Silver Didrachm, Larissa, 350-340 BCE

Silver Didrachm, Larissa, 350-340 BCE; Reverse: Prancing horse. Inscription ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΩΝ (LARISAION = “of the Larissans”).
Unidentified Artist, Greek

Type/Object Name: Ob:Head of Larissa. | Re: Prancing horse. Inscription ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΩΝ (“LARISAION” = “of the people of Larissa”).

Dates: 350-340 BCE

Medium: Silver, Didrachm

Dimensions: Diameter 22.8 mm, Weight 12.2337 g

Credit Line: On loan to CU Art Museum, courtesy of John Nebel

Notes: Shared Visual Expressions

Larissa was a city in northern Greece that was famous for its horses. The prancing horse on the reverse of this coin shows how spirited and fine these steeds could be. The patron goddess of the city, a water nymph named Larissa, is shown on the obverse; her elaborate waving hair looks like it could be flowing underwater and was copied from Sicilian coins made by the artist Kimon. The expression of her eyes here may be intended to represent sorrow. Larissa stopped minting coins after it was conquered in 342 BCE by Philip II, king of Macedon and father of Alexander the Great.

Similar to CUAM .

Collection: Coin, John Nebel

Bibliography: SNG Copenhagen 119; ACGC 396 (this reverse die); Dewing 1397; MFA 895.