Silver Drachm - Ancient Greece, Larissa (Thessaly) - c. 356-342 BC.
Obv: Head of the Nymph Larissa, 3/4 facing
Rev: Horse grazing, right, preparing to roll
Ref: Lorber, Hoard, Phase L-I, 17–21; BCD Thessaly II 288
18mm, 6.22gm Very attractive, strong strike.
In Greek mythology, Larissa was a local nymph from Thessaly. She was described by Pausanias as a daughter of Pelasgus. However, Hellanicus states that the sons of Poseidon and Larissa were Achaios, Phthios, and Pelasgus. Strabo calls her a daughter of Piasus, a Pelasgian prince.
The obverse depicts the nymph of the local spring, Larissa, for whom the town was named; probably the choice was inspired by the famous coins of Kimon depicting the Syracusan nymph Arethusa... The reverse depicts a horse - an appropriate symbol of Thessaly, a land of plains, which was well known for its horses.
Provenance: ex CNG
