I didn't find a similar coin on the forum, so thought this might be of interest to some.
Located in Thessaly, a region of fertile plains best known for its magnificent horses, cattle, agriculture, and sports such as bull-wrestling, the city of Krannon (Cranon) prospered primarily from sheep and cattle rearing. It was an important city in the 6th and 5th centuries BC, and was later to be absorbed by Larissa.
At one time Krannon was a walled and fortified city, but virtually nothing is known about the urban centre and the acropolis.
As one of the eight principal cities, Krannon was issuing silver coins as far back as the 5th century BC, and bronze coins in the 4th century BC. Coins have been recorded with the legend ΚΡΑ or ΚΡΑΝ or ΚΡΑΝΟ or KPANNO.
According to Strabo, Krannon was sited southwest of Larissa, and at the distance of 100 stadia from Gyrton. Present-day remains are limited to the foundations of the upper city wall on a height called Paleokastro, and a number of grave mounds and built tombs.
Krannon was also famous for a rain-making device that was depicted on some of its coins, consisting of a sacred hydria (water jar) that was pulled about in a wheeled cart while prayers were made to Apollo. Legend has it, that if a crow landed on one of the wheels it was a sign that rain would follow.
From George MacDonald's "Coin types: their origin and development":
"Antigonus of Carystus in his Collection of Marvels has the following passage: "They say that in Crannon in Thessaly there are only two crows; that is the reason why on the honorific decrees which, according to universal custom, have inscribed upon them the arms (parasaemon) of the city, there are figured two crows on a bronze car." The bronze car, he subsequently explains, is a sort of fetish which is kept in a temple and which in times of drought is shaken to the accompaniment of prayers for rain. On some of the bronze coins of Crannon we see the parasaemon exactly as Antigonus describes it."
Thessaly, Krannon. 400-344 BC.
Obverse: Horseman in chlamys and petasus galloping right. Reverse: Hydria on wheels. Reverse Inscription: K-ΡA/NNO. Bronze. Diameter: 17 mm. Weight: 4.4 gr.
Reference: BMC 5
Posted 10/30/2020 5:04 pm
