Thessalian League. AR Stater, magistrates Sosibios and Simy

Thessalian League. AR Stater, magistrates Sosibios and Simy[…], late 2nd – early 1st century BC (21 mm, 6.33 g). Obv. Head of Zeus right, laureate with oak wreath; behind, ΣΩΣΙΒΙΟΥ. Rev. ΘΕΣΣΑ / ΛΩΝ. Athena Itonia advancing right, hurling spear in right hand and holding shield on left arm; in fields left and right, Σ – Ι / Μ – Υ; in right field, above spear, fly left. Refs: Klose, Group II (p. 344); BCD Thessaly I, 1378 (this coin). This handsome stater belongs to the revived Thessalian League coinage of the later Hellenistic period, when the federal koinon of the Thessalians issued silver under the authority of annually named magistrates. The obverse depicts Zeus, chief deity of Thessaly, crowned with the oak wreath sacred to Dodona, the great oracular sanctuary frequented by the Thessalians. On the reverse appears Athena Itonia, the League’s tutelary goddess, striding forth with spear and shield. The temple of Athena Itonia at Philia was a central religious and political meeting place for the League, making her a natural emblem for its coinage. The presence of a fly symbol in the field adds a touch of individuality to this particular issue, and aids in die-linking and classification within Klose’s corpus. Struck at a time when Thessaly enjoyed a measure of autonomy under Roman oversight, these issues reflect both civic pride and a desire to maintain traditional identities within the changing political landscape of Greece in the 2nd–1st centuries BC. Their fine style and historical resonance have long made them a favourite among collectors. Condition: Beautiful iridescent cabinet tone, sharply struck and well preserved. Extremely Fine. Provenance: Ex BCD Collection. Ex Schweizerische Bankverein Zurich 38 (22–23 April 1995), lot 135; Nomos 4 (17 May 2011), BCD Thessaly I, lot 1378.