot's work, making a list of the theme fitting coins that I can obtain, finding those coins on the market...all of this will ensure that this gallery grows. For now, please enjoy the single coin that you will find inside.

1 files, last one added on Dec 14, 2019

Random Aurelians

This gallery is as the title implies: a random collection of the coinage of Aurelian.

7 files, last one added on Dec 23, 2019

Khusro II Sasanian Empire

Some coins of the King of Kings Khusro II, r. 590/91 - 628 AD.

3 files, last one added on Mar 03, 2020

Random Coins

The gallery contains coins that have caught my eye and which I was lucky enough to obtain.

8 files, last one added on Jun 23, 2021

Attica, Athens

Simply a collection of coins from Attica, Athens. Currently three different denominations are represented.

3 files, last one added on Jun 01, 2021

9 albums on 1 page(s)

Last additions - Tracy Aiello's Gallery

Assos, TroasGriffin and Lion Head

Obv: Griffin recumbent r. with l. forepaw raised. Border of dots.
Rev: Lion’s head r. Mouth open. All within incuse square.
Denomination: Silver hemiobol; Mint: Assos, Troas; Date: c. 479 - 450 BC; Weight: 0.286g; Diameter: 6.8mm; Die axis: 180º; References, for example: BMC Troas, p. 36, 3; Weber 5318.

Provenance: Ex. Forum Ancient Coins May 29, 2021.

Photo Credits: Forum Ancient Coins

Sources
BMC Troas: Wroth, Warwick. A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum. Greek Coins of Troas, Aeolis, and Lesbos. London: Longmans, Green, & Co., 1894.
Weber: Forrer, L. Descriptive Catalogue of the Collection of Greek Coins formed by Sir Hermann Weber: Volume III, Part 1. London: Spink & Son Limited, 1926.Tracy AielloJun 23, 2021

The Island of LesbosCity of Mytilene - Apollo and Aphrodite with Amphora

Obv: laureate head of Apollo facing r.
Rev: head of Aphrodite facing r., circular earing, hair rolled, amphora r. (control symbol) in the lower r., MY[TI?] (off flan).
Denomination: silver diobol; Mint: Mytilene; Date: 400 - 350 BC; Weight: 1.33g; Diameter: 10mm; Die axis: 120º; References, for example: BMC Troas, p. 185, 8 - 14 var., amphora control symbol not listed; HGC 6, 1037.

Provenance: Ex. cgb.fr April 19, 2021

Photo Credits: cgb.fr

Sources
BMC Troas: Wroth, Warwick. A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum. Greek Coins of Troas, Aeolis, and Lesbos. London: Longmans, Green, & Co., 1894.
HGC: Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of the Islands: Adriatic, Ionian, Thracian, Aegen, and Carpathian Seas (Excluding Crete and Cyprus), Sixth to First Centuries BC, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Vol. 6. Lancaster/London: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc, 2010.Tracy AielloJun 13, 2021

00091 Horse Prancing Left, Larissa Right with Wreath and BallThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa

Obv: Horse prancing l. on ground line. ΟΣ above with the Σ reversed. All within border of dots.
Rev: Larissa standing on ground line facing the viewer, head turned l. [viewer’s .r], wreath in raised l. hand and ball in lowered r. hand. On r. ΛΑ upwards, on l. ΡΙΣΑ downwards and retrograde. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: 420 - 400 BC1; Weight: .98g; Diameter: 12mm: Die axis: 330º; References, for example: Imhoof-Blummer p. 71, 193/pl. V, 25; Herrmann Group III Small Denominations under E, III 𝛂 Obols rev. II, pl. II, 20; BCD Thessaly II 364.3; HCG 495.

Notes:
1This is the date given in HGC 4.

Provenance: Ex. Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 123 May 9, 2021; Ex CNG e-sale 252, March 23, 2011 lot 46.

Photo Credits: Numismatica Ars Classica

Sources
BCD Thessaly II: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. The BCD Collection of the Coinage of Thessaly. Triton XV Auction. (3 January 2012, New York).
Herrmann, Fritz. “Die Silbermünzen von Larissa in Thessalien.” Zeitschrift für Numismatik 35 (1925): 1 - 69 with 9
plates.
HGC: Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of Northern and Central Greece, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Vol. 4. Lancaster/London: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc, 2014.
Imhoof-Blumer, F. "Nymphen und Chariten auf griechischen Münzen.” Journal International d
'Archéologie Numismatique, vol 11 (1908): 3 - 213 with 12 plates.
4 commentsTracy AielloJun 12, 2021

Attica, Athenian ObolAthenian Later Archaic/Rough Archaic Obol1

Obv: head of Athena facing r., crested Attic helmet with three olive leaves and spiral palmette on bowl of the helmet, hair across forehead in straight bands, almond shaped eye.
Rev: owl standing r. with erect posture, tail feathers as a single prong, head facing forward, a single leaf olive sprig and berry to the l., A☉E at 90º and downward to the r., all within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Athens; Date: c. 454 - 404 BC2; Weight: .67g; Diameter: 9mm; Die axis: 110º; References, for example: BMC vol. 11, 99; Starr p. XXIII, aa; Cf. Svoronos Athens pl. 8, 43 - 46 and pl. 9, 33 - 34, 37 - 46; SGCV I 2530; Kroll 13a ff var. no mention of berry; HGC 4, 1665 var. no mention of berry.

Notes:
1This characterization is per BMC vol. 11, pp. xxiii and 8.
2This is the date range given in HGC 4.

Provenance: Ex. Harlan J Berk Ltd 215th Buy or Bid Sale, May 4, 2021; acquired from Harlan Berk in 2013.

Photo Credits: Harlan J Berk, Ltd

Sources:
BMC 11: Head, Barclay V. A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum. Atica - Megaris - Aegina. London: Longmans & Co., 1888.
HGC 4: HGC: Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of Northern and Central Greece, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Vol. 4. Lancaster/London: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc, 2014.
SGCV I: Sear, David. Greek Coins and Their Values, Vol. I, Europe: Coins of Spain, Gaul, Italy, Sicily, the Balkan lands, Greece, the Cyclades and Crete; also the Cletic issues of Western and Central Europe. London: Seaby, 1978.
Kroll: Kroll, John H. and Walker, Alan S. “The Athenian Agora. Results of Excavations Conducted by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, vol. XXVI: The Greek Coins”. New Jersey: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1993.
Starr: Starr, Chester G. Athenian coinage 480-449 B.C. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1970.
Svornos Athens: Svoronos, John N. Corpus of the Ancient Coins of Athens. Chicago: Ares Publishers Inc., 1975.
4 commentsTracy AielloJun 01, 2021

Attica, Athenian TriobolAthenian Pi-Style Triobol

Obv: head of Athena facing r., crested Attic helmet ornamented with olive leaves and a pi-style palmette, eye in profile.
Rev: owl standing facing; an olive branch coming down from above to the l. and r. with five or more leaves, [A☉Ǝ, with A above and ☉ lower l. and Ǝ lower r.].
Denomination: silver triobol (or hemidrachm); Mint: Athens; Date: c. 353 - 294 BC1; Weight: 2.015g; Diameter: 12.5mm; Die axis: 270º; References, for example: BMC vol. 11, 169; Svoronos Athens pl. 21, 48; Kroll 19d; HGC 4, 1642.

Notes:
1This is the date range given in HGC 4.

Provenance: Ex. Forum Ancient Coins March 26, 2021, from the Errett Bishop collection (assembled from about 1960 - 1982).

Photo Credits: Forum Ancient Coins

Sources
BMC 11: Head, Barclay V. A Catalogue of Greek Coins in the British Museum. Atica - Megaris - Aegina. London: Longmans & Co., 1888.
HGC 4: HGC: Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of Northern and Central Greece, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Vol. 4. Lancaster/London: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc, 2014.
Kroll: Kroll, John H. and Walker, Alan S. "The Athenian Agora. Results of Excavations Conducted by the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, vol. XXVI: The Greek Coins". New Jersey: The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1993.
Svoronos Athens: Svoronos, John N. Corpus of the Ancient Coins of Athens. Chicago: Ares Publishers Inc., 1975.6 commentsTracy AielloMar 30, 2021

Vabalathus and Aurelian Antioch 7th Officina Inverse ZVabalathus: 270 - 272 AD; Aurelian: 270 - 275 AD
Julius Aurelius Septimius Vabalathus Athenodorus (Wahb Allat), son of Septimius Odaenathus and Septimia Zenobia. Palmyrene Empire.

Obv: VABALATHVS V C R IM D R1; Bust of Vabalathus, laureate, diademed, draped, and curiassed, facing right, seen from behind.
Rev: IMP C AVRELIANVS AVG; Bust of Aurelian, radiate and curiassed, facing right, inverse Z in exergue2.
Denomination: billon antoninianus; Mint: Antioch; Officina: 7th; Issue: 1st; Date: Nov. 270 - Mar. 272; Weight: 3.62g; Diameter: 20mm; Die axis: 180º; References, for example: RIC V v.1 381 correc, var. no inverse Z; MER - RIC 3111; SRCV III 11718 var. no inverse Z.

Notes:
1VABALATHVS V[IR] C[LARISSIMUS] R[EX] IM[PERATOR] D[UX] R[OMANORUM]. See for example, Bland (2011), pp. 135, 141 and Estiot (2004, v1), p. 118, esp. note 462.
2Sylviane Estiot refers to this mint mark as an inverse Z and thus assigns these to the seventh officina (BnF XII, vol. I p. 223, vol. II p. 431, and pl. 41 no. 1257). Roger Bland, conversely, views this mint mark as a square S and therefore assigns these to the sixth officina (Bland, "The Coinage of Vabalathus and Zenobia from Antioch and Alexandria'', NC 171 (2011), p. 163 no. 9, pl. 16 no. 9n).

Provenance: Ex Athena Numismatics March 4, 2021.

Photo credits: Athena Numismatics3 commentsTracy AielloMar 27, 2021

00092 Horse Prancing Right, Larissa Left with Wreath and BallThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa

Obv: Horse prancing r. on ground line. Ο[𐌔] above. All within border of dots.
Rev: Larissa standing on ground line facing the viewer, head turned r. [viewer's l.], wreath in raised r. hand and ball in lowered l. hand. On l. and below an A, on r. and downward ΛΑΡΙ𐌔. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 420 - 400 BC1; Weight: 1.00g; Diameter: 13mm: Die axis: 0º; References, for example: BCD Thessaly II 363.3 and 364.1 [this coin]; HGC 4, 496.

Notes:
1This is the date given in HGC 4.

Provenance: Ex BCD Thessaly, January 3, 2012; Ex. Dr. Martina Dieterle March 22, 2021.

Photo Credits: Dr. Martina Dieterle

Sources
BCD Thessaly II: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. The BCD Collection of the Coinage of Thessaly. Triton XV Auction. (3 January 2012, New York).
HGC: Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of Northern and Central Greece, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Vol. 4. Lancaster/London: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc, 2014.
Tracy AielloMar 23, 2021

0003 Wrestled Bull Head with Lotus Flower and Bridled HorseThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa

Obv: bull head and neck l., head turned to face the viewer, on the r. and behind half figure of the hero Thessalos1 to l., grasping the bull by the horns. Lotus flower above. All within border of dots.
Rev: Λ-ΑR-Ι in front and above (retrograde), head and neck of bridled horse r. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 462/1 - 460 BC2; Weight: .86g; Diameter: 10mm: Die axis: 210º; References, for example: Liampi Corpus p. 101, IA (V1-R1), pl. 4, 1 and 2 and 3; BCD Thessaly I 1103.

Notes:
1Considered the ancestor of all Thessalians. The figure is also sometimes considered to be Jason (of Jason and the Argonauts), who according to one tradition was the father of Thessalos (HGC 4, p. 132).
2This is the date given in BCD Thessaly I.

Provenance: Ex Leu Numismatik February 27, 2021, From a European collection formed before 2005.

Photo Credits: Leu Numismatik

Sources
BCD Thessaly I: Nomos AG, Auction 4. Coins of Thessaly, the BCD Collection. (10 May 2011, Zurich).
HGC: Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of Northern and Central Greece, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Vol. 4. Lancaster/London: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc, 2014.
Liampi Corpus: Liampi, Katerini. "Das Corpus der Obolen und Hemiobolen des Thessalischen Bundes und die politische Geschichte Thessaliens im 2. Viertel des 5. Jahrhunderts v. Chr." In Hellas und Der Griechische Osten: Studien zur Geschichte und Numismatik der griechischen Welt, Festschrift für Peter Robert Franke zum 70. Geburtstag, ed. Wolfgang Leschhorn, Auguste V. B. Miron und Andrei Miron. Saarbrücken: SDV Saarbrücker Druckerei und Verlag GmbH, 1996.

1 commentsTracy AielloMar 22, 2021

Wolf Forepart, Eagle On Harpa, Large AArgos, Argolis (Peloponnese Peninsula)

Obv: forepart of wolf1 facing l., 𝝝 [a circle with a dot inside] above.
Rev: large A in shallow incuse square; 𝚪 to l. of top of A, Υ to r. of top of A, below an eagle with closed wings standing r. on harpa.
Denomination: silver triobol2; Mint: Argos; Date: c. 322 - 229 BC3; Weight: 2.5g; Diameter: 15mm; Die axis: 120º; References, for example: BMC Peloponnese p. 142 no. 79 and 80; Traité III, p. 470, no. 640, pl. CCXVI no. 114; McClean II p. 457 no. 6835; BCD Peloponnesos 1111 and 1112.

Notes:
1According to Head in Historia Numorum "[t]he wolf is the well known symbol of Apollo Lykios, whose worship at Argos dates from very remote times."
2McClean states "Nos. 6801 seq. are more conveniently regarded as Attic tetrobols than Aeginetic triobols or hemidrachms." (p. 455).
3This is the date given in Head Historia Numorum and McClean.
4Interestingly there is no mention of the device, circle with the dot inside, above the wolf but it is clearly visible when looking at no. 11 on plate CCXVI.

Provenance: Harlan J. Berk June 10, 2020

Photo Credits: Harlan J. Berk

Sources
BCD Peloponnesos: LHS Numismatics. Coins of Peloponnesos. The BCD Collection. Catalog of public auction 96, 8-9 May 2006 (Zurich) [reference accessed via the acsearch.info website].
BMC Peloponnese: Gardner, Percy. A Catalogue of the Greek Coins in the British Museum, Peloponnesus (excluding Corinth). London, 1887.
HN Peloponnese: Head, Barclay V. [Wiki] Historia Numorum: A Manual of Greek Numismatics, 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press: 1911. Online at https://www.forumancientcoins.com/numiswiki/view.asp?key=peloponnesus
McClean II: Grose, S. W. Fitzwilliam Museum. Catalogue of the McClean Collection of Greek Coins. Volume II: The Greek Mainland, The Aegaean Islands, Crete. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press: 1926.
Traité: Babelon, Ernest. Traité des Monnaies Grecques et Romaines: Tome Troisième. Paris: 19142 commentsTracy AielloFeb 13, 2021

0004 Wrestled Bull Head and Bridled HorseThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa

Obv: bull head and neck r., head turned to face the viewer, on the l. and behind half figure of the hero Thessalos1 to r. with l. arm over the bull's neck and r. hand below the bull's muzzle. All within border of dots.
Rev: ΛΑ r. and upwards, head and neck of bridled horse r. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 460 - 440 BC2; Weight: 1.01g; Diameter: 11mm: Die axis: 180º; References, for example: Liampi Corpus p. 102, 6 (V4-R5), Pl. 4, 13 and 14; BCD Thessaly II 353.3; HGC 4, 480.

Notes:
1Considered the ancestor of all Thessalians. The figure is also sometimes considered to be Jason (of Jason and the Argonauts), who according to one tradition was the father of Thessalos (HGC 4, p. 132).
2This is the date given in HGC 4.

Provenance: Ex Numismatik-Naumann November 14, 2020.

Photo Credits: Numismatik-Naumann

Sources
BCD Thessaly II: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. The BCD Collection of the Coinage of Thessaly. Triton XV Auction. (3 January 2012, New York).
HGC: Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of Northern and Central Greece, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Vol. 4. Lancaster/London: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc, 2014.
Liampi Corpus: Liampi, Katerini. "Das Corpus der Obolen und Hemiobolen des Thessalischen Bundes und die politische Geschichte Thessaliens im 2. Viertel des 5. Jahrhunderts v. Chr." In Hellas und Der Griechische Osten: Studien zur Geschichte und Numismatik der griechischen Welt, Festschrift für Peter Robert Franke zum 70. Geburtstag, ed. Wolfgang Leschhorn, Auguste V. B. Miron und Andrei Miron. Saarbrücken: SDV Saarbrücker Druckerei und Verlag GmbH, 1996.4 commentsTracy AielloFeb 11, 2021

00093 Horse Prancing, Larissa Playing With BallThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa

Obv: horse prancing l. on ground line. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Larissa standing l., tossing a ball with her r. hand and pulling up her dress with her l. hand, ΛΑΡ r. and downwards, ΙΣΑ l. and downwards. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 420 - 400 BC1; Weight: 0.86g; Diameter: 10mm: Die axis: 270º; References, for example: Traité IV, 679, pl. CCXCVII, 12 var. horse prancing r.; Hermann Group III Small Denominations under F and G, III β Obols rev. I, pl. III, 12; BCD Thessaly II 161; HGC 4, 499 var. legend is Λ-Α-Ρ-Ι.

Notes:
1This is the date given in HGC 4

Provenance: Ex London Ancient Coins November 14, 2020.

Photo Credits: London Ancient Coins

Sources
BCD Thessaly II: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. The BCD Collection of the Coinage of Thessaly. Triton XV Auction. (3 January 2012, New York).
Herrmann, Fritz. “Die Silbermünzen von Larissa in Thessalien.” Zeitschrift für Numismatik 35 (1925): 1 - 69.
HGC: Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of Northern and Central Greece, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Vol. 4. Lancaster/London: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc, 2014.
Traité: Babelon, Ernest. Traité des Monnaies Grecques et Romaines: Tome Quatrième. Paris: 1926.
2 commentsTracy AielloJan 28, 2021

Lampsakos, MysiaJaniform Female Heads and Athena

Obv: Janiform female heads, each wearing stephanos, with central round earring between them. Border of dots.
Rev: Head of Athena facing l., wearing a Corinthian helmet, olive spray upper left field. All within incuse square.
Denomination: Silver tritartemorion; Mint: Lampsakos, Mysia; Date: c. 500 - 470 BC; Weight: 0.775g; Diameter: 9.7mm; Die axis: 0º; References, for example: Baldwin Lampsakos Group A Type I, Pl. V, 17.

Provenance: Ex Forum Ancient Coins October 19, 2020.

Photo Credits: Forum Ancient Coins

Sources
Baldwin, Agnes. "Lampsakos; The Gold Staters, Silver and Bronze Coinages." American Journal of Numismatics, vol. 53 Third and Final Part (1924): 1 - 77 with 10 plates.2 commentsTracy AielloNov 14, 2020

Random files - Tracy Aiello's Gallery

0007 Sextus Pompey -- Pompey the Great and Neptune with Catanaean Brothers Hirsch Auction CatalogDr. Jacob Hirsch 33, 17 November 1913, lot 1058

Photo credits: Shanna Schmidt NumismaticsTracy Aiello

0008 Bull Wrestling DrachmThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa

Obv: The hero Thessalos1 to r. naked, except for chlamys around his shoulders and petasos, flying in the air, attached to his neck by a cord, holding with both hands a band that is around the forehead of a bull leaping r. All within a border of dots (not here visible).
Rev: ΛΑΡΙ above, Σ to the r. (not here visible), ΙΑ below (not here visible), bridled horse with trailing rein prancing r., no ground line. All within incuse square.
Denomination: Silver Drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 420 - 400 BC2; Weight: 6.06g; Diameter: 18mm: Die axis: 270º; References, for example: HGC 4, 423 (same obv.); Lorber 2008, pl. 43, 59 (same dies); BCD Thessaly II 372.7 (same dies).

Notes:
1Considered the ancestor of all Thessalians. The figure is also sometimes considered to be Jason (of Jason and the Argonauts), who according to one tradition was the father of Thessalos (HGC 4, p. 132).
2This is the date given in HGC 4. According to Lorber 2008 this coin should be placed in the revived bull wrestling drachm coinage, beginning c. 450 - 440 BC.

This type is related to the Thessalian sport of bull wrestling (taurokathapsia) "...regularly showcased at the Taureia games honoring Poseidon Taureios." (HGC 4, p. 132).

Provenance: Ex Shanna Schmidt Numismatics May 28, 2019; from the BCD collection, reportedly found 8 kms west of Pharsalus, May 1997.

Photo credits: Shanna Schmidt Numismatics

Sources

BCD Thessaly II: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc. The BCD Collection of the Coinage of Thessaly. Triton XV Auction. (3 January 2012, New York).
HGC: Hoover, Oliver D. Handbook of Coins of Northern and Central Greece, The Handbook of Greek Coinage Series, Vol. 4. Lancaster/London: Classical Numismatic Group, Inc, 2014.
Lorber, Catharine C. "Thessalian Hoards and the Coinage of Larissa" in American Journal of Numismatics, second series 20 (2008): 119 - 142.
7 commentsTracy Aiello

00095 Facing Head of Larissa - AI Signed Auction CatalogNumismatic Fine Arts Auction XXXIII, May 3, 1994, lot 929.

Photo credits: Shanna Schmidt NumismaticsTracy Aiello