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History of Thessalian League
The Thessalian League/confederacy was made up of several cities in the Thessalian valley in Northern Greece. This area was completely surrounded by mountains and isolated except for a few passes. It was one of the few areas of Greece self-sufficient in grain and produced livestock and horses. Thessaly had the best calvary in Greece. The league was frequently weakened by intercity rivalries and lost its strength in the 5th century BC. The league was re-established in 374 BC by the tyrant Jason. He was assassinated in 370 BC, when it became evident that he had plans of conquest against the rest of Greece. After the death of Jason, there was infighting in the league and some of the cities requested help from Philip II of Macedon to settle the rivalries, which he accomplished in 353 BC. A few years later (344 BC), Philip II simply took control of the entire area. Thessaly remained under Macedonian control until Macedonia was defeated by the Romans in 197 BC. A new league was established in 196 BC. The league continued until 146 BC, then became part of the Roman province of Macedonia.Antonivs Protti
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RHODOS - AR Drachm - Magistrat EPMIAΣ CARIAN ISLANDS.
Pseudo-Rhodian (c.175-170 B.C.),
Silver Drachm, Imitation issue minted in Thessaly.
2.48 g / 14 x 15 mm
Head of Helios facing, slightly inclined to right.
R/ EPMIAΣ , rose, with a bud on right, Z-Ω either side of stem
(SNG Keckman 793-795 (att ributed to Thessaly); Price, Kra ay-Mørkholm Essays, pp. 241-2 (attributed to Northern Greece); SNG Copenhagen Su ppl. 358 (attributed to Rhodian Peraia)).
Lightly toned, good extremely fine. Great head facing
Although the attribution of this issue has been debated, it seems likely that it was struck by Perseus to pay Cretan mercenaries, who would have been familiar with Rhodian issues, in the Third Macedonian War against the Romans (see R. Ashton, NC 1988, pp. 29-30)
paul1888
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Philip II, 359 - 336 BC. AE18. Struck after 356 BC at an uncertain mint in MacedoniaObverse: No legend. Young male head, usually identified as Apollo, with hair bound in a taenia, facing left.
Reverse: ΦIΛIΠΠOY, Naked rider on horse prancing left, uncertain control mark, often described as the head of a lion, beneath the horse. The control mark looks a bit like the ram on the prow of a galley to me, but that is just my personal opinion.
Diameter: 17.4mm | Weight: 6.9gms | Die Axis: 12
SNG ANS 872 - 874
The bronze series of this type is extensive and differentiated principally by the different control marks. These control marks are symbols and letters which generally appear on the reverse, very occasionally the obverse, of the coin, and they were used to identify the officials responsible for a particular issue of coinage.
Philip II won the horseback race at the 106th Olympics in 356 BC, and it is thought that the horseman on the reverse of this coin commemorates that event.
Philip II of Macedon was King of Macedon from 359 until his death in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III Arrhidaeus. In 357 BC, Philip married Olympias, who was the daughter of the king of the Molossians. Alexander was born in 356 BC, the same year as Philip's horse won at the Olympic Games.
Only Greeks were allowed to participate in the Olympic Games, and Philip was determined to convince his Athenian opposition that he was indeed worthy to be considered Greek. And, after successfully uniting Macedonia and Thessaly, Philip could legitimately participate in the Olympics. In 365 BC Philip entered his horse into the keles, a horseback race in the 106th Olympics, and won. He proceeded to win two more times, winning the four horse chariot race in the 352 BC 107th Olympics and the two horse chariot race in the 348 BC 108th Olympics. These were great victories for Philip because not only had he been admitted officially into the Olympic Games but he had also won, solidifying his standing as a true Greek.
The conquest and political consolidation of most of Greece during Philip's reign was achieved in part by the creation of the Macedonian phalanx which gave him an enormous advantage on the battlefield. After defeating Athens and Thebes at the Battle of Chaeronea in 338 BC Philip II established the League of Corinth, a federation of Greek states, with him at it's head, with the intention of invading the Persian empire. In 336 BC he sent an army of 10,000 men into Asia Minor to make preparations for the invasion by freeing the Greeks living on the western coast and islands from Persian rule. All went well until the news arrived that Philip had been assassinated. The Macedonians were demoralized by Philip's death and were subsequently defeated by Persian forces near Magnesia.
Philip II was murdered in October 336 BC, at Aegae, the ancient capital of the Macedonian kingdom, while he was entering into the town's theatre. He was assassinated by Pausanius, one of his own bodyguards, who was himself slain by three of Philip's other bodyguards. The reasons for Philip's assassination are not now fully known, with many modern historians saying that, on the face of it, none of the ancient accounts which have come down to us appear to be credible.*Alex
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Ancient Greece (Thessaly), silver pseudo-Rhodian drachm struck by King Perseus of Macedon, ca. 175-170 BClordmarcovan
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GreeceGreece - Central, Peloponnesos, Crete & The Cyclades.
Thessaly, Akarnania, Boeotia, Euboia, Attica, Corinthia, Sikyonia, Peloponnesos, Argolis, Phokaia, Arkadia, Lokris.Anaximander
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Kassander, 317 - 297 BC. AE18. Struck 319 - 305 BC at an uncertain mint in MacedoniaObverse: No legend. Head of Herakles, wearing lion's skin, facing right.
Reverse: KAΣΣAN - ΔPOY, above and below crouching lion facing right, Λ in right field, before lion.
Diameter: 17.77mm | Weight: 3.76gms | Die Axis: 6
SNG Cop 1138 | Sear GCV 6753 | Forrer/Weber 2161
This type was issued before Kassander's assumption of the royal title in 305 BC
Kassander (Cassander) was one of the Diadochoi, a group of Macedonian generals, and the self proclaimed ruler of Macedonia during the political turmoil following the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. He was the son of Antipater, who had been appointed as regent in Macedonia while Alexander was in the East.
In 319 BC and close to death, Antipater transferred the regency of Macedonia to Polyperchon. Kassander refused to acknowledge the new regent and, with the aid of Antigonus I Monopthalmus the ruler of Phrygia, he seized Macedonia and most of Greece, including Athens. In 317 BC, he declared himself regent and had Alexander's widow, Roxanna and son, Alexander IV confined in Amphipolis. Later, in 310 or 309 BC, he had them put to death by poisoning. But, even though he had murdered Alexander's heirs and had been the de facto ruler of Macedonia from 317 BC, Kassander did not take the royal titles and declare himself king until 305 BC.
Meanwhile, Antigonus was intent on reuniting Alexander's empire under his own sovereignty and so Kassander joined forces with Ptolemy I of Egypt, Seleucus in Babylon and Lysimachus ruler of Thrace to oppose him. The two sides fought several battles between 319 and 303 BC resulting in Kassander losing Athens in 307 BC and his possessions south of Thessaly between 303 and 302 BC. However, in 301 BC Antigonus was defeated and killed at the Battle of Ipsus in Phrygia which allowed Kassander to secure undisputed control over Macedonia.
During his rule Kassander restored peace and prosperity to the kingdom, founding or restoring numerous cities, including Thebes which had been levelled by Alexander as punishment for rebelling against him. He also founded Thessalonica, naming the city after his wife, and Cassandreia, founded upon the ruins of Potidaea, which was named after himself.
Kassander died of dropsy in 297 BC and may have been buried in a royal tomb recently discovered at Vergina, identified as Aigai, the first Macedonian capital.
*Alex
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THESSALY, Uncertain. Mid-late 4th century BC?
PB Tessera. By the Eurymenai/Atrax engraver?
Bearded head right
Schematic line (horse's leg right?)
Cf. BCD Thessaly 1024 and 1038 (for similar bearded heads)
From the BCD Collection
BCD suggests that these two matching specimens are the products of an itinerant engraver, who would have used similar lead strickings as a portfolio to present to the various polities of the region. They are not related to the comparatively more common lead pieces of Pherai (Rogers 287; BCD Thessaly I 1305).Ardatirion
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THESSALY, Uncertain. Mid-late 4th century BC?
PB Tessera. By the Eurymenai/Atrax engraver?
Bearded head right
Schematic line (horse's leg right?)
Cf. BCD Thessaly 1024 and 1038 (for similar bearded heads)
From the BCD Collection
BCD suggests that these two matching specimens are the products of an itinerant engraver, who would have used similar lead strickings as a portfolio to present to the various polities of the region. They are not related to the comparatively more common lead pieces of Pherai (Rogers 287; BCD Thessaly I 1305).Ardatirion
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THESSALY, The Oitaioi. Circa 167-146 BC.
AR Hemidrachm (15mm, 2.30 g, 1h)
Herakleia Trachinia mint
Lion’s head left, spear in its jaws
OITAI downward to right, ΩN downward to left, Herakles standing facing, holding club in both hands
Valassiadis 9; BCD Thessaly II 494 (same obverse die)
Ex BCD Collection (Classical Numismatic Group Electronic Auction 290), lot 57; Peus 384 (2 November 2005), lot 199; Vinchon (20 May 1959), lot 483; M. Ratto 11 (16 May 1935), lot 239; R. Ratto (4 April 1927), lot 1023; Naville-Ars Classica V (18 June 1923), lot 1764Ardatirion
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00001 Larissa Profile Left, Jason’s Sandal RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Archaic representation of Larissa in profile to the l. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Jason’s sandal to the r., Λ - Α above. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 500 - 479 BC; Weight: .65g; Diameter: 10mm: Die axis: 210º; References, for example: Weber 2826, pl. 109; Herrmann Group 1 Obolen; SNG Cop 90; BCD Thessaly I 1098 (this coin); HGC 4, 404.
Provenance: Ex. Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 133 Lot 53 21 Nov 2022, from the collection of “A Man In Love With Art.”; Ex. BCD Thessaly Nomos AG Auction 4 Lot 1098 May 10, 2011.
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Photo Credits: Numismatica Ars ClassicaTracy Aiello
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000011 Larissa Profile Left Double Headed Axe in Front, Jason’s Sandal RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Larissa in profile to the l., double headed ax before. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Jason’s sandal to the r., Λ - Α above. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 490 - 480 BC????; Weight: .86g; Diameter: 10mm: Die axis: 120º; References, for example: Weber 2826, var. sandal l.; Traité p. 1011 no. 1415 pl. XLIII 6, var. legend ΛΑRΙ, sandal l., Ξ below; SNG Cop 90, var. no mention of ax; Kagan 2004, p. 85, pl. 1, 4, legend? var. sandal l.; BCD Thessaly II 140, var. sandal l., square within incuse, legend ΛΑRΙ retrograde and upside down, H on groundline; HGC 4, 403, legend retrograde and upside down var. sandal l.
Provenance: Ex. Roma Numismatics Ltd. E-Sale 177 Lot 69 February 22, 2024; Ex. Roma Numismatics Ltd. E-Sale 107 Lot 145 March 16, 2023; Ex. Roma Numismatics Ltd. E-Sale 94 Lot 61 February 24, 2022; Ex. Roma Numismatics Ltd. E-Sale 37 Lot 80 June 24, 2017; Ex. Roma Numismatics Ltd. E-Sale 12 Lot 592 November 1, 2014.
Photo Credits: Roma Numismatics Ltd.
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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0001 Bull Hoof (Seen From Below) and Bridled Horse Facing LeftThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: bull hoof seen from below. All within a border of dots.
Rev: ΛΑ in front and down to the l., head and neck of a bridled horse l. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver hemiobol; Mint: Larissa; Date: 462 - 460 BC1; Weight: .40g; Diameter: 7.8mm: Die axis: 0º; References, for example: Liampi Corpus Group II 2 (V2/R1); Triton XIV 103; BCD Thessaly 1107.
Notes:
1This is the date provided in BCD Thessaly and Triton XIV.
Provenance: Ex Apollo Numismatics July 4, 2020.
Photo Credits: Apollo Numismatics
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Tracy Aiello
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0002 Bull Protome Facing Right and Bridled Horse Facing RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: bull head and neck r., head turned to face the viewer. All within a border of dots.
Rev: ΑΛ upwards, head and neck of bridled horse r. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 462 - 460 BC1; Weight: .89g; Diameter: 10mm: Die axis: 90º; References, for example: Herrmann Group III Series A pl. I, 20 var. head and neck facing l.; Liampi Corpus 18 (V10/R11) pl. 4, 36; BCD Thessaly II 148; HGC 4, 477.
Notes:
1This is the date given in HGC 4.
Provenance: Ex Roma Numismatics E-Sale 70 Lot 433 April 7, 2020; Ex Roma Numismatics E-Sale 52 Lot 144 January 10, 2019. From a private UK collection.
Photo Credits: Roma Numismatics
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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00021 Bull Protome Facing Left and Bridled Horse Facing RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: bull head and neck l., head turned to face the viewer. All within a border of dots.
Rev: ΑΛ upwards, head and neck of bridled horse r. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 462/1 - 460 BC1; Weight: .93g; Diameter: 10mm: Die axis: 70º; References, for example: BMC Thessaly p. 24 no. 4, pl. IV no. 7; Hunterian p. 451 no. 1; Traité I ii, 1416, pl. XLIII, 7; Pozzi 1207; Weber 2828; Herrmann Group III A Obolen, pl. I, 20; McClean 4586, pl. on p. 173, 13 ; SNG Cop 96; SGCV I 2105; SNG Ashmolean 3858; Liampi Corpus 15 V7/R9 b, pl. 4, 26; BCD Thessaly I 1105; BCD Thessaly II 147; HGC 4, 476.
Notes:
1This is the date given in BCD Thessaly I.
Provenance: Ex Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger Auction 371 Lot 1082.
Photo Credits: Gerhard Hirsch Nachfolger
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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00022 Bull Protome Facing Left, Dolphin above, and Bridled Horse Facing RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: bull head and neck l., head turned to face the viewer, dolphin facing l. above. All within a border of dots.
Rev: ΛΑ upwards, head and neck of bridled horse r. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 462/1 - 460 BC1; Weight: .6g; Diameter: 10mm: Die axis: 90º; References, for example: Herrmann Group III A Obolen; Liampi 1996, p. 104 no. 16 (V8 - R10), pl. 4 no. 31, 32, and 33; SNG München 44; BCD Thessaly I 1106; BCD Thessaly II 146; HGC 4, 476.
Notes:
1This is the date given in BCD Thessaly I.
Provenance: Ex. Nomos AG Obolos 28 Lot 127 July 2, 2023
Photo Credits: Nomos AG
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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0003 Hero Wrestling Bull Protome Facing Left with Lotus Flower and Bridled Horse Facing RightThessaly 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
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Tracy Aiello
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0004 Hero Wrestling Bull Protome Facing Right and Bridled Horse Facing RightThessaly 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:[Λ]Α 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
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Tracy Aiello
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00041 Hero Wrestling Bull Protome Facing Left and Bridled Horse Facing RightThessaly 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 Thessalos to l. with r. arm over the bull’s neck and l. hand below the bull’s muzzle. All within border of dots.
Rev: ΑΛ r. and upwards, head and neck of bridled horse r. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 460 - 440 BC; Weight: 1.03g; Diameter: 10.5mm: Die axis: 270º; References, for example: Liampi Corpus p. 102 no. 4b (V3-R3) for weight and die axis, pl. 4, 8 for depiction; SNG München 43; BCD Thessaly II 353.2; HGC 4 479.
Provenance: Ex CGB Numismatics January 2, 2023.
Photo Credits: CGB Numismatics
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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000411 Horse Prancing Right, Larissa Left Bouncing BallThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: horse prancing r. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Λ - Α (lower l. corner, upper r. corner) Larissa walking l. wearing Chiton, l. hand lowered behind her and bouncing a ball in front of her with raised r. hand. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 460 - 440 BC; Weight: .99g; Diameter: 10mm: Die axis: 180º; References, for example: Imhoof-Blumer Nymphen: p. 69 no. 186 pl. V no. 18; Herrmann Group II b 𝛃 pl. I 16; Traité IV, 654 var. legend placement, Larissa r., pl. CCXCVI, 11; BCD Thessaly I 1111 (this coin); HGC 4 486.
Provenance: Ex. Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 124 Lot 111 June 23, 2021, from the collection of “A Man In Love With Art.”; Ex. BCD Thessaly Nomos AG Auction 4 Lot 1111 May 10, 2011; Ex. Leu Numismatik 50 Lot 127 April 25, 1990.
Photo Credits: Numismatica Ars Classica
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Tracy Aiello
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0005 Horse Prancing Right, Larissa Seated Left on HydriaThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Ο𐌔 above, horse prancing r. on groundline. All within a border of dots.
Rev: ΛA above and l., PI𐌔A in front and down (retrograde), Larissa seated l. on overturned hydria with its mouth to the r. and one side handle facing viewer, l. hand on l. knee and r. hand extended, having kicked the ball to l. on ground.1 All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 460 - 400 BC2; ; Weight: .93g; Diameter: 12mm: Die axis: 90º; References, for example: Imhoof-Blummer p. 72, 200, pl. V, 30; Herrmann Group III F/G, IIIβ Obolen Reverse VII, pl. III, 11; SNG Cop 115; Liampi 1992, 8; SNG München 59; BCD Thessaly I 1115; BCD Thessaly II 164 and 363.1; HGC 4, 491.
Notes:
1Imhoof-Blumer and Herrmann both state that Larissa is binding her sandal while Liampi 1992 notes that she is either binding or loosening her sandal. There is no mention of kicking the ball. In my description I follow BCD Thessaly I, II, and HGC because I assume that Larissa would use two hands instead of one if she were either tightening or loosening her sandal.
2This date range encompases the dates expressed in my listed references.
Provenance: Ex. CNG Triton XXV January 11 - 12, 2022 Lot 177.
Photo Credits: CNG
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Tracy Aiello
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0006 Rider and Larissa SeatedThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Rider on a horse prancing r. on groundline, holding a single spear transversally with petasos flying backwards and chlamys on his back, beneath horse's belly a lion's head facing r. Border of dots or small grains.1
Rev: The nymph Larissa2 seated r. on a chair with a back ending in a swan's head, r. hand resting on her lap or thigh and holding a phiale, l. arm raised with palm forward,3 Λ and Α above to l. and r. of head with R and Ι to r. of body turned 90º and downward, all within a shallow incuse square.
Denomination: silver trihemiobol; Mint: Larissa; Date: mid- to late 5th Century BC4; Weight: 1.28g5; Diameter: 13mm; Die axis: 60º; References, for example: BMC Thessaly p. 25, 13; Warren 687 var. No mention of lion's head; Weber 2838; Traité IV, 651, pl. CCXCVI, 9; Herrmann Group II, pl. I, 7; Boston MFA 875 var. no lion's head and reference to two spears; Lorber 2008 pl. 41, 5; BCD Thessaly II 154; HGC 4, 466.
Notes:
1Forrer, BCD Thessaly II, and Hoover refer to the border as composed of dots; Babelon refers to the border as composed of small grains.
2Herrmann does not associate the figure on the reverse with the nymph Larissa. Instead he refers to the figure as a "sitting male" and cites two examples from Berlin and Warren 687 as having the indication of beards (p.9). He declares that the meaning [interpretation] of the sitter cannot be determined, but he invites us to think of a deity (p. 11). Brett in Boston MFA follows Herrmann's interpretation.
3Forrer and BCD Thessaly II state that Larissa is holding a mirror, Hoover mentions only that the arm is raised, Babelon indicates that the left arm is raised with palm forward, and Herrmann describes the left hand as raised in an "adoring gesture". On the coin here the left hand clearly has the thumb separated from the rest of the fingers with the palm facing forward; there is no indication that the hand is holding anything. I wonder what the intention of the gesture could have been.
4Dates in the sources cited here run the gamut of the 5th Century BC. Herrmann: c. 500 - 479 BC; Babelon: c. 470 - 430 BC; HGC: c. 440 - 420 BC; Forrer: c. 430 - 400 BC. In light of Kagen (2004) and his belief that Herrmann's Group I ended c. 460 BC it seems appropriate to choose the date range specified in BCD Thessaly II.
5Herrmann argues that Group II was struck on the Persian weight standard. (He believed that the same held true for Group I). Kagan (2004) demonstrates that Larissain coinage was not struck on the Persian weight standard.
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. (HGC 4 p. 130).
Provenance: Ex Nomos AG December 8, 2019.
Photo Credits: Nomos AG
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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0007 Horse Prancing Right Lion’s Head Right, Lion’s Head Spout Right Larissa Right Balancing HydriaThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: horse prancing r., lion's head above facing r. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Λ-Α above l. to r., R-[I] in front and downwards, Larissa standing r. and balancing hydra on her raised l. knee, behind is a spout in the form of a lion's head from which pours water. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 440 - 420 BC1; Weight: .95g; Diameter: 11.5mm: Die axis: 0º; References, for example: BMC Thessaly p. 25, 15; Imhoof-Blumer Nymphen: p. 69 no. 184 pl. V no. 16; Herrmann Group II pl. I 14 and 15; McClean II 4600 var. horse standing, no mention of lion's head on obv.; SNG München 54 and 55 var. lion’s head on obv. interpreted as a Lotus flower; Lorber 2008 pl. 41, 6; BCD Thessaly II 358.1; HGC 4, 482 var. horse standing and no mention of water pouring from the lion's head spout.
Notes:
1This is the date given in HGC 4
Provenance: Ex Nomos Obolos 15 Webauction Lot 169 May 24, 2020.
Photo Credits: Nomos AG
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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00071 Horse Prancing Left Lion’s Head Left, Lion’s Head Spout Right Larissa Right Balancing HydriaThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: horse prancing l., lion’s head above facing l. [protruding tongue or stream of water?]. All within a border of dots.
Rev: [Λ]-Α above l. to r., R-I in front and downwards, Larissa standing r. and balancing hydra on her raised l. knee, behind is a spout in the form of a lion’s head from which pours water. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 440 - 420 BC1; Weight: .95g; Diameter: 13 mm: Die axis: 270º; References, for example: Herrmann Group II b 𝛼, pl. I 13; BCD Thessaly I 1433.5 var. no lion’s head above horse; BCD Thessaly II 160; HGC 4 483.
Notes:
1This is the date given in HGC 4
Provenance: Ex Dr. Busso Peus Nachf. December 10, 2023
Photo Credits: Dr. Busso Peus Nachf.
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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0008 Thessalos Wrestling Bull Left, Horse Prancing RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: The hero Thessalos1 to l. naked, except for chlamys and petasos both attached to his neck by a cord and flying in the air, wrestling a bull charging l., plant to l. and below between Thessalos' legs, [TO in exergue?]. All within a border of dots.
Rev: ΛΑ above, ΡΙΣΑ below (retrograde), bridled horse prancing r. with loose rein. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 440 - 420 BC2; Weight: 5.47g; Diameter: 19.5mm: Die axis: 90º; References, for example: Weber 2834 var. no mention of plant between legs or TO in obv. exergue; Herrmann Group III Series C pl. II, 1; BCD Thessaly I 1123 var. reverse legend; BCD Thessaly II 366.1; HGC 4, 416 var. no mention of plant between legs.
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.
Provenance: Ex CNG Electronic Auction 465 Lot 74 April 8, 2020 (from the Frank M. Martin collection)
Photo Credits: CNG
CLICK FOR SOURCESTracy Aiello
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0009 Thessalos Wrestling Bull Right, Horse Prancing RightThessaly 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: Lorber 2008, pl. 43, 59 (same dies); BCD Thessaly II 372.7 (same dies); HGC 4, 423 (same obv.).
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
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00091 Thessalos Wrestling Bull Left, Horse Galloping RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: The hero Thessalos1 to l. naked, except for chlamys around his shoulders and petasos, flying in the air, attached to his neck by a cord, holding with both hands the head of a bull leaping l. All within a border of dots.
Rev: ΛΑΡΙ above to the r., ΣΑΙΑ below to the r., bridled horse galloping r., ground line. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 420 - 400 BC2; Weight: 5.83g; Diameter: 19mm: Die axis: 180º; References, for example: Herrmann Group III Series H Rev. I; BCD Thessaly II 174; HGC 4, 420.
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.
Provenance: Ex Gorny and Mosch Auction 269 Lot 298
March 3, 2020; Ex Gorny & Mosch Auction 212 Lot 1461 March 5 and 6, 2013
Photo credits: Gorny and Mosch
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00092 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
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00093 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 Dr. Martina Dieterle March 22, 2021; Ex BCD Thessaly, January 3, 2012.
Photo Credits: Dr. Martina Dieterle
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000931 Horse Prancing Left, Larissa Left With Hydra In Front On GroundThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv:horse prancing l. on groundline. 𐌔Ο above. All within border of dots.
Rev: ΛΑΡ r. and down, Ι𐌔Α l. and up, Larissa standing facing l., r. hand raised, l. hand lowered downward behind her and holding wreath, hydria standing on ground in front on l. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 420 - 400 BC1; Weight: .95g; Diameter: 14mm: Die axis: 160º; References, for example: Warren 694 var. legend and horse r.; Traité IV, 685 var. legend and horse r., pl. CCXCVII, 18; Boston MFA 883 var. legend and horse r., pl. 48, 883; Liampi 1992, 11 var. horse r.2; BCD Thessaly II 363.4 var. legend and horse r.; HGC 4 493 var. legend and horse r.
Notes:
1This is the date given in HGC 4.
2Liampi 1992 does not provide a legend with the reference.
Provenance: Ex. Numismatik Naumann Auction 106 Lot 148 August 1, 2021.
Photo Credits: Numismatik Naumann
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00094 Horse Prancing Left, 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; SNG Cop vol 11, 114; 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
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Tracy Aiello
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00095 Facing Head of Larissa - AI SignedThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Head of the nymph Larissa facing ¾ l., wearing ampyx with ΓΕΥ inscription (not visible)1, hair floating freely above head, tiny IA above top locks of hair (off of flan), prominent raised right shoulder2 (garment clasp visible?), spherical earring with bead pendant. Border of dots.
Rev: Horse crouching r., bucranium brand on haunch, forelegs spread, raised tail (off of flan), tiny AI under belly3, reign trails into exergue with exergue line sloping downward under horse's muzzle, ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙ directly below exergue line with ΣΑΙ breaking into that line.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 405/400 BC - c. 370 BC4; Weight: 6.11g; Diameter: 19mm; Die axis: 90º; References, for example: SNG Cop vol. 11, 126; Herrmann Group VII, Series I, Reverse II, pl. VI, 16 and 19; HGC 4, 434; Lorber - Shahar Group 3 Head Type 14 (O35/R2 - Sp. b, this very coin) = Florilegium Numismaticum Group One Head Type 11 with Reverse 21.2 - Sp. b (this very coin).
Notes:
1Lorber presumes that these letters are "...an abbreviated epithet of the nymph Larissa." (Lorber Early in FlorNum, p. 261).
2Lorber invites us to interpret this "distinctive gesture" as the nymph "...tossing her ball, an action regularly depicted on trihemiobols and obols of the fifth century." (Lorber Early in FlorNum, p. 262).
3Lorber understands these letters to be the signature of the mint's chief engraver, who replaced ΣΙΜΟ. See Lorber Early in FlorNum, p. 261.
4This is the date range provided in Lorber 2008, p. 126.
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. (HGC 4 p. 130).
Provenance: Ex Shanna Schmidt Numismatics October 30, 2019; Ex Numismatica Ars Classica Auction 29, May 11, 2005, lot 176; Ex Numismatic Fine Arts Auction XXXIII, May 3, 1994, lot 929.
Photo credits: Shanna Schmidt Numismatics
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Tracy Aiello
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000961 Thessalos Wrestling Bull Forepart Left, Horse Forepart Galloping RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: The hero Thessalos to l. naked, except for chlamys and petasos both attached to his neck by a cord and flying in the air, wrestling a bull forepart charging l. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Λ above, Α in front, Ρ under horse’s belly, Ι under horse’s raised r. leg, bridled horse forepart galloping r. All within incuse square.
Denomination: silver hemidrachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 400 - 350 BC1; Weight: 3.01g; Diameter: 15mm: Die axis: 150º; References, for example: Herrmann Group III C, pl. II, 4; Traité IV, 646, pl. CCXCVI, 4; McClean II 4593, var. ΣΟ retrograde on obv., pl. on p. 172, no. 20; Lorber 2008 Series 3, 11.O7/R7 and 12.O8/R7 var. Y𝚪 below hero’s legs, pl. 42 nos. 26 and 27 respectively; BCD Thessaly II 375.2 var. ΣΟ retrograde on obv.; HGC 4, 460.
Notes:
1This is the date provided in BCD Thessaly II.
Provenance: Ex Shanna Schmidt Numismatics February 17, 2022, Ex Myntauktion I Sverige AB Auction 12, September 19 - 20, 2014 Lot 67.
Photo Credits: Shanna Schmidt Numismatics
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000962 Thessalos Wrestling Bull Forepart Right, Plant, Horse Forepart Galloping RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: The hero Thessalos to r. naked, except for chlamys and petasos both attached to his neck by a cord and flying in the air, wrestling a bull forepart charging r. Plant to the r. on (and below?) groundline. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Λ above on l., Α in front on r., ΡΙΣΑ in front and down, IO[N] underneath leftward, bridled horse forepart galloping r. All within a shallow incuse square.
Denomination: silver hemidrachm; Mint: Larissa; Date:400 - 350 BC1; Weight: 2.95g; Diameter: 16mm: Die axis: 180º; References, for example: Lorber 2008 Series 6 O15/R19, pl. 42 no. 40; BCD Thessaly II 374.2; HGC 4, 461.
Notes:
1This is the date provided in BCD Thessaly II.
Provenance: Ex. London Ancient Coins November 9, 2022.
Photo Credits: London Ancient Coins
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00097 Facing Head of LarissaThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly r., wearing ampyx, pendant earring, and wire necklace. Border of dots.
Rev: reverse horse crouching l., l. foreleg raised, preparing to roll and lie down. ΛAPI above horse and ΣAIΩN in the exergue.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 380 - 365 BC1; Weight: 5.812g; Diameter: 20.8mm; Die axis: 90º; References, for example: BCD Thessaly I 1149; BCD Thessaly II 283; McClean 4623; HGC 4, 441; Lorber - Shahar, Middle Series 1 Type A (O1/R42
Notes:
1This is the date range stated in BCD Thessaly I.
2Unfortunately this website no longer functions and it will not be brought back up (Catharine Lorber, personal communication, September 7, 2018).
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. (HGC 4 p. 130).
Provenance: Ex Forum Ancient Coins November 5, 2018
Photo credits: Forum Ancient Coins
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00098 Larissa Profile Left, Horse Prancing RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: [ΛAPlΣA in small letters l. and up], head of Larissa facing l., hair bound at top of head, triple drop earring, pearl necklace. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Bridled horse with tail in an upright curl prancing r. on ground line, ΛAP above, I in front of horse’s head, ΣAI down and in front, ΩN up and behind.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 370 - 360 BC1; Weight: 5.78g; Diameter: 19mm: Die axis: 330º; References, for example: Hermann Group V, pl. IV, 16; Liampi 1992, 25; Lorber 2008, pl. 45, 100; BCD Thessaly I 1133; BCD Thessaly II 183; HGC 4, 448.
Notes:
1This date range fits within BCD Thessaly I and II, Lorber 2008, and HGC 4.
Despite the absence of ΛAPlΣA in tiny letters in front of Larissa’s head (with 25x magnification I can detect what are perhaps very, very faint indications of parts of the legend), the shape of the mouth, the chin, and the stray lock of hair in front of Larissa’s forehead lead me to determine that this is an example of BCD Thessaly I 1133 and II 183 and not 1134 and 184 respectively. Thus, this is an example of, per BCD Thessaly I and Lorber 2008, Larissa’s profile in the style of Euainetos at Syracuse.
Provenance: Ex. CNG Electronic Auction 505 December 1, 2021 Lot 124, from the Sigmund collection.
Photo Credits: CNG
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Tracy Aiello
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000981 Bull Leaping Right, Horse and Rider Galloping RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙON above, bull leaping r., horizontal groundline. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Thessalian horseman (Thessalos?) wearing a tunic, petasos, and a chlamys fluttering to the l., holding a goad in his r. hand on a horse galloping r.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 370 - 356 BC; Weight: 6.05g; Diameter: 20mm: Die axis: 0º; References, for example: BMC Thessaly p. 29 no. 54, pl. V, 13 var. Ω instead of O in legend; Pozzi 1229; Weber 2856, p. 110 var. Ω instead of O in legend; Hermann Group VI, pl. IV, 17 and 18 var. Ω instead of O in legend; McClean 4610, pl. on p. 173, 6; Traité IV 698, pl. CCXCVIII, 9; SNG Lockett 1566, var. Ω instead of O in legend; SNG Cop 118; SNG Ashmolean 3871; Lorber 2008, pl. 46, 101; BCD Thessaly I 1136; BCD Thessaly II 186 var. Ω instead of O in legend; HGC 4, 449.
Provenance: Ex. CNG Feature Auction 121 October 6, 2022, Lot 234, from the Weise Collection; Ex. Daniel Koppersmith Collection CNG Triton XVII January 7, 2014, Lot 195; Ex. BCD Collection Classical Numismatic Group Auction 90 May 23, 2012, Lot 94; Ex. Leu 30 April 28, 1982, Lot 100.
Photo Credits: Classical Numismatic Group, LLC.
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Tracy Aiello
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00099 Facing Head of LarissaThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Head of the nymph Larissa 3/4 facing l., wearing ampyx flanked by two hornlike locks, round curl to the l. of the head1; earring on the r. (?), wearing wire necklace (?). Border of dots.
Rev: Horse crouching r., l. foreleg raised and bent (parallel with the lower part of the hind legs), preparing to roll, ΛAPIΣ above horse and AIΩN in the exergue.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 356 - 346 BC2; Weight: 6.05g; Diameter: 19mm; Die axis: 130º; References, for example: Lorber Hoard, Phase L-III; SNG COP 121.
Notes:
1On p. 10 of Lorber Hoard Catharine Lorber observes that on later Phase L-III head types the round curl to the left of the head "...tends to evolve into a long wavy lock scarcely different from the others above and below it." Therefore, perhaps this coin falls earlier in Phase L-III.
2This is the date range given in Lorber Hoard, p. 11. She states that the Third Sacred War must have been the historical context for the intensive Phase L-III drachm production.
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. (HGC 4 p. 130).
Provenance: Ex Harlan J. Berk Ltd. June 28, 2019; Ex Pegasi Auction, A22, lot 117 April 20, 2010.
Photo credits: Harlan J. Berk Ltd.
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000991 Facing Head of LarissaThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly l., round curl to the l. of the head, wearing ampyx flanked by two hornlike locks, a pendant earring, and a simple necklace.
Rev: Horse crouching r., l. foreleg raised and bent (almost parallel with belly/ground), preparing to roll. ΛAPIΣ above horse and AIΩN in the exergue.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 356 - 342 BC1; Weight: 5.920g; Diameter: 19.2mm; Die axis: 135º; References, for example: Lorber Hoard, pl. 3, 27 (same dies); BCD Thessaly I 11582; BCD Thessaly II 316; HGC 4, 4543.
Notes:
1This is the date range stated in BCD Thessaly I. This coin appears to fall within Lorber's Phase Late II or Phase Late III. See Lorber Hoard and Lorber 2008.
2The coin referenced in this auction catalogue is actually a silver stater, but in discussing the coin the catalogue states that the earliest Larissian staters "...bear the normal types of a drachm...."
3The picture of the coin in this reference does not show the foreleg raised and bent, but the entry does reference BCD Thessaly II, lots 312 - 320, which matches one of the references here.
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. (HGC 4 p.. 130).
Provenance: Ex Forum Ancient Coins October 31, 2018; from the BCD collection, with his tag noting "Thz. G/ni ex Thess., Apr. 94, SFr. 100.-"
Photo credits: Forum Ancient Coins
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Tracy Aiello
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000992 Facing Head of LarissaThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly l., round curl to the l. of he head, wearing ampyx flanked by two hornlike locks, a pendant earring represented by three pellets in a vertical line, and a simple necklace.
Rev: Horse crouching r., l. foreleg raised and bent (almost parallel with belly/ground), preparing to roll, small plant (control mark) below. ΛAPIΣ above horse and AIΩN in the exergue.
Denomination: silver drachm; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 356 - 342 BC1; Weight: 5.869g; Diameter: 18.3mm; Die axis: 0º; References, for example: BMC Thessaly p. 30, 61; BCD Thessaly I 1156; BCD Thessaly II 323 var. [same obv. die, but no trident (control mark) below the horse pointing to the left].
Notes:
1This is the date range stated in BCD Thessaly I. This coin appears to fall within Lorber's Phase Late II or Phase Late III. See Lorber Hoard and Lorber 2008.
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. (HGC 4 p. 130).
Provenance: Ex Forum Ancient Coins September 6, 2018; from the David Cannon Collection, ex Beast Coins.
Photo credits: Forum Ancient Coins
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Tracy Aiello
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000993 Larissa ¾ Left, Rider on Horse Prancing RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Head of the nymph Larissa 3/4 facing l., an ampyx in her hair, wearing a simple necklace and what looks like a single globule earring hanging from the bottom of the base of the last lock of hair on the r. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Thessalian cavalryman on prancing horse r., wearing chlamys and petasos. ΛAPI above l., Σ downwards in front of horse, AIΩN in exergue below the ground line.
Denomination: silver trihemiobol; Mint: Larissa; Date: c. late 4th/early 3rd Century BC1; Weight: 1.38g; Diameter: 13.3mm: Die axis: 180º; References, for example: BMC Thessaly p. 30 nos. 69 and 70, pl. VI, no. 6; Weber 2855, pl. 110; McClean 4631, pl. on p. 173, no. 25; SNG Cop vol. 11, 134; SGCV I 2128; SNG Ashmolean 3890 and 3891; BCD Thessaly II 341; HGC 4, 515.
Notes:
1This is the date provided in BCD Thessaly II.
Provenance: Ex. Zuzim September 16, 2021.
Photo Credits: Zuzim
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Tracy Aiello
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0009931 Larissa ¾ Left, Rider on Horse Prancing RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Head of the nymph Larissa 3/4 facing l., an ampyx in her hair, wearing a simple necklace, [a single globule earring hanging from the bottom of the base of the last lock of hair on the r]. All within a border of dots.
Rev: Thessalian cavalryman on prancing horse r., wearing chlamys and petasos. [Λ]API above l., [Σ] downwards in front of horse, [AIΩN] in exergue below the ground line.
Denomination: Obol (?); Mint: Larissa; Date: c. 395 - 344/3 BC1; Weight: 1.04g; Diameter: 11mm: Die axis: 180º; References, for example: Traité VI, 724, pl. CCXCIX, 12; Herrmann Group VII 1 Series B pl. VI, 1 var. mention of a whip and different legend orientation, although he allows for variations.
Notes:
1This is the date provided in Herrmann.
Provenance: Ex. Bermondsey Coins, December 26, 2023
Photo Credits: Bermondsey Coins
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000994 Larissa ¾ Left, Horse Grazing RightThessaly Greece, the City of Larissa
Obv: Head of the nymph Larissa 3/4 facing l., ampyx in her hair, wearing a simple necklace. All within a border of dots.
Rev: ΛΑΡΙΣ above, ΑΙΩΝ in exergue below the ground line, horse with straight legs grazing r.
Denomination: silver obol; Mint: Larissa; Date: late 4th - early 3rd Century BC1; Weight: .70g; Diameter: 10.4mm: Die axis: 170º; References, for example: Herrmann Group VII Series B, pl. V, 192; McClean 4630, pl. on p. 173, no. 24; SNG Cop 135; SNG Ashmolean 3889; SNG München 77; BCD Thessaly II 344 var. with monogram, 385.6; HGC 4, 516.
Notes:
1This is the date provided in BCD Thessaly II.
2BCD Thessaly II 328 corrects Herrmann’s reference from a tritetartemorion to an obol.
Provenance: Ex. Ars Coin Wien, January 26, 2022.
Photo Credits: Ars Coin Wien
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002p Augustus (63 B.C.-14 A.D.), Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, RPC I 1425, AE-21, (Æ Diassarion?), AR/Δ//--, ΣΩΣANΔPOΣ ΣΩΣANΔPOY, Athena Itonia standing left, #1002p Augustus (63 B.C.-14 A.D.), Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, RPC I 1425, AE-21, (Æ Diassarion?), AR/Δ//--, ΣΩΣANΔPOΣ ΣΩΣANΔPOY, Athena Itonia standing left, #1
avers: ΘEΣΣAΛΩN ΣEBAΣTOΣ, bare head of Augustus right.
reverse: ΣΩΣANΔPOΣ ΣΩΣANΔPOY, Athena Itonia standing left, holding Nike and shield set on the ground; spear to left, AR monogram and Δ in fields.
exergue: AR/Δ//--, diameter: 21,0-21,5 mm, weight: 6,75g, axis: 11h,
mint: City: Koinon of Thessaly, Region: Thessaly, Province: Achaea,
Magistrate: Sosandros Sosandrou (without title), Sosandros, son of Sosandros,
date: 27 B.C.-14 A.D.,
ref:
RPC I 1425,
Burrer Em. 1a, Series 1, 2.1 (A1/R2 – this coin, obv. and rev. illustrated on pl. 1),
BCD Thessaly II 914.1 var. (rev. legend; same obv. die),
CNG: eAuction 299. lot 2.,
McClean 4994,
Leake 4898,
Rogers 69,
Q-001quadrans
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013b3. Domitian & DomitiaAE 18mm, 6.14 g. Koinon of Thessaly, probably Larissa.
Obv: ΔOMITIANON KAIΣAΡA ΘEΣΣAΛOI, laureate head of Domitian right.
Rev: ΔOMITIAN ΣEBAΣΣTHN, diademed bust of Domitia right. RPC II 277, Rogers 88.
lawrence c
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014p Nero (54-68 A.D.), Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, RPC I 1439, AE-22, Diassarion, APIΣTIΩNOΣ ΣTPATHΓOY Apollo standing right, #1014p Nero (54-68 A.D.), Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, RPC I 1439, AE-22, Diassarion, APIΣTIΩNOΣ ΣTPATHΓOY Apollo standing right, #1
avers: NEPΩN ΘE ΣΣAΛ ΩN , Laureate head right.
reverse: ΣTPATHΓ OY APIΣTIΩNOΣ, Apollo Kitharoedos standing right, holding kithara (lyre) in his left hand, playing it with his right.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 21,0-23,0mm, weight: 9,55g, axis: 1h
mint: City: Koinon of Thessaly, Region: Thessaly, Province: Achaea,
date: 54-68 AD.,
Magistrate: Aristion (strategos).
ref:
RPC I 1439,
Rogers 79 = Moustaka 84,
BMC 74,
SNG Cop 337,
Burrer Em 1, p. 146-50, 1-29 (series 1) 16 (A3/R13),
Q-001quadrans
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024p Domitian (69-81 A.D. Caesar, 81-96 A.D. Augustus), Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, RPC II 0278, AE-21, Diassarion, ΔOMITIAN ΣEBAΣΣTHN, Diademed bust of Domitia right, #1024p Domitian (69-81 A.D. Caesar, 81-96 A.D. Augustus), Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, RPC II 0278, AE-21, Diassarion, ΔOMITIAN ΣEBAΣΣTHN, Diademed bust of Domitia right, #1
avers: ΔOMITIANON KAIΣARA ΘEΣΣAΛOI, Laureate head of Domitian right.
reverse: ΔOMITIAN ΣEBAΣΣTHN, Diademed bust of Domitia right.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 20-20,5mm, weight: 8,21g, axis: 6h,
mint: Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon, (probably Larissa.), date: 81-96 A.D., ref:
RPC II 0278,
Q-001quadrans
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032p Hadrianus (117-138 A.D.), Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, RPC III 0452, AE-21 (2 Assaria), CTPA (Monogram) OX NIKOMAXOY, Athena Itonia advancing right, #1032p Hadrianus (117-138 A.D.), Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, RPC III 0452, AE-21 (2 Assaria), CTPA (Monogram) OX NIKOMAXOY, Athena Itonia advancing right, #1
avers: AΔΡIANΩN KAICAΡA ΘECCAΛOI, Laureate head right, with small aegis or drapery on the left shoulder.
reverse: CTPA(Monogram) OX NIKOMAXOY, Athena Itonia advancing right, hurling the spear and holding a shield. Magistrate: Oul. Nikomachos (strategos).
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 21,5 mm, weight: 3,67g, axis: 6h,
mint: Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, date:117-138 A.D.,
ref:
RPC III 0452,
SNG Cop 340,
Rogers 90,
SGI 1127,
BMC 77,
Q-001quadrans
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032p Hadrianus (117-138 A.D.), Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, RPC III 0453, AE-21 (2 Assaria), CTPA (Monogram) OX NIKOMAXOY, Athena Itonia advancing right, #1032p Hadrianus (117-138 A.D.), Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, RPC III 0453, AE-21 (2 Assaria), CTPA (Monogram) OX NIKOMAXOY, Athena Itonia advancing right, #1
avers: AΔΡIANΩN KAICAΡA ΘECCAΛOI, Laureate head right, with small aegis or drapery on the left shoulder.
reverse: CTPA(Monogram) OX NIKOMAXOY, Athena Itonia advancing right, hurling the spear and holding a shield. Magistrate: Oul. Nikomachos (strategos).
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 21,0 mm, weight: 4,98g, axis: 7h,
mint: Achaea, Thessaly, Koinon of Thessaly, date:117-138 A.D.,
ref:
RPC III 0453,
SNG Cop 340,
Rogers 90,
SGI 1127,
BMC 77,
Q-001quadrans
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0463 THRACE, Koinon of Thessaly, Pseudo-autonomous under Hadrian HorseReference.
RPC III, 463/5;
Obv. ΑΧΙΛΛΕΥϹ
Helmeted bust of Achilles, r. (Pegasos on helmet)
Rev. ΘΕϹϹΑΛⲰΝ
Horse walking, right
1.49 gr
14 mm
8h
Note.
ex CNG EA 299, BCD coll., 27 Mar. 2013, lot 40) = Burrer 141.1 (A35/R116: this coin illustrated on Pl. 19)okidoki
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1es Gratian367-383
AE3
Pearl-diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right, D N GRATIANVS P F AVG
Gratian standing right, holding labarum with Chi-rho on banner, and holding captive by hair, GLORIA ROMANORVM; Q to left, K over P to right, DSISCR in ex.
RIC 14c
Zosimus reports: [T] he emperor Valentinian, having favourably disposed the affairs of Germany, made provisions for the future security of the Celtic nations. . . . Valentinian was now attacked by a disease which nearly cost him his life. Upon his recovery the countries requested him to appoint a successor, lest at his decease the commonwealth should be in danger. To this the emperor consented, and declared his son Gratian emperor and his associate in the government, although he was then very young, and not yet capable of the management of affairs. . . .
When the affairs of the empire were reduced to this low condition, Victor, who commanded the Roman cavalry, escaping the danger with some of his troops, entered Macedon and Thessaly. From thence he proceeded into Moesia and Pannonia, and informed Gratian, who was then in that quarter, of what had occurred, and of the loss of the emperor [Valens] and his army. Gratian received the intelligence without uneasiness, and was little grieved at the death of his uncle, a disagreement having existed between them. Finding himself unable to manage affairs, Thrace being ravaged by the Barbarians, as were likewise Pannonia and Moesia, and the towns upon the Rhine being infested by the neighbouring Barbarians without controul, he chose for his associate in the empire, Theodosius, who was a native of a town called Cauca, in the part of Spain called Hispania Callaecia, and who possessed great knowledge and experience of military affairs. Having given him the government of Thrace and the eastern provinces, Gratian himself proceeded to the west of Gaul, in order, if possible, to compose affairs in that quarter. . . .
While the affairs of Thrace were, thus situated, those of Gratian were in great perplexity. Having accepted the counsel of those courtiers who usually corrupt the manners of princes, he gave a reception to some fugitives called Alani, whom he not only introduced into his army, but honoured with valuable presents, and confided to them his most important secrets, esteeming his own soldiers of little value. This produced among his soldiers a violent hatred against him, which being gradually inflamed and augmented incited in them a disposition for innovation, and most particulary in that part of them which was in Britain, since they were the most resolute and vindictive. In this spirit they were encouraged by Maximus, a Spaniard, who had been the fellow-soldier of Theodosius in Britain. He was offended that Theodosius should be thought worthy of being made emperor, while he himself had no honourable employment. He therefore cherished the animosity of the soldiers towards the emperor. They were thus easily induced to revolt and to declare Maximus emperor. Having presented to him the purple robe and the diadem, they sailed to the mouth of the Rhine. As the German army, and all who were in that quarter approved of the election, Gratian prepared to contend against Maximus, with a considerable part of the army which still adhered to him. When the armies met, there were only slight skirmishes for five days; until Gratian, |115 perceiving that the Mauritanian cavalry first deserted from him and declared Maximus Augustus, and afterwards that the remainder of his troops by degrees espoused the cause of his antagonist, relinquished all hope, and fled with three hundred horse to the Alps. Finding those regions without defence, he proceeded towards Rhaetia, Noricum, Pannonia, and the Upper Moesia. When Maximus was informed of his route, he was not negligent of the opportunity, but detached Andragathius, commander of the cavalry, who was his faithful adherent, in pursuit of Gratian. This officer followed him with so great speed, that he overtook him when he was passing the bridge at Sigidunus, and put him to death. Blindado
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1eu Theodosius379-395
AE4
Pearl diademed, draped & cuirassed bust right, D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG
VOT V MVLT X within wreath, ASISC in ex
RIC 29d
Zosimus recorded: [Valentinian] commanded some legions from the stations in Pannonia and Moesia, to embark for Africa [to crush a rebellion]. On this the Sarmatians and the Quadi. . . , availing themselves, of the opportunity afforded by the departure of the legions for Africa, invaded the Pannonians and Moesians. . . . The barbarians therefore revenged themselves by plundering all the country along the Ister, carrying off all that they found in the towns. The Pannonians were by these means exposed to the cruelty of the barbarians, while the soldiers were extremely negligent in the defence of their towns, and committed as much mischief as the Barbarians themselves in all places on this side of the river. But Moesia was free from harm, because Theodosius, who commanded the forces there, courageously resisted the Barbarians, and routed them when they attacked him. By that victory he not only acquired great renown, but subsequently attained the imperial dignity. . . .
When the affairs of the empire were reduced to this low condition, Victor, who commanded the Roman cavalry, escaping the danger with some of his troops, entered Macedon and Thessaly. From thence he proceeded into Moesia and Pannonia, and informed Gratian, who was then in that quarter, of what had occurred, and of the loss of the emperor [Valens] and his army. Gratian received the intelligence without uneasiness, and was little grieved at the death of his uncle, a disagreement having existed between them. Finding himself unable to manage affairs, Thrace being ravaged by the Barbarians, as were likewise Pannonia and Moesia, and the towns upon the Rhine being infested by the neighbouring Barbarians without controul, he chose for his associate in the empire, Theodosius, who was a native of a town called Cauca, in the part of Spain called Hispania Callaecia, and who possessed great knowledge and experience of military affairs. Having given him the government of Thrace and the eastern provinces, Gratian himself proceeded to the west of Gaul, in order, if possible, to compose affairs in that quarter. . . .
During the stay of the new emperor, Theodosius, at Thesslonica, a great concourse arrived there from all parts of persons soliciting him on business, both public and private; who having obtained of him whatever he could conveniently grant, returned, to their homes. As a great multitude of the Scythians beyond the Ister, the Gotthi, and the Taiphali, and other tribes that formerly dwelt among them, had crossed the river, and were driven to infest the Roman dominions, because the Huns, had expelled them from their own country, the emperor Theodosius prepared for war with all his forces. . . . The army having made this good use of the occasion afforded by fortune, the affairs of Thrace, which had been on the brink of ruin, were now, the Barbarians being crushed beyond all hope, re-established in peace. . . .
Meanwhile, the emperor Theodosius, residing in Thessalonica, was easy of access to all who wished to see him. Having commenced his reign in luxury and indolence, he threw the magistracy into disorder, and increased the number of his military officers. . . . As he squandered the public money without consideration, bestowing it on unworthy persons, he consequently impoverished himself. He therefore sold the government of provinces to any who would purchase them, without regard to the reputation or ablity of the persons, esteeming him the best qualified who brought him the most gold or silver. . . .
Maximus, who deemed his appointments inferior to his merits, being only governor of the countries formerly under Gratian, projected how to depose the young Valentinian from the empire. . . . This so much surprised Valentinian, and rendered his situation so desperate, that his courtiers were alarmed lest he should be taken by Maximus and put to death. He, therefore, immediately embarked,and sailed to Thessalonica with his mother Justina. . . . [A]rriving at Thessalonica, they sent messengers to the emperor Theodosius, intreating him now at least to revenge the injuries committed against the family of Valentinian. . . . The emperor, being delivered from this alarm, marched with great resolution with his whole army against Maximus. . . . Theodosius, having passed through Pannonia and the defiles of the Appennines, attacked unawares the forces of Maximus before they were prepared for him. A part of his army, having pursued them with the utmost speed, forced their way through the gates of Aquileia, the guards being too few to resist them. Maximus was torn from his imperial throne while in the act of distributing money to his soldiers, and being stripped of his imperial robes, was brought to Theodosius, who, having in reproach enumerated some of his crimes against the commonwealth, delivered him to the common executioner to receive due punishment. . . . The emperor Theodosius, having consigned Italy, Spain, Celtica, and Libya to his son Honorius, died of a disease on his journey towards Constantinople. Blindado
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400-344 BC - Pharsalos, Thessaly - Sear 2192v - HemidrachmPharsalos, Thessaly
Date: 400-344 BC
Denomination: Hemidrachm
Condition: Fine
Obverse: Head of Athena right, in close-fitting crested helmet.
Reverse: Horse's head right, Φ A P Σ around.
Sear 2192v; BMC 7, 14 & Pl IX, #12; SNG Cop 222/3
2.83g; 15.4mm; 0°Pep
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451 THESSALY, Koinon of Thessaly Hadrian, Diassarion Athena standingReference.
RPC III, 451; BCD Thessalien cf 951.6; SNG Cop 340; Rogers 90; SGI 1127; BMC 77 (pag. 7)
Magistrate Oul. Nikomachos (strategos)
Obv. AΔPIANON KAICAPA ΘЄCCAΛ-OI,
laureate and draped bust right, with small aegis
Rev. monogram and OX NIK-OMAXOY
Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear held in her right hand, shield on her left arm.
5.86 gr
20.5 mm
6hokidoki
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453 THESSALY, Koinon of Thessaly Hadrian, Diassarion Athena standingReference.
RPC III, 453; BCD Thessalien cf 951.6; SNG Cop 340; Rogers 90; SGI 1127; BMC 77 (pag. 7)
Magistrate Oul. Nikomachos (strategos)
Obv. AΔPIANON KAICAPA ΘЄCCAΛ-OI,
laureate and draped bust right, with small aegis
Rev. monogram and OX NIK-OMAXOY
Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear held in her right hand, shield on her left arm.
3.46 gr
21 mm
6hokidoki
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454 THESSALY, Koinon of Thessaly Hadrian, Diassarion Athena standingReference.
RPC III, 454; SNGCop 340; Rogers 90; SGI 1127
Magistrate Oul. Nikomachos (strategos)
Obv. AΔPIANON KAICAPA ΘЄCCAΛ-OI,
Laureate and draped bust right.
Rev. OX NIK-OMAXOY
Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear held in her right hand, shield on her left arm.
3.74 gr
21 mmokidoki
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454 THESSALY, Koinon of Thessaly Hadrian, Diassarion Athena standingReference.
RPC III, 454; SNGCop 340; Rogers 90; SGI 1127
Magistrate Oul. Nikomachos (strategos)
Obv. AΔPIANON KAICAPA ΘЄCCAΛ-OI,
Laureate and draped bust right.
Rev. OX NIK-OMAXOY
Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear held in her right hand, shield on her left arm.
4.88 gr
21 mm
12hokidoki
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ACHAIA, Aigieon. 37-31 BC.AE hexachalkon (5.67 g)
Theoxios and Kletaios, magistrates.
obv: Laureate head of Zeus right
rev: Zeus standing right, holding eagle on outstretched arm and preparing to cast thunderbolt; ΘEOΞIOΣ KΛHTAIOΣ around. Kroll, Bronze 2; BCD Peloponnesos 436.
Located along the northern coast of the Peloponnesos, Achaia was a narrow territory between Sicyon and Elis. One theory suggests that Achaia’s original inhabitants were driven to the area from Achaia Phthoitis, which itself was located across the Gulf of Corinth in southern Thessaly. A number of prehistoric and Mycenaean ruins in the western part of the Achaia indicate that the district was long inhabited, even into remote antiquity. Twelve city-states were located there: Aigai, Aigira, Aigion, Bura, Dyme, Helike, Olenos, Patrai, Pherai, Pelene, Rhypes, and Tritaia. Achaian colonies were established in Magna Graecia at Kroton, Kaulonia, Metapontion, and Sybaris. From the mid-5th century onward, much of the history of Achaia is interconnected with the Achaian League. Dino
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Achaia, Dyme, ca. 300-250 BC, Æ DichalkonVeiled head of Demeter right.
ΔY within wreath with ties to left.
HGC 5, 37 (R1); BCD Peloponnesos 476; BMC 2; Traite 834, MG 29; SNG Copenhagen (Phliasia) 145.
(16 mm, 2.18 g, 8h).
Classical Numismatic Group, February 2009; ex- BCD Collection (not in LHS sale); found in Thessaly according to BCD collection tag.
Minor softness on reverse.
Very rare, less than a dozen specimens known. n.igma
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AkarnaniaAKARNANIA, Federal Coinage. Circa 300-167 BC. Æ . Helmeted head of Athena left / Head of a man-headed bull (Achelous) left; t. SNG Copenhagen 423; BMC Thessaly pg. 170, 21. ecoli
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AKARNANIA: LeukasAKARNANIA. Leukas. Ae (Circa 338-280 BC), 5.99 g, 21 mm.. Obv: Chimera walking left, monogram below. Rev: Head of river god Acheloos left, monogram behind. BMC Thessaly, p. 175, no. 19, BCD Akarnania 236; MSP I, 467 (this coin illustrated).
Pecunem, Auction 16, lot 205.Molinari
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Akarnanian LeagueAE 20, 5.68g, Akarnanian Federal Coinage, Thyreeion Mint, c. 250 BC. Obv: Athena to left in helm. Rev: Acheloios as a man-faced bull facing left. Dark green patina with some earthen encrustation. SNG Cop 423; BMC Thessaly p. 170, no. 21-4; BCD Akarnania 41-3; MSP I, 460.Molinari
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Alexander (dynast) - PheraiAE Chalkous
369-359 BC
forepart of butting bull right
forepart of horse right
AΛEΞAN / ΔPOY
BCD Thessaly II 708.2; HGC 4, 584
2,5g 14mm
ex NaumannJ. B.
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Ancient Greek / HESSALY /LarissaGreece ,THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 344-321 BC. AR Drachm
Obverse: Head of nymph facing slightly left.
Reverse : Horse right, grazing.
5,759 gr Max Dia 18 mm
Ref : SNG Cop. 122
From the Sam Mansourati Collection. Sam
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Aphrodite and Ares on Cilician AR Stater of Satrap PharnabazosCirca 380-374/3 B.C.(21mm, 10.39g, 11h). Struck circa 380-379 B.C. Casabonne series 3; Moysey Issue 3, 3-5 var. (dolphin on obv.); SNG France 246 var. (rev. legend). Obverse Head of nymph facing three-quarters left. Reverse Helmeted head of Ares left, Aramaic PRNBZW to left. Near EF, toned, struck from a slightly worn obverse die.
Ex CNG.
There is still an ongoing debate whether who represent the obverse and reverse of this coin type of Pharnabazos. The obverse obviously was inspired by the renowned Syracusan tetradrachm of Kimon, whose three-quarter facing head of the nymph Arethusa was widely copied throughout the ancient world. A handful of ancient poleis adopted this style to represent their local nymph or goddess on their coins. A perfect example is the numerous coins of Larissa in Thessaly representing the local nymph of the same name. It is possible to assume then that the obverse of our coin might be another female deity other than Arethusa. A current opinion holds that the obverse represents Aphrodite, the goddess of love; and the reverse depicts Ares, the god of war. The two were known in ancient mythology as lovers, and commonly paired together on ancient coins. Of special note on this coin is the reverse: while most coins of this type display static male heads with little originality, the reverse die is probably from a special issue marked by superior style and executed with extreme delicacy. It has been suggested (Leu Auction 81, lot 317) that the head of Ares may be a disguised portrait of Pharnabazos himself.
Jason T
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ApolloThessalian League. Around 197-150 BC. AE Trichalcon (7.64 gm, 19mm). Hippolo(chos), magistrates.
Obverse: laureate head of Apollo right.
Reverse: ΘEΣΣA ΛΩN (THESSALON) in two lines, Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear held in her right hand, shield on her left arm; ΙΠΠ-ΟΛΟ (IPOLLO magistrates name) over spear and A-PI across central field.
BCD Thessaly II, 900.3; Rogers 21.SNG Copenhagen 315.Paul R3
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Arkanania, LeukasMetal/Size: AE20; Weight: 5.2 grams; Denomination: Drachm; Mint: Leukas, Arkanania; Date: 300-167 BCE; Obverse: Athena with crested helmet left. Reverse: Head of river god Archeloos (man-headed bull) left; trident above. References: BMC #21; SNG Copenhagen #423-424; BMC Thessaly #21-24; BCD Akarnania #44.1-20.museumguy
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Athena * Protome Horse - Pharsalos, Thessaly – AR Hemidrachm * 480-450 BC.
Athena * Horse head - Pharsalos, silver half-drachm.
Obv: Athena in Attic-styled crested helmet facing right.
Rev: Protome of horse facing right within incuse square. ΦΑΡ, vertical in right field.
Exergue: None
Mint: Pharsalos
Struck: 480-450 BC.
Size: 14.64 x 12.80 (oblong flan)
Weight: 2.65 gms.
Die axis: 0°
Condition: Beautifully worn.
Refs:*
SNG Cop. 218
Sear, GC. Vol. I, p. 209; 2187
Status: TCJH, Private Collection
Tiathena
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Atrax, Thessaly, Circ. B.C. 400-344.Atrax (Pelasgiotis), on the northern bank of the Peneius, about ten miles west of Larissa.
Obv: Bearded head (of Atrax ?).
Rev: ΑΤΡΑΓΙΩΝ Rushing bull.
Numis. Chron., 1896, Pl. II. 7.Dino
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BCD Collection: Six c. 4th cent. BCE bronze coins from Thessaly, Phalanna with BCD's hand-written tagsAE Dichalkon (x4), Chalkous, Hemichalkon types. Obv: Bare male head (often mistakenly described as Ares; in my opinion, Peloros). Rev: Nymph wearing sakkos, earring, necklace.
(1) Master engraver. 18mm, 5.30g. BCD I 1255.1, II 578, 583.3; P-G 5, 22; R 452; HGC 175. (2) Signature “Δ” unpublished in refs consulted. 18mm, 5.45g. P-G 21 var. (letter behind nymph); BCD II 578 (no letter); cf. R 446 (“A” behind Ares). (3) Unusual & Artistic Dies. 19mm, 6.12g. BCD II 591.4 (same engraver, finer work here; see also Roma EA 70, 435). (4) “A” behind Nymph, control or signature? 18mm, 4.84g. BCD I 1255.4 (same obv. die or engraver), II 579; P-G 21 var.; R 446 (“A” behind Ares), 452 var. (no letter). (5) Rare, Superb Obv. AE Hemichalkon (13.5mm, 1.82g). BCD I 1256, II 587.1 var (same obv. die; diff. rev. legend break), 587.3; P-G 7 var. (6) Ex-Sotheby’s 1996. AE Chalkous (17mm, 3.22g). 4th c. BCD II 586.2; P-G 6; CNG EA 409, 168.
Refs Cited: BCD I = Nomos 4, “BCD Thessaly I” (Zurich, 10 May 2011); BCD II = CNG Triton XV, “BCD Thessaly II” (Lancaster, 3 Jan 2012); P-G = Papaevangelou-Genakos (2004), “Metrological Aspects of the Thessalian Bronze Coinages: The Case of Phalanna”; R = Rogers (1932), The Copper Coinage of Thessaly; HGC = Hoover (2014), The Handbook of Greek Coinage, Volume 4.Curtis JJ
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BOEOTIA, ThebesIn the late 6th century BC the Thebans were brought for the first time into hostile contact with the Athenians, who helped the small village of Plataea to maintain its independence against them, and in 506 repelled an inroad into Attica. The aversion to Athens best serves to explain the unpatriotic attitude which Thebes displayed during the Persian invasion of Greece (480–479 BC). Though a contingent of 700 was sent to Thermopylae and remained there with Leonidas until just before the last stand when they surrendered to the Persians[1], the governing aristocracy soon after joined King Xerxes I of Persia with great readiness and fought zealously on his behalf at the battle of Plataea in 479 BC. The victorious Greeks subsequently punished Thebes by depriving it of the presidency of the Boeotian League, and an attempt by the Spartans to expel it from the Delphic amphictyony was only frustrated by the intercession of Athens.
In 457 Sparta, needing a counterpoise against Athens in central Greece, reversed her policy and reinstated Thebes as the dominant power in Boeotia. The great citadel of Cadmea served this purpose well by holding out as a base of resistance when the Athenians overran and occupied the rest of the country (457–447). In the Peloponnesian War the Thebans, embittered by the support which Athens gave to the smaller Boeotian towns, and especially to Plataea, which they vainly attempted to reduce in 431, were firm allies of Sparta, which in turn helped them to besiege Plataea and allowed them to destroy the town after its capture in 427 BC. In 424 at the head of the Boeotian levy they inflicted a severe defeat upon an invading force of Athenians at the Battle of Delium, and for the first time displayed the effects of that firm military organization which eventually raised them to predominant power in Greece.
After the downfall of Athens at the end of the Peloponnesian War the Thebans, finding that Sparta intended to protect the states which they desired to annex, broke off the alliance. In 404 they had urged the complete destruction of Athens, yet in 403 they secretly supported the restoration of its democracy in order to find in it a counterpoise against Sparta. A few years later, influenced perhaps in part by Persian gold, they formed the nucleus of the league against Sparta. At the battles of Haliartus (395) and Coronea (394) they again proved their rising military capacity by standing their ground against the Spartans. The result of the war was especially disastrous to Thebes, as the general settlement of 387 stipulated the complete autonomy of all Greek towns and so withdrew the other Boeotians from its political control. Its power was further curtailed in 382, when a Spartan force occupied the citadel by a treacherous coup-de-main. Three years later the Spartan garrison was expelled, and a democratic constitution definitely set up in place of the traditional oligarchy. In the consequent wars with Sparta the Theban army, trained and led by Epaminondas and Pelopidas, proved itself the best in Greece. Some years of desultory fighting, in which Thebes established its control over all Boeotia, culminated in 371 in a remarkable victory over the pick of the Spartans at Leuctra. The winners were hailed throughout Greece as champions of the oppressed. They carried their arms into Peloponnesus and at the head of a large coalition permanently crippled the power of Sparta. Similar expeditions were sent to Thessaly and Macedon to regulate the affairs of those regions.
However the predominance of Thebes was short-lived; the states which she protected refused to subject themselves permanently to her control, and the renewed rivalry of Athens, which had joined with Thebes in 395 in a common fear of Sparta, but since 387 had endeavoured to maintain the balance of power against her ally, prevented the formation of a Theban empire. With the death of Epaminondas at Mantinea in 362 the city sank again to the position of a secondary power. In a war with the neighbouring state of Phocis (356–346) it could not even maintain its predominance in central Greece, and by inviting Philip II of Macedon to crush the Phocians it extended that monarch's power within dangerous proximity to its frontiers. A revulsion of feeling was completed in 338 by the orator Demosthenes, who persuaded Thebes to join Athens in a final attempt to bar Philip's advance upon Attica. The Theban contingent lost the decisive battle of Chaeronea and along with it every hope of reassuming control over Greece. Philip was content to deprive Thebes of her dominion over Boeotia; but an unsuccessful revolt in 335 against his son Alexander was punished by Macedon and other Greek states by the severe sacking of the city, except, according to tradition, the house of the poet Pindar.
BOEOTIA, Thebes. Circa 395-338 BC. AR Stater (21mm, 11.98 gm). Boeotian shield / Amphora; magistrate AM-FI. Hepworth, "The 4th Century BC Magistrate Coinage of the Boiotian Confederacy," in Nomismatika Xronika (1998), 2; BMC Central Greece -. Fine.
Ex-Cng eAuction 105, Lot: 34 225/200
ecoli
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Bronze Dichalkon from LarissaA bronze dichalkon minted in Larissa, Thessaly between 344-300 BC. 17 mm, 4 g.
Obverse: head of the nymph Larissa right, hair rolled
Reverse: LARI-SAIWN (starting in exergue), horse crouching right, right foreleg raised, preparing to roll
Attribution: BCD Thessaly 2012 390.2; Rogers 288chuy1530
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Centaur THESSALY, THE MAGNETES
O: Laur. head of Zeus, L
R: The Centaur Cheiron prancing R
196 - 146 BC
AE 20mm 9.24 g laney
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Cilicia, Tarsos. Satrap Pharnabazos II. AR Stater.Circa 380-374/3 B.C.(21mm, 10.39g, 11h). Struck circa 380-379 B.C. Casabonne series 3; Moysey Issue 3, 3-5 var. (dolphin on obv.); SNG France 246 var. (rev. legend). Obverse Head of nymph facing three-quarters left. Reverse Helmeted head of Ares left, Aramaic PRNBZW to left. Near EF, toned, struck from a slightly worn obverse die.
Ex CNG.
There is still an ongoing debate whether who represent the obverse and reverse of this coin type of Pharnabazos. The obverse obviously was inspired by the renowned Syracusan tetradrachm of Kimon, whose three-quarter facing head of the nymph Arethusa was widely copied throughout the ancient world. A handful of ancient poleis adopted this style to represent their local nymph or goddess on their coins. A perfect example is the numerous coins of Larissa in Thessaly representing the local nymph of the same name. It is possible to assume then that the obverse of our coin might be another female deity other than Arethusa. A current opinion holds that the obverse represents Aphrodite, the goddess of love; and the reverse depicts Ares, the god of war. The two were known in ancient mythology as lovers, and commonly paired together on ancient coins. Of special note on this coin is the reverse: while most coins of this type display static male heads with little originality, the reverse die is probably from a special issue marked by superior style and executed with extreme delicacy. It has been suggested (Leu Auction 81, lot 317) that the head of Ares may be a disguised portrait of Pharnabazos himself.
Jason T
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Claudius - ThessalyAntigonos (strategos)
41-54 AD
head left
ΘΕΣΣΑΛΩΝ__ΣΕΒΑΣΤΗΩΝ
Athena Itonia standing right, brandishing spear, holding shield
ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓ_ΟΥ__ΑΝ_ΤΙΓΟΝΟΥ
(TAB)
RPC I, 1435; Rogers 77a corr. = 64/64a/65, Cop 333, Moustaka 59, Burrer Em 1, p. 138–42, 53–86 (series 3, 1b)
9,5g 23mm
ex AphroditeJ. B.
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Domitia, wife of Domitian. Augusta, 82-96 CE.Thessaly, Larissa. Æ Assarion (20 mm, 5.12 gm).
Obv: DOMITIANON KAIS QESSALOI, laureate head of Domitian, right.
Rev: DOMITIA SEBASSTH, draped bust of Domitia, right.
Sear GIC 891; BMC 7.7,76; RPC 278; Rogers 88.
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Domitian, AD 81-96THESSALY, Thessalian League.
1 Assarion, 19.86 mm (7.92 gm).
ΔOMITIANON KAIΣAPA ΘEΣΣAΛOI, laureate head of Domitian right / ΔOMITIAN ΣEBAΣΣTHN, draped bust of Domitia right. Struck AD 81-96.
RPC II, 277; BCD, 1407 (this coin); Rogers, 88.
From the BCD collection.
socalcoins
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EB0031 Larissa / HorseLarissa, Thessaly, AR drachm, 350-340 BC.
Obverse: Head of the nymph Larissa facing slightly left.
Reverse: ΛAΡIΣ-AIΩN above and beneath horse grazing right, left forefoot raised.
References: Herrmann V 5, Lorber L-III 53, SNG Cop 121, BMC 57.
Diameter: 19mm, Weight: 5.75g.EB
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EB0267 Zeus / CentaurThessaly, Magnetes, AE 20, 196-146 BC.
Obverse: Laureate head of Zeus right.
Reverse: MAΓN/HTΩN, Centaur walking right holding branch.
References: Cf. BCD 419.9; BMC-7.
Diameter: 20mm, Weight: 5.971g.
Ex: Dr. Roberts collection.EB
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Elis, Olympia, 340-330 BC, Æ DichalkonLaureate head of Zeus right.
Eagle standing right, with wings closed; F-A across field, ΔI below, all within olive wreath.
BCD Peloponnesos 655; BCD Olympia 287 (same dies); HGC 5, 528 (incorrectly attributed as BCD Peloponessos 287) (R2); BMC 143.
(15 mm, 2.70 g, 2h).
Classical Numismatic Group, December 2008; ex- BCD Collection (not in LHS sale); found in Thessaly according to BCD collection tag.
Amongst the first Elean bronze issues. Rare, only a few dozen known. n.igma
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Epiros, Ambrakia, SNG Copenhagen 23Ambrakia, 238-168 BC
AE 18, 4.97g, 18.25mm, 30°
obv. Head of Dione, veiled and laureate, r.
rev. A - M / B - R
Obelisk of Apollo Agyeios with two-stage base and peak, all wizhin laurel wreath
ref. SNG Copenhagen 23; SNG München 525; SNG Evelpidis 1770; BMC Thessaly p.94, 5
F+, green patina, some corrosion
Dione was Aphrodite's mother.
Jochen
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G., Thessaly, Larissa, (c.344-337 B.C.), AR-Trihemiobol, SNG Coop 134, ΛΑΡ-IΣ / AIΩN, Horseman galloping right, Rare !Thessaly, Larissa, (c.344-337 B.C.), AR-Trihemiobol, SNG Coop 134, ΛΑΡ-IΣ / AIΩN, Horseman galloping right, Rare !
avers: Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left.
revers: ΛΑΡ-IΣ / AIΩN, Horseman - Thessalian cavalryman, wearing petasos and chlamys and holding staff, riding cantering horse to right.
exerg: -/-//--, diameter: 11,5-12,5 mm, weight: 1,36g, axes: 9 h,
mint: Thessaly, Larissa, date: 344-337 B.C., ref: SNG Copenhagen 134, Hermann Group VII, pl. VI, 1,
Q-001quadrans
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G., Thessaly, Larissa, (c.360-325 B.C.), AE-20, Rogers 286, ΛΑΡI ΣAIΩN, Warrior galloping right, Thessaly, Larissa, (c.360-325 B.C.), AE-20, Rogers 286, ΛΑΡI ΣAIΩN, Warrior galloping right,
avers: Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left.
revers: ΛΑΡI ΣAIΩN, Warrior on horseback galloping right, holding couched spear; M beneath horse.
exerg: -/-//M, diameter: 18,5-19,2mm, weight: 5,32g, axes: 2h,
mint: Thessaly, Larissa, date: 360-325 B.C., ref: Rogers 286, BMC-85,
Q-001quadrans
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G., Thessaly, Larissa, (c.400-344 B.C.), AE-20, Rogers 273, ΛΑΡI ΣAIΩN, Warrior galloping right, #1Thessaly, Larissa, (c.400-344 B.C.), AE-20, Rogers 273, ΛΑΡI ΣAIΩN, Warrior galloping right, #1
avers: Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left.
revers: ΛΑΡI Σ AIΩN, bridled horse trotting right, E above, grain ear below. ..
exerg: -/-// AIΩN, diameter:18,3-19,2mm, weight: 8,97g, axes: 1h,
mint: Thessaly, Larissa, date: c.400-344 B.C., ref: Rogers 273, BMC-81,
Q-001
quadrans
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G., Thessaly, Larissa, (c.400-344 B.C.), AE-20, Rogers 273, ΛΑΡI ΣAIΩN, Warrior galloping right, #2Thessaly, Larissa, (c.400-344 B.C.), AE-20, Rogers 273, ΛΑΡI ΣAIΩN, Warrior galloping right, #2
avers: Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left.
revers: ΛΑΡI Σ AIΩN, bridled horse trotting right, E above, grain ear below. ..
exerg: -/-// AIΩN, diameter:19,2-21,8mm, weight: 8,86g, axes: 9h,
mint: Thessaly, Larissa, date: c.400-344 B.C., ref: Rogers 273, BMC-81,
Q-002
quadrans
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G., Thessaly, Phalanna, (300-190 B.C.), AE-18, SNG Cop 204, ΦAΛANNAIΩN, Head of Nymph Phalanna right,Thessaly, Phalanna, (300-190 B.C.), AE-18, SNG Cop 204, ΦAΛANNAIΩN, Head of Nymph Phalanna right,
avers: No legend, Young male head right.
revers: ΦAΛANNAIΩN, Head of Nymph Phalanna right, hair in sakkos.
exerg: -/-//--, diameter: 18,2mm, weight: 5,31g, axes: 0h,
mint: Thessaly, Phalanna, date: 300-190 B.C., ref: SNG Cop 204, BMC 4-10,
Q-001quadrans
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G., Thessaly, Pharsalos, (cc. 480-440 B.C.), AR-Hemidrachm, SNG Cop 217, ΦAP, Horse's head right, #1Thessaly, Pharsalos, (cc. 480-440 B.C.), AR-Hemidrachm, SNG Cop 217, ΦAP, Horse's head right, #1
avers: No legend, Head of Athena right in close-fitting crested helmet ornamented with serpents.
reverse: ΦAP, Horse's head right, within incuse.
exergue: -/-//--, diameter: 12,0-17,0mm, weight: 2,67g, axes: 2h,
mint: Thessaly, Pharsalos, date: cc. 480-440 B.C., ref: SNG Cop 217, BMC 1,
Q-001quadrans
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G., Thessaly, Scotussa, (360-344 B.C.), AE-20, SNG Cop 256, Bunch of grapes on vine branch, Rare!!!,Thessaly, Scotussa, (360-344 B.C.), AE-20, SNG Cop 256, Bunch of grapes on vine branch, Rare!!!,
avers: Head of nymph faceing.
revers: ΣΚΟΤΟΥΣΣΑΙ-ΩΝ, Bunch of grapes on vine branch.
exerg: -/-//--, diameter: 20-20,5mm, weight: 7,89g, axes:5 h,
mint: Thessaly, Scotussa, date: 360-344 B.C., ref: SNG Cop 256, Rogers 543,
Q-001quadrans
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G., Thessaly, Scotussa, (c. 3rd. centuries B.C.), AE-18, SNGCop 258, Horse prancing right, Φ beneath horse, Rare !Thessaly, Scotussa, (c. 3rd. centuries B.C.), AE-18, SNGCop 258, Horse prancing right, Φ beneath horse, Rare !
avers: No legend, Helmeted head (Ares or Athena?) right.
revers: Horse prancing right, Φ beneath horse.
exerg: -/-//--, diameter: 17,7-18,9mm, weight: 5,51g, axes: h,
mint: Thessaly, Scotussa, date: c. 3rd. centuries B.C., ref: SNGCop 258, Rogers 546 var. (Φ below tail); BCD Thessaly I 1344 var. (same); BCD Thessaly II 752.3; HGC 4, 615. Rare !
Q-001quadrans
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G., Thessaly, Scotussa, (c.450-400 BC.), AR-Hemidrachm, SNG Cop 251, ΣΚΟ, Corn grain in husk, Rare!Thessaly, Scotussa, (c.450-400 BC.), AR-Hemidrachm, SNG Cop 251, ΣΚΟ, Corn grain in husk, Rare!
avers: Forepart of horse right.
revers: Corn grain in husk, ΣKO; all within incuse square.
exerg: -/-//--, diameter: 14-16,5 mm, weight: 2,80g, axes: 5h,
mint: Skotussa, Thessaly, date: 450-400 B.C., ref: SNG-Cop-251,
Q-001quadrans
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G., Thessaly, Thessalian League, (172-171 B.C.), AE-18 Dichalkon, Rogers 44, ΘΕΣ-Σ-ΑΛΩΝ, Horse trotting right, #1Thessaly, Thessalian League, (172-171 B.C.), AE-18 Dichalkon, Rogers 44, ΘΕΣ-Σ-ΑΛΩΝ, Horse trotting right, #1
avers: IΠΠAI-TAΣ above and beneath helmeted head of Athena right. Magistrate Hippaitas (172-171 B.C.).
revers: ΘΕΣ-Σ-ΑΛΩΝ, Above and beneath horse trotting right.
exerg: -/-//--, diameter: 17,8-18,9mm, weight: 4,25g, axes: 2h,
mint: Thessaly, Thessalian League, Magistrate Hippaitas, date: 172-171 B.C., ref: Rogers 44; BCD Thessaly 840.
Q-001quadrans
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