THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 479-460 BC. AR Drachm (14.5mm, 5.50 g, 7h). EF.

Triton XXIX
Lot: 150. Estimated: $ 15 000

Greek, Silver

Sold For $ 22 500. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee.

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THESSALY, Larissa. Circa 479-460 BC. AR Drachm (14.5mm, 5.50 g, 7h). Horse grazing left; star and crescent above / ΛAR-IΣ-AI-ON clockwise around from upper left within incuse square. Unpublished in the standard references, but cf. HGC 4, 395, 402, and 406 for fractions of this issue. Lightly toned, granular surfaces, minor test cut on edge. EF. Extremely rare.

From the Deer Creek Collection. Ex Triton XXIII (14 January 2020), lot 233.

The name Larissa likely derives from a pre-Greek word for “citadel” or “fortress.” One of the largest cities in Thessaly, Larissa produced a large and varied coinage beginning in the early-fifth century BC. Starting about 404 BC, inspired by Kimon’s Syracusan facing-head portrait of the spring nymph Arethousa, Larissa introduced a new design also featuring a facing female head, probably intended to represent a local spring nymph bearing the city’s name. The nymph heads feature on nearly all Larissan coinage, including bronzes, tiny fractions, silver drachms (by far the most numerous coins struck and surviving), and staters of two drachms. The larger staters, in particular, are closely modeled on Kimon’s Arethousa, lacking only the dolphins surrounding the portrait on the original.

The final winners of all Triton XXIX lots will be determined at the live public sale that will be held on 13-14 January 2026.

Triton XXIX – Session One – Lot 1-301 will be held Tuesday morning, 13 January 2026 beginning at 9:00 AM ET.

Winning bids are subject to a 22.5% buyer's fee for bids placed on this website and 25% for all others.

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