circa 187-167 BCE
Æ 21mm, 9,58g
Head of Dionysos with ivy wreath right /
Pegasos springing right, grain ear below. very fine
Touratsoglou, Macedonia 3; HGC 3, 724
Thessalonika was the ancient name for the modern metropolis of Thesaloniki, the second largest city in Greece. It was founded in 315 BCE by King Kassander and named for his wife, Thessalonika, who was the grand-daughter of Philip II and niece of Alexander the Great. It eventually became the most important city in Macedonia.
Interestingly, it appears that Thessalonika, despite its importance, didn’t mint any coins until Roman times. This coin is among the earliest minted there and is relatively rare. It depicts Pegasos.
Thessalonika made the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia.
Marc Antony declares Thessalonika a free city.
Arch of Galerius constructed in Thessalonika to commemorate the victory over Narseh.
Licinius is accused of a plot to kill Constantine the Great, is caught at Thessalonika, and is executed.
April
The Massacre of Thessalonika occurs when Roman soldiers massacre civilians. It is believed to have been ordered by Theodosius.