Some coins from a very important city you've probably never heard of

[kirispupis]

Thermopylae, the famed city where three hundred spartans held up the massive Persian army just long enough to send a script to Zack Snyder, did not mint any coins that we're aware of. However, only eight kilometers away was the site of Herakleia Trachineia, which did, and had its own intriguing history.

Obviously named after Herakles, it was referred to as Herakleia in Trachineia to avoid copyright lawsuits from the myriad other Herakleias. It started as a Spartan colony, which was uncommon. Unfortunately for them, the majority of the surrounding people - Oetaeans, Boetians, and Thessalians, weren't fond of Spartans, so the early days were rough.

Originally founded in 426 BCE, the city lasted all of six years before the an alliance of their enemies reduced it to rubble. The Spartans returned a few years later, and were again slaughtered. However, once Sparta defeated Athens in the widely televised Peloponnesian War, the city's fortunes turned.

Well, sort of. In 399 BCE Herakleia Trachineia had the distinction of being the key Spartan city in northern Greece, but in 395 BCE it was overrun by the Thebans, who were concerned that misgovernance would cause it to fall under Athens. They gave it to the locals, who built the city up until Jason of Pherae came over and knocked down its walls, since - like Thermopylae, the site was of extreme military value. However, the city seemed to gain some prominence because it was after this act that they seem to have minted their first coins.

Thessaly, Herakleia Trachineia
Circa 370-344 BCE
AE Chalkous 13mm, 3.19g, 11h
Head of lion to right, mouth open
Rev. HPA Club within wreath, to right
BCD Thessaly 90.1 var. (smaller module) HGC 4, 115
Ex John Aiello collection

According to Justin, Antipater was barricated in the city in 323 BCE by the Athenians during the Lamian War. In 304 BCE, the city capitulated to Demetrios Poliorketes, who chased Kassander out of Athens up to there.

Thessaly, Oitaioi
279-191 BCE
Æ 17mm 4,20g
Herakleia Trachinia mint.
OBV: Laureate head of Apollo r.
REV: OITA IWN Spearhead and jawbone to r.; monogram between, grape bunch on vine to l.
Valassiadis 14; Rogers 418; BCD Thessaly II 493.1-

When the Gauls invaded Greece, they were stopped here by soldiers of Phokis, according to Pausanias, and in 279 BCE the Aetolians took over. They weren't into the whole "Herakleia" vibe, so they renamed it to Oitaioi in homage to the mountain next to it. They also minted coinage similar to their own. It remained under Aetolian control for the next ninety years until the city decided to oppose the Romans, which did not fare well for them. Not much of the ancient city remains.

Feel free to post your own Thessalian coins or coins from important cities few have heard of!

[taja1948]

THESSALY, Phalanna. Mid 4th century BC. Æ Dichalkon (16mm, 4.38 g, 6h). Bare head of Ares right / ΦΑΛΑΝΝAΙΩN, head of nymph right. Papaevangelou-Genakos 6; Rogers 452; BCD Thessaly II 578; HGC 4, 175. VF, attractive green patina, minor roughness.

From the BCD Collection (purchased from Frank Kovacs, October 1985, for $125). Ex Robert Harlick Collection.

 

Thessaly Pharsalos
Drachm 400/370 BC Head of Athena with Attic Scylla helmet / Thessalian warrior on horseback with petasos and lagobolon. 12h. HGC 626; Lavva, Pharsalos 158c (this example). 5.74 g.; 19.4 mm. Fine toning Very fine - extremely fine
From the collection of a provenance enthusiast. Ex Pozzi collection (= Ars Classica auction 1, 1921, 1247), Henri Gallice d'Épernay (1854-1930, director of Perrier-Jouët) collection (= E. Bourgey auction, December 5, 1932, 163) and from an old Swiss collection, created in the middle of the 20th century, presumably acquired from Dr H. Nussbaum in Zurich, also ex auction Sincona 51, 2018, 2035

[Deinomenid]

2 hours ago, kirispupis said:

Jason of Pherae

Please see my Thessaly obscure (with  due apologies) polis contribution below, and linked to yours by Jason et al. Fairly  inexpensive but/and one of my favourite coins.

THESSALY, Pherai. Late 4th century BC. Æ Chalkous (15mm, 2.40 g, 2h). Head of Ennodia left, wearing sakkos / Water fountain in the form of lion’s head right.

The lion fountain  itself was enough of an attraction, but Ennodia sealed the deal.  Her name  slightly unfortunately means something like "Of the streets". A fascinating goddess, linked  with Hecate, general apotropiac practice, ghosts , graveyards etc and an important Thessalian and later Macedonian goddess. Thessaly's  reputation as  a witch haven is closely  linked to her. Various records  of black  puppies sacrified to her etc. Maybe I should  have just  posted  this  in @Ryro Halloween thread!