This replica is based on one of the most elegant and recognizable coin types of Classical Greece: the silver drachm of Larissa in Thessaly. Struck between 356 and 342 BC, the original coins celebrated both the city's patron nymph and Thessaly’s renowned horse culture.
Obverse: The obverse features the head of Nymph Larissa, facing slightly left, with flowing, naturalistic hair. Her portrait draws inspiration from the master engravers of Syracuse, reflecting the artistic sophistication of the late Classical period. Larissa was both a mythological figure and the personification of the city itself.
Reverse: The reverse shows a horse grazing to the left, a symbol deeply connected to Thessaly’s identity. The region was famous in antiquity for its exceptional horses and elite cavalry, and the grazing horse became its enduring emblem. The Greek inscription ΛΑΡΙΣΑΙΩΝ (“Of the Larissans”) identifies the issuing city.
Historical Background: During the 4th century BC, Larissa was one of the most influential cities in Thessaly. Its coinage was widely used across mainland Greece and is admired today for its beauty, balanced design, and strong cultural symbolism.
