Numismatica Ars Classica
Auction 126 17 Nov 2021
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Larissa
Hemidrachm circa 500-479, AR 2.61 g. Head of Jason l., wearing petasus. Rev. ΛΑ – [ΡΙ] – SΑΕ Jason's sandal l.; all within incuse square. Herrmann Group I, p. 3 b var. (different legend). BCD Thessaly I, 1096 (this coin).
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly among the finest
specimens known. A portrait of excellent Archaic style struck in high relief
and with a lovely old cabinet tone. About extremely fine
Ex Nomos sale 4, 2011, BCD, 1096.
The coin designs of Larissa underwent a gradual transformation from the first issues, which probably commenced in about 479 B.C., to the last civic issues, comprised of bronzes of the 2nd and 1st Centuries B.C. This remarkable hemidrachm belongs to the earliest series, the designs of which overwhelmingly honored the Greek hero Jason (of Argonaut fame) and the sandal he lost in the River Anaurus. This mythological episode must have been quite important to the people of Larissa in the early 5th Century, yet it hardly was recalled on later issues.
Also appearing on the coins of this first issue are the nymph Larissa and a horse, two subjects that in later times would dominate the designs of Larissan coinage. A grazing horse is shown on the obverse of the largest denomination of this early series, the drachm, and the nymph is portrayed on the obverse of obols; in both instances the reverse type is the sandal of Jason.
Another important design subject, the bull, appears on early silver fractions. On obols the head and neck of a bull are paired with the reverse type of a horse head set within an incuse square. Also, bull's hooves appear on hemiobols, being paired with a variety of reverse types.
During the period c.450-400 B.C. the designs on Larissan coinage shifted focus from Jason and his sandal to bulls, horses and the nymph Larissa, who on trihemiobols and obols is shown engaged in a wide range of activities. Also honored on these small denominations is the healing-god Asclepius.
By the early 4th Century the silver coinage of Larissa entered a new phase in which drachms and hemidrachms began to be struck in large quantities. Horses and bulls (often attended to by men) and the nymph are now the exclusive design types, except for an enigmatic and rare drachm with the facing head of Aleuas and an eagle standing on a thunderbolt, which is known from a single die-pair.
For what remained of the 4th Century the drachms of Larissa abandoned the bull in favor of a singular type that pairs the facing head of the nymph with a horse. The animal typically is shown grazing or preparing to roll, but sometimes is shown prancing, appears startled, or is accompanied by a man or a foal. The nymph head on these familiar issues was inspired by the facing-head masterpiece of Kimon that appeared on tetradrachms of Syracuse late in the 5th Century. Its perfect composition was influential at mints throughout the Greek world, notably in Macedon, Thessaly and southern Asia Minor.
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Hemidrachm circa 500-479, AR 2.61 g. Head of Jason l., wearing petasus. Rev. ΛΑ – [ΡΙ] – SΑΕ Jason's sandal l.; all within incuse square. Herrmann Group I, p. 3 b var. (different legend). BCD Thessaly I, 1096 (this coin).
Very rare and in exceptional condition for the issue, undoubtedly among the finest
specimens known. A portrait of excellent Archaic style struck in high relief
and with a lovely old cabinet tone. About extremely fine
Ex Nomos sale 4, 2011, BCD, 1096.
The coin designs of Larissa underwent a gradual transformation from the first issues, which probably commenced in about 479 B.C., to the last civic issues, comprised of bronzes of the 2nd and 1st Centuries B.C. This remarkable hemidrachm belongs to the earliest series, the designs of which overwhelmingly honored the Greek hero Jason (of Argonaut fame) and the sandal he lost in the River Anaurus. This mythological episode must have been quite important to the people of Larissa in the early 5th Century, yet it hardly was recalled on later issues.
Also appearing on the coins of this first issue are the nymph Larissa and a horse, two subjects that in later times would dominate the designs of Larissan coinage. A grazing horse is shown on the obverse of the largest denomination of this early series, the drachm, and the nymph is portrayed on the obverse of obols; in both instances the reverse type is the sandal of Jason.
Another important design subject, the bull, appears on early silver fractions. On obols the head and neck of a bull are paired with the reverse type of a horse head set within an incuse square. Also, bull's hooves appear on hemiobols, being paired with a variety of reverse types.
During the period c.450-400 B.C. the designs on Larissan coinage shifted focus from Jason and his sandal to bulls, horses and the nymph Larissa, who on trihemiobols and obols is shown engaged in a wide range of activities. Also honored on these small denominations is the healing-god Asclepius.
By the early 4th Century the silver coinage of Larissa entered a new phase in which drachms and hemidrachms began to be struck in large quantities. Horses and bulls (often attended to by men) and the nymph are now the exclusive design types, except for an enigmatic and rare drachm with the facing head of Aleuas and an eagle standing on a thunderbolt, which is known from a single die-pair.
For what remained of the 4th Century the drachms of Larissa abandoned the bull in favor of a singular type that pairs the facing head of the nymph with a horse. The animal typically is shown grazing or preparing to roll, but sometimes is shown prancing, appears startled, or is accompanied by a man or a foal. The nymph head on these familiar issues was inspired by the facing-head masterpiece of Kimon that appeared on tetradrachms of Syracuse late in the 5th Century. Its perfect composition was influential at mints throughout the Greek world, notably in Macedon, Thessaly and southern Asia Minor.
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