THESSALY, Skotussa. c. 394-367 BC
THESSALY, Skotussa. c. 394-367 BC
AR Trihemiobol, 1.44g (13mm, 6h).
Head of bearded Herakles to r. wearing lion skin headdress / Σ-ΚΟ Forepart of bridled horse to r., his head slightly lowered; all within shallow incuse.
Pedigree: From the "Collection sans Pareille" of Ancient Greek Fractions. Ex Nomos 5, 25 October 2011, 153, previously in an old English collection.
References: BCD II, 741 (same dies). SNG Copenhagen 252
Grade: Well struck and well centered with some slight porosity. A very attractive example, EF.
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A lovely fraction from the Thessalian Greek city state of Skotussa. This coin was struck somewhere between c. 394 BC, when Agesilaus Ii, the Spartan king, marched through the area and the people of Skotussa and surrounding areas fought to save their land and c. 367 BC when the Greek city state was finally seized by the tyrant Alexander of Pherae. Just after the seizure by Alexander a great battle was fought in c. 364 BC in Cynoscephalae, the hilly area just outside of Skotussa, in which the area was claimed back by Thessaly under the general Pelopidas. This coin highlights two of the more important themes of Skotussa, the warrior and the horse. Due to its hilly landscape, horses were important to the Thessalians and often figured into their coinage.