 |
 |
THESSALIA, THESSALIAN LEAGUE - AR Double Victoriatus, circa 120-50 BC
weight 6,05gr. ; silver Ø 21mm.
Magistrates Philokros and Epikrates.
obv. Head of Zeus facing right, wearing a laurel wreath
rev. Athena Itonia advancing right, brandishing spear and holding shield,
small ΓA-monogram in inner right field, ΘEΣΣA behind, ΛΩN in front,
ΦIΛOK above, EΠIKPA below
cf. BMC 31 ; cf. SNG.Copenhagen 297 ; McClean - ;
Klose pp. 341 and 347, 21 ; BCD.871.1
Somewhat flatness on the obverse. Dark patina.
about vf |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
THESSALIA / MALIS, LAMIA - AR Hemidrachm, 370-352 BC
weight 2,38gr. ; silver Ø 16,5mm.
obv. Head of Dionysos facing left, wearing a wreath of vine leaves.
rev. Amphora in the centre with an ivy leaf above,
a prochous with handle to the right, ΛAMΙE on the left,
ΩΝ on the right of the amphora.
Archaeological excavations have shown the site of Lamia to have been inhabited since at least the Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC). In Greek mythological tradition , the city of Lamia was founded by Malos, the eponymous hero of the Malians, and named for the local nymph Lamia, the daughter of Poseidon and queen of the Trachineans. Another holds that it is named after the Malians, the inhabitants of the surrounding area. In antiquity, the city played an important role due to its strategic location, controlling the narrow coastal plain above Thermopylae that connected southern Greece with Thessaly and the rest of the Balkans.
The city formed a polis (city-state). The city was therefore fortified in the 5th century BC, and was contested by the Macedonians, Thessalians and Aetolians until the Roman conquest in the early 2nd century BC. After Alexander the Great′s death in 323 BC, the Athenians and other Greeks rebelled against Macedonian overlordship. Antipatros, the regent of Macedon, took refuge behind the substantial walls of the city (Lamian War, 323–322 BC). The war ended with the death of the Athenian general Leosthenes, and the arrival of a 20,000-strong Macedonian army. Lamia prospered afterwards, especially in the 3rd century BC under Aetolian hegemony, which came to an end when Manius Acilius Glabrio sacked the city in 190 BC. Little is known of the city′s history after. In Late Antiquity, the city was the seat of a bishop (attested since 431), suffragan of Larissa, but had declined to obscurity: for instance, it is not shown on the 5th-century Tabula Peutingeriana. Lamia is today the capital of the regional unit of Phthiotis and of the Central Greece region
BMC 2-5 ; SNG.Copenhagen 77 ; McClean 4580 ; Jameson 1082 ;
Babelon, Traité IV, 459 (pl.CCLXXXVII,22) ; BCD Thessaly II, 123 ;
BCD Thessaly I, 1089-1090 ; Georgiou 2004, no.8; HGC 4, 120 R
vf- |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
THESSALIA, LARISSA - AR Drachm, circa 420-400 BC
weight 5,99gr. ; silver Ø 20mm.
obv. Head of the nymph Larissa to right, her hair bound in a plain sakkos
rev. Bridled horse prancing to right, with loose rein, ΛAPIΣA above
In ancient times Larissa was a city in Thessaly and the mythological birthplace of Achilles. Today, it is the capital and largest city in modern Thessaly. It is also the namesake of the nymph Larissa who was the daughter of Pelasgus, son of Triopas, King of Argos.
A note from BCD: Many years ago the famous professor numismatist Herbert cahn, speaking to a circle of collector friends, described this obverse die (BCD 1130) as his favorite die in the entire Larissa series.
On the specimen this obverse die, known from BCD 1130, is combined with a totally different reverse die, which seems to be unpublished in the relevant literature. This reverse shows us a Thessalian horse in its most elegant form. Extremely rare.
BMC 51var. ; SNG.Copenhagen 117var. ; Herrmann- (cf. Pl.IV,1 en 4) ;
BCD collection - (cf. Nomos, auction 4 at 10 may 2011, lot no.1130 for
same obverse dies ; vf/xf CHF 42.000 + 18%) ; McClean- ; Sear- (vgl.2117) ;
SNG.Delepierre - (cf. 1114) ; HGC 6, - (cf. 426 = BCD 1130; same obverse die) RRRR
vf/xf |
|
| |
|
 |
THESSALIA, LARISSA - AR Drachm, circa 404-370 BC
weight 5,95gr. ; silver Ø 19mm.
obv. Head of nymph Larissa facing slight left, her flowing hair
bound with band and wearing plain necklace, all within border of dots
rev. Horse with straight legs grazing left on ground line, ΛAPIΣA above
In ancient times Larissa was a city in Thessaly and the mythological birthplace of Achilles. Today, it is the capital and largest city in modern Thessaly. It is also the namesake of the nymph Larissa who was the daughter of Pelasgus, son of Triopas, King of Argos. The depiction of Larissa facing three-quarters to the left was borrowed from that of Arethusa of the famous coinage of Sicily, Syracuse.
Already in ancient times the region of Thessalia was famous for its horses. These horses were not very tall but quick and with a great figure. It is therefore not surprising that we see the horse depicted on many Thessalian coins, especially those of its capital Larissa. The most famous Thessalian horse is undoubtedly Bucephalus, the horse of Alexander the Great.
BMC- ; SNG.Copenhagen 128 ; Herrmann pl.VII,no.16 ; Lorber 1992,29.4 ;
McClean- ; BCD, Thessaly,218 ; SNG.Delepierre - ; Sear- ; HGC 6, 432 (R2)
Wonderful masterpiece in the style of the famous Syracusian engraver Kimon.
Very rare.
vf+/vf
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
THESSALIA, LARISSA - AR Drachm, circa 356-342 BC
weight 5,99gr. ; silver Ø 18mm.
obv. Head of the nymph Larissa three-quarter, facing left, wearing plain necklace,
earring in right ear, her hair confined by an ampyx and floating loosely;
all within dotted border
rev. Horse standing right, its forefoot raised, preparing to lie down,
ΛAPIΣ above, AIΩN in exergue
In ancient times Larissa was a city in Thessaly and the mythological birthplace of Achilles. Today, it is the capital and largest city in modern Thessaly. It is also the namesake of the nymph Larissa who was the daughter of Pelasgus, son of Triopas, King of Argos. The depiction of Larissa facing three-quarters to the left was borrowed from that of Arethusa of the famous coinage of Sicily, Syracuse. Lorber dates the Phase L-III series to which this coin belongs to a period commencing from the time of Third Sacred War (356-346 AD) to Philip′s reorganisation of the tetrarchy government of Thessaly and his garrison of Pherae (c. 344-342 AD).
BMC 60 ; Lorber Hoard, Phase L-III, 38–60 ; Herrmann Group VII-A ;
SNG Copenhagen 121 ; SNG Alpha Bank 93-99 ;
BCD Thessaly II 319 (vf+ ; USD 2.250 + 15%)
Wonderful piece of art. Amazing coin, well struck with fine details of the
best classical style. Minor graffiti ″ΔIK″ on reverse below horse.
Attractive tone. Very rare this nice.
xf/unc |
|
| |
|
 |
THESSALIA, THE PERRHAIBOI - AR Obol, Olosson, circa 480-400 BC
weight 0,83gr. ; silver Ø 12mm.
obv. Bridled horse prancing to left, its rein trailing, border of dots
rev. Athena Itonia advancing right, half kneeling in fighting attitude,
wearing crested helmet and long robes, holding spear in her right hand
and shield in het left, Π - E / P - A in field, all within shallow incuse square
The Perrhaiboi were the inhabitants of the district of Perrhaibai, which is to the north of Thessaly proper and borders Macedonia. The coinage in the name of the Perrhaiboi was struck at Olosson and begins in the fifth century BC. Other Perrhaibian cities that struck were Gonnos and Phalanna.
BMC 6 ; SNG.Copenhagen 195 ; Boston MFA.916 ;
Weber collection- (cf. 2889) ; BCD.Thessaly II, 550 ;
HGC 4, 152 ; SNG.Ashmolean 3904 ; cf. Sear 2171 R
vf |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 |
THESSALIA, PHARSALOS - AR Hemidrachm, circa 400 BC
weight. 3,01gr. ; silver Ø 16mm.
obv. Head of Athena right in close fitting ornamented crested Attic hermet
rev. Horse head right, ΦAP before, within round incuse
BMC 2 ; SNG.Copenhagen 218 ; Weber collection 2905 ;
cf. SNG.Delepierre 1141 ; Sear 2187var. ; Lavva 46-7 var. (unlisted dies);
BCD, Thessaly I, 1282var. (xf SFR 3.000 + 18%) ; cf. McClean 4677 ;
BCD, Thessaly II, 647var. (vf+ USD 2.000 + 18%) ; HGC 6, no.630var. RR
Very attractive coin of early classical style. Very rare.
vf/xf à xf- |
|
| |
|
 |
THESSALIA, PHARSALOS - SIGNED PIECE OF MASTER DIE CUTTER TELEPHANTOS AND HIS PUPIL “MI…” - AR Drachm, circa 400-370 BC
weight 6,07gr. ; silver Ø 18mm.
Dies signed by the engraver Telephantos and his pupil “Mi…”.
obv. Head of Athena right, wearing pearl necklace and a crested Attic helmet adorned with a figure of Skylla to right, her left hand raised to shade her eyes;
in tiny letters behind neck TH / MI
rev. Helmeted Thessalian cavalryman on horse prancing to left on groundline,
wearing chlamys and short chiton, holding lagobolon over his
right shoulder, Φ - A / P - Σ in field
Located in Phthiotis (which was the homeland of the Myrmidons, as well as Peleus, the father of Achilles), Pharsalos was one of the major poleis of Thessaly. Continuously occupied since Neolithic times, its visible remains include a portion of a so-called Cyclopean Wall and a Mycenaean- period tomb. In the Archaic and Classical periods, Pharsalos was under the control of three major families – the Echekratidai, the Menonidai, and the Daochidai. At the time of the second invasion of Greece by the Persians (480-479 BC), the city was allied with Athens. During the so-called First Peloponnesian War (460-445 BC), the Athenians attempted to capture Pharsalos (which by then was outside of the influence of Athens), but failed, though both cities later became allies again. During the late 5th and early 4th centuries BC, Pharsalos was beset by such civil strife, that Polydamas was entrusted with supreme power over that city in 375 BC. Later, Polydamas concluded an agreement with Jason of Pherai, making Jason of Thessaly. Immediately following the assassination of of Jason in 370 BC, his successor, Polyphron, had Polydamas murdered along with eight other leading citizens of Pharsalos. For a period in the 4th century Pherai dominated the affairs of Pharsalos, but after the arrival of Philip II, the situation was reversed. Pharsalos received Halos in 346 as an outlet to the sea. In 323 BC, Pharsalos joined the revolt against Macedonia; as a result the Daochids were expelled by Antipater and the city lost its independence. During the Second (200-197 BC) and Third (171-168 BC) Macedonian Wars, Thessaly (now allied with Rome and, since 189 BC, a member of the Thessalian League) became the primary battleground, and the Thessalian cavalry (composed largely of horsemen from Pharsalos) frequently battled with the Macedonians. In 48 BC, the plains to the northwest of the city were the site of the Battle of Pharsalus, the decisive victory of Julius Caesar over the Pompey and the Republic (see Lucan, Bellum Civile, 7). After then, the town, although it remained a part of the Thessalian League, diminished in importance throughout the remainder of antiquity.
A splendid coin with beautiful surfaces and lovely style from
the master die cutter Telephantos and his pupil (Mi…). Very rare.
BMC - ; SNG.Copenhagen - ; Lavva 159 ; McClean - ;
SNG.Delepierre 1142 ; Weber collection - ; HGC 6, - (cf. 626) ;
BCD. Thessaly I, - (cf. 641) ; cf. BCD. Thessaly II. 1288,
withsame obverse die (xf with small cut; SFR 10.000 +18%) RR
xf- |
|
| |
|
 |
THESSALIA, PHARSALOS - SIGNED PIECE OF MASTER DIE CUTTER TELEPHANTOS - AR Drachm, circa 400-370 BC
weight 5,88gr. ; silver Ø 18mm.
Dies signed by the engraver Telephantos (TH).
obv. Head of Athena right, wearing Attic helmet with raised cheek pieces;
in small letters behind neck, TH
rev. Thessalian cavalryman on horse prancing to right on groundline,
wearing petasos, chlamys and short chiton, holding lagobolon over his
right shoulder, Φ - A / P - Σ in the corners of a shallow incuse square,
TH below (above the ground line)
Located in Phthiotis (which was the homeland of the Myrmidons, as well as Peleus, the father of Achilles), Pharsalos was one of the major poleis of Thessaly. Continuously occupied since Neolithic times, its visible remains include a portion of a so-called Cyclopean Wall and a Mycenaean- period tomb. In the Archaic and Classical periods, Pharsalos was under the control of three major families – the Echekratidai, the Menonidai, and the Daochidai. At the time of the second invasion of Greece by the Persians (480-479 BC), the city was allied with Athens. During the so-called First Peloponnesian War (460-445 BC), the Athenians attempted to capture Pharsalos (which by then was outside of the influence of Athens), but failed, though both cities later became allies again. During the late 5th and early 4th centuries BC, Pharsalos was beset by such civil strife, that Polydamas was entrusted with supreme power over that city in 375 BC. Later, Polydamas concluded an agreement with Jason of Pherai, making Jason of Thessaly. Immediately following the assassination of of Jason in 370 BC, his successor, Polyphron, had Polydamas murdered along with eight other leading citizens of Pharsalos. For a period in the 4th century Pherai dominated the affairs of Pharsalos, but after the arrival of Philip II, the situation was reversed. Pharsalos received Halos in 346 as an outlet to the sea.
In 323 BC, Pharsalos joined the revolt against Macedonia; as a result the Daochids were expelled by Antipater and the city lost its independence. During the Second (200-197 BC) and Third (171-168 BC) Macedonian Wars, Thessaly (now allied with Rome and, since 189 BC, a member of the Thessalian League) became the primary battleground, and the Thessalian cavalry (composed largely of horsemen from Pharsalos) frequently battled with the Macedonians. In 48 BC, the plains to the northwest of the city were the site of the Battle of Pharsalos, the decisive victory of Julius Caesar over the Pompey and the Republic (see Lucan, Bellum Civile, 7). After then, the town, although it remained a part of the Thessalian League, diminished in importance throughout the remainder of antiquity.
cf. NAC Auction 62 , Lot 62 in about xf with minor marks on obverse (SFR 24.000 + 23%)
BMC 7 ; cf. SNG.Copenhagen 220 ; Lavva 99d ;
Weber collection - ; McClean 4683var. ; HGC 6, no.624var. ;
cf. BCD. Thessaly I, 638 (xf ; USD 16.000 + 18%) ;
BCD. Thessaly II. 1285 (xf- ; SFR 22.000 +18%) RR
Small scuff on reverse, but coin of beautiful classical style
from the master die cutter Telephantos. Very rare.
vf à vf/xf |
|
| |
|
