Ancient Greek Coin – Silver Hemiobol – Thessaly 420-400BC

Description

Heading: Ancient Greek Coin – Silver hemiobol

Period: Ancient Greek

Date: 420-400BC

Origin: Pharkadon (Pharcadon), Thassaly

Condition: VF

Obverse: Head of bull, right

Reverse: ΦA /PK (partially retrograde)Ram standing left within incuse square

Size and Weight: 10mm, 0.37g

References: BDC Thessaly II 610, HGC 4, 304

Features and Provenance: Ancient Thessaly was a large area south of Mount Olympus, the capital being Larissa and now encompassed within modern Greece. It appeared in Homer’s Odyssey as Aeolia and is said to be the starting point for Jason and his Argonauts. The bull depicted on the coin was particularly meaningful, associated with the practice of ‘bull-leaping’ and ‘bull wrestling,’ called Taurokathapsia. It probably spread from the Minoan civilisation, but in Thessaly during the 6th to 4th centuries BC the ceremonies were probably part of the ‘Petraia’ celebrations in honour of Poseidon. Please see another example, RNC104, showing bull wrestling in action.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of coin and there are grades between

Uncirculated (U). As struck with no traces of wear

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear. all parts of legend etc present. visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief. all parts of legend etc present. but maybe worn

Fine (F). Wear on the coin and parts of legend etc may be missing or not visible