A Die Study of the Silver Staters (Didrachms) of Thessalian Larissa / Studium powiązań stempli srebrnych staterów (didrachm) tesalskiej Larissy

Abstract

The staters (didrachms) of Larissa were struck from 15 obverse dies and are differentiated by typology and legend configuration into three groups. Type I, known from just two specimens, features a crouching horse reverse. Type II depicts a trotting stallion and comprises two sequences – Series A and B. Die linkage shows that most of Series A was struck using two to four anvils concurrently to speed production. The entire coinage of staters was minted during a short period of time in the mid-4th century BC. It is argued that Series A represents cavalry pay for the joint Macedonian and Thessalian army commanded by Philip II in the Thessalian campaign of c. 352 that culminated in the battle of the Crocus Field, and Series B represents cavalry pay for his subsequent operations in Thessaly.