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In late 6th century BC northern Greece, several Thessalian communities formed a loose confederacy. For a century or so, their League dominated the region. However, over time it faded, suffering from internal rivalries and wars amongst neighbors. By the reign of Phillip II, father of Alexander the Great, Thessaly was under the control of Macedonia.
In early 2nd century BC, the Romans defeated Macedonia, and the victorious general Quinctius Flamininus declared that those Greek areas formerly under Macedonian control (including Thessaly) were now free. Moreover, Flamininus re-established the Thessalian League along the pre-Macedonian borders and then some; this new version was granted autonomy, including minting of its own coinage.
The coins of the new and improved Thessalian League all bore the ethnic epithet, along with the responsible magistrates' names, and were likely minted at Larissa, the League’s capital. This particular stater, also equivalent to the Roman Republic denomination of a double victoriatus, was a classic issue of the Thessalian League. It was produced in late 2nd to mid 1st century BC under the magistrates of Amynandros and Xenophantos. For its high quality workmanship, this coin received a Fine Style designation. The obverse depicts the head of mighty Zeus, wearing an oaken wreath, and on the reverse Athena Itonia strides across the flan, hurling spear in one hand and shield in the other.
Athena Itonia was an epithet of the Greek goddess Athena, worshiped widely in Thessaly. One of Athena’s manifestations was as a war goddess; at the time there were several sanctuaries of Athena Itonia in Thessaly, which were used for manufacturing and/or dedication of weapons. This is fitting, given Athena Itonia’s accouterments on the coin’s reverse. Alternatively, Athena could also be a goddess of the arts of peace, even poetry, depending on her mood. She may have also functioned as a patron of federal political structures, and thus citizens of the Thessalian League might have viewed worshipping her as safeguarding their independence.
Even so, the Thassalian League did not last long, at least not as a truly autonomous state, and neither, unfortunately did production of her federal coinage. The design types were few, yet striking, and carried out in artistic fashion. Coins minted by the Thessalian League are relatively rare, even by ancient coin standards, and those surviving specimens, such as this one, are a late testament to Greek artistry, just prior to Roman domination of all things, including coinage.
Coin Details: THESSALIAN LEAGUE, 2nd -1st century BC, AR Double-Victoriatus / AR Stater (23 mm, 6.37 g, 1h), Amynandros and Xenophantos, magistrates, NGC Grade: Ch AU, Strike: 5/5, Surface: 5/5, Fine Style, Obverse: Head of Zeus right, wearing oak wreath, Reverse: Athena Itonia striding right, hurling spear held in right hand, shield on left arm, AMYN-ANDPOY above spear, A and monogram to inner right, EENOOANTOE in exergue, References: BCD Thessaly II 834 = Klose pp. 341 and 347, 26 (this coin); Dewing 1364.