I got some cheap bronze coins from the Thessalian League, they are kind of interesting and the Thessalian league seemed to be minting coins long after it became a Roman province (until 27 BC). Unfortunately, there is not much variation in their coins, pretty much all the coins are Athena / Horse, Apollo / Athena and Zeus / Athena. Thessaly, Thessalian League. AE Dichalkon. Ippaitas magistrate (Late 2nd-mid 1st century B.C.) Obverse: IΠΠAI[TAΣ] helmeted head of Athena right. Reverse: ΘEΣΣAΛΩN, horse trotting right. The above coin, is on the first sight in quite 'rough' condition (cleaning and chipping), however, the horse is really nice and sharp, a great relief. The magistrate Ippaitas with the bronze issue Athena / horse is probably the commonest Thessalian coin. Thessaly, Thessalian League. AE Trichalkon. Herak..., magistrate (Mid-late 2nd century B.C.) Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right. Reverse: ΘEΣΣA ΛΩN Athena Itonia right, with spear and shield; in field right: HPAK monogram. Thessaly, Thessalian League. AE Trichalkon. Polyxe..., magistrate (Mid - late 1st century B.C.) Obverse: Laureate head of Apollo right. Reverse: ΘEΣΣA ΛΩN Athena Itonia right, with spear and shield; above: ΠΟΛV-ΞΕ and star. I think the above two coins are nice and clear examples.. Please share your Thessalian League coins! and if you have a write up about it please share it as well, I do not know much about this league.
Fantastic examples @Pavlos! I think I'm in love with that first one of Athena and the horse. Here's my humble lone example starring, you guessed it, Apollo and Athena: Thessaly, Thessalian League 196-27 BCE Æ trichalkon (19.08 mm, 4.92g). Laureate head of Apollo right / ΘEΣΣAΛΩN, Athena Itonia advancing right, holding javelin and shield, T-I/M-A across fields. Rogers 42; SNG Cop 321. aVF, sandy Edible green apple patina.
The only Koinon of Thessaly coin I have is this barely identifiable one of Marcus Aurelius: Marcus Aurelius, AD 161-180. Roman provincial AE diassarion, 10.79 g, 25.2 mm, 5 h. Thessaly, Thessalian League. Marcus Aurelius. A.D. 161-180. Obv: AYT M AYP AN-TѠNЄINOC, laureate, draped, and cuirassed bust right. Rev: KOINON ΘΕCCΑΛѠΝ, Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear and holding shield. Refs: Rogers 95; BMC 79; Mionnet Suppl. III 61.
This one is a bit different for the Thessalian League, as the types are a Macedonian shield and a Macedonian dart-sling. The theory (by Jennifer Warren) is that it was a propaganda issue struck in the name of the League during the Third Macedonian War, when Perseus of Macedon briefly seized several towns in Thessaly while campaigning against the Romans, who had been in control of the League since the end of the Second Macedonian War. THESSALY, Thessalian League AE Chalkous. 3.55g, 15.2mm. THESSALY, Thessalian League, circa 170 BC. Warren, “Two Notes on Thessalian Coins,” NC 1961, pl. I, 11; Rogers 4 var. (arrangement of ethnic); BCD Thessaly II 24.2 var. (same); HGC 4, 236. O: Macedonian shield with star in center. R: ΘEΣΣA ΛΩN around from upper left, dart–sling (κεστροσφενδóνη) with dart inside. Ex BCD Collection
Thank you all for the replies and the nice coins! @zumbly As I said many times before, what an interesting and special coin.
