History Coins
Alexander the Great (356-323BC)
History and Coins for Sale
Alexander (the Great) III only reigned for 13 years, dying heirless, at the age of 33 years. During this time on the Macedonian throne he managed to conquer most of the known world, from Greece to India. He was born in 356BC to Philip II and took the throne in 336 on the assassination of his father. His coinage is vast and can be split into two periods:
During his reign, the so called lifetime issues (his father's coinage was used for a while during this period) were mint.
After his death, with no successor, the ruling void resulted in 4 decades of civil war and the coinage produced by the Diadochi (the generals taking power) has become known as the posthumous issues.
The diadochi consisted of Alexander's 4 generals: his friend Lysimachos, who took Thrace and most of Asia Minor; Cassander, who ruled Macedonia and Greece; Ptolemy I (the most successful) Egypt, Palestine, Cilicia, Petra and Cyprus; and Seleucus I Nicator, the remainder of Asia.
Of the denominations issued from 336 to 280BC, gold staters, silver tetradrachms, hemidrachms and drachms were the most prolific, from many mints, and the coinage of Lysimachos has become sought after by collectors for its artistry and the possibility of having the likeness of Alexander on its obverse. However, his lifetime issues seem to be valued more by collectors.
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Macedonia, Alexander III (the Great) Silver Tetradrachm, Lifetime Issue, Amphipolis, Under Antipater, 332-336BC VERY RARE
Obv: Head of Hercules, right, clad in lion's skin
Rev: Zeus Aetophoros seated left holding eagle and sceptre, diagonal thunderbolt in left field, ALEXANDROY legend to right
16.73g, 26mm
Ref: Price 8, Troxell A4
Grade: VF+, very rare lifetime issue; grey, slightly uneven toning
Prov: Ex Roma
£720 (P&P FREE to all locations)
Alexander III of Macedon, Silver Tetradrachm, Babylon Mint, 'Lifetime Issue' 325-323BC
Obverse: head of Herakles, right, wearing lionskin headdress
Reverse: Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; pileus with M below in left field, IFLI monogram below throne, legend AΛEΞANΔPOY on the right
17.01g, 26mm
Grade: VF, scarce type of Babylon mint
Ref: Price 3650 see PELLA entry for type, Muller 222, Demanhur hoard 4425-4431
Prov: Ex TimeLine
£600 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask)
Kingdom of Macedon, Reign of Philip III Arrhidaios, AR Tetradrachm, Type of Alexander (the Great) III, Babylon, 323-317BC
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress
Rev: Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre, monograms in left field and below throne, legend ΦIΛIΠΠO[Y] to right. Legend below in exergue.
Ref: Price P189
17.15mm, 28g 3h
Grade: Very Fine
£470 (P&P free to UK, other locations please ask)
Kingdom of Macedon, Reign of Kassander, AR Tetradrachm, In the Name and Type of Alexander (the Great) III, Amphipolis, 315-294BC
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress
Rev: Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre, torch monogram in left field and bee below throne, ALEXANDROY legend to right.
Ref: Price 453
17.17mm, 27g 6h
Grade: Very Fine +
£500 (P&P free to UK, other locations please ask)
Kings of Macedon, Salamis, In the Name of Alexander III (the Great) Bronze AE, 336-323 BC
Obverse: Macedonian shield, facing head of Medusa (gorgoneion) in center, five double crescents and five groups of five pellets alternating around
Reverse: crested Macedonian officer's helmet facing, flanked by B - A (BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞAN∆POY - King Alexander) and caduceus control below
13mm, 2.01g
Grade: Very fine, good detail for type, slightly weak to right of reverse
Ref: Price 3158 (alternative example on Greek Copper)
£70 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask) #48
Alexander III of Macedon, Silver Tetradrachm, Amphipolis Mint, 'Lifetime Issue' 325-320BC
Obverse: head of Herakles, right, wearing lionskin headdress
Reverse: Zeus seated left, legs parallel; holding eagle and sceptre, ΠAΘΓ monogram in left field, legend BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY on the right
17.09g, 25mm x 5mm thick
Grade: VF+ beautiful example
Ref: Price 121; Mueller 860; Demanhur hoard 1512-1537; SNG Cop 686. See Wildwinds entry - this coin (find Price 121)
Prov: Ex TimeLine; previously a UK collection
£660 SOLD
In the Types and Style of Alexander III of Macedon, Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos AR Drachm, Lampsakos, 299-296BC
Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion kin headdress
Reverse: Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding sceptre; Pegasos forepart to left above lion's forepart, torch below throne, BASILEWS to right, LYSIMACHOS in exergue
18mm, 4.28g
Ref: Price L11, Muller 24, Thompson 35
Grade: VF+ a superb example although reverse is a little off centre
Prov: Ex Roma
£190 SOLD
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