Thessaly, Didrachm, ca. 420-400 BC
Larissa - Silver - AU(55-58) - HGC:4-420
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Hero (Thessalos ?) to left, naked but for chlamys and petasos flying in the air behind him, holding a band with both hands around the horns of a bull leaping left, and wrestling with him; all within dotted circle.
Bridled horse galloping right, his rein loose and trailing, all in an incuse square.
Magnificent example, with a remarkable centering, almost unseen for these coins from Larissa. The flan was wide enough to contain the whole engraving on the obverse, including the outer grenetis, which is also complete. The reverse is complete except for the horse's hind hooves, which are almost never visible when the front legs are. This is an even finer example than those presented in the most important collection of Thessalian coins, the BCD collection (Triton XV, 3 January 2012, 173-175 & 370.1). Another didrachm (or stater) with a similar centring but with a grainy aspect was auctioned by Künker in 2022 (Fritz Rudolf Künker, Auction 367, lot 7166, 06/04/2022; €6500 excluding fees), but it is clear that almost no other example presented in sales in recent years reaches this remarkable centring, this roundness of the flan to which is added the superb conservation of the engravings. An exceptional coin.
ΛΑΡΙ / ΣΑΙΑ
6.36 gr
Silver
Silver can fall into your pocket but also falls between copper and gold in group 11 of the periodic table. Three metals frequently used to mint coins. There are two good reasons for using silver: it is a precious metal and oxidizes little upon contact with air. Two advantages not to be taken for granted.
Here is thus a metal that won’t vanish into thin air.
It’s chemical symbol Ag is derived from the Latin word for silver (argentum), compare Ancient Greek ἄργυρος (árgyros). Silver has a white, shiny appearance and, to add a little bit of esotericism or polytheism to the mix, is traditionally dedicated to the Moon or the goddess Artemis (Diana to the Romans).
As a precious metal, just like gold, silver is used to mint coins with an intrinsic value, meaning their value is constituted by the material of which they are made. It should be noted that small quantities of other metals are frequently added to silver to make it harder, as it is naturally very malleable (you can’t have everything) and thus wears away rapidly.
The first silver coins probably date back to the end of the 7th century BC and were struck on the Greek island of Aegina. These little beauties can be recognized by the turtle featured on the reverse.
The patina of silver ranges from gray to black.
The millesimal fineness (or alloy) of a coin indicates the exact proportion (in parts per thousand) of silver included in the composition. We thus speak, for example, of 999‰ silver or 999 parts of silver per 1 part of other metals. This measure is important for investment coins such as bullion. In France, it was expressed in carats until 1995.
An “AU(55-58)” quality
As in numismatics, it is important that the state of conservation of an item be carefully evaluated before it is offered to a discerning collector with a keen eye.
This initially obscure acronym comprising two words describing the state of conservation is explained clearly here:
About Uncirculated(55-58)
This means – more prosaically – that the coin has been in circulation but sufficiently little that its original beauty is preserved almost in its entirety. The wear is barely visible and any other defect can only be identified with a magnifying glass or a particularly keen eye. The number (55-58) indicates that between three quarters and almost all of the original luster remains.
