The Thessalian League was a koinon, or loose confederation of tribes and poleis in ancient Thessaly. The seat of the Thessalian League was Larissa. Independent for centuries, it fell under Macedonian rule in 344 BC. After the Romans defeated Philip V of Macedonia in 196, Thessaly was established as a free koinon by the Roman general Titus Quinctius Flamininus. The League's independence was short lived, however. 50 years later, the Roman commander Mummius razed the city of Corinth, disbanded the various independent leagues, and reduced Greece to provincial status. Thessalian League staters are among the last autonomous (and semi-autonomous) Greek issues. They are wonderful coins for the new collector of Greek silver because of their excellent style, large size, and affordability. Today I'm offering an example that's well-struck with pristine surfaces and lovely cabinet tone. Here is the listing at Vcoins. Compare it to the other examples offered at Vcoins here, and you'll see that the $180 price tag is a great deal for this exceptional example of the type. This coin also demonstrates an ancient minting technique. the "tab" that sticks out from 2 to 4 o'clock on the obverse and 8 to 10 o'clock on the reverse is where the flan was held by tongs as it was being struck. GREEK THESSALY. Thessalian League. AR Stater, 24mm, 4.8g, 12h; Mid to late 1st century BC. Damothoinos and Philoxenides, magistrates. Obv.: Head of Zeus right, wearing oak-wreath. Rev.: ΘΕΣΣΑΛΩΝ, Athena Itonia right; ΔAM OΘOINOY above, [Φ]ΙΛΟΞΕΝΙ[ΔΟΥ] in exergue. Ref.: BCD Thessaly II 870.4 var. 4.76g. Auctioned in association with and on behalf of Dutch Numismatic Auction by Agora Numismatiek, Amsterdam. Ex - Frank S Robinson ex Agora Coin, ex Roma E-Sale 81 Lot 84, 25 Feb 2021. Ex DNA Auction 4 Lot 10, Nov 2019.
