THESSALY. Larissa. Circa 356-342 BC. Drachm (Silver, 20 mm, 6.11 g, 1 h). Head of the nymph Larissa facing, turned slightly to the left, wearing ampyx with, most unusually, her hair combed straight back over it, and a triple pendant earring. Rev. ΛΑΡΙΣ/ΑΙΩΝ Horse to right, preparing to roll over. BCD Thessaly II 318 ( same obverse die ). With an interesting variant coiffeur: nicely struck and well-centered. Obverse struck from a very slightly worn die, and with a slight scuff on the cheek, otherwise, extremely fine.

From a European collection, acquired privately in 1995.

It is curious, but on almost all of the later issues of Larissa - both staters and drachms - the heads of the nymph have curling locks of hair springing from behind her ampyx, but on this drachm her hair is is simply combed straight back. Probably this was done on the die engraver's own initiative; obviously, the magistrates involved did not approve of it!