Alexander the Great

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 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.

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos, Silver Drachm, In Types of Alexander III, Teos, 301-297BC

Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress

Reverse: Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding sceptre and eagle; [ΒΑΣΙΛEΩΣ] below, ΛΥΣIMAX[OY] to right, griffin seated with monogram below in left field.

Ref: Muller 34

17mm, 4.11g

Grade: VF+/EF, scarce type

£200 (+P&P, non-UK locations please ask about postage)

Kings of Macedon, Antigonos I Monophthalmos, Silver Drachm, In the name and Type of Alexander III, Kolophon, 310-301BC

Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress

Rev: Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre, monograms in left field and Φ below throne, legend ALEXANDROY to right.

Ref: Price P1823

17mm, 4.18g

Grade: Very Fine+

£160 (+ P&P, non-UK locations please ask about postage)

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, Silver Drachm, Philip III Arrhiaeus, Kolophon Mint, 323-317BC

Obv: Obv: Head of Hercules right, clad in lion's skin headdress.

Rev: Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre, monogram ΠA in left field, legend ΦIΛIΠΠOY to right.

Ref: Price P46, Muller P135

17mm, 4.06g

Grade Almost Very Fine

£55 (Delivery FREE to UK, other locations please ask)

Lysimachos, Thrace, Lysimacheia, Bronze AE, 323-281BC

Obverse: Young male head (or Athena) in creasted Corintian helmet, right

Reverse: Legend ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ above and below lion leaping to right, caduceus, monogram and spear-head beneath.

Ref: S6819, cf Muller 81 for monogram only

3.53g, 18mm

Grade: AVF

£48 (P&P FREE to UK, other locations please ask)

Silver Drachm, In the Name of Alexander, Struck Magnesia ad Maeandrum c305-297BC

Obv: Head of Hercules right, clad in lion's skin headdress.

Rev: Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre, N E in left field, monogram below throne, legend ALEXANDROY to right.

Ref: Price 1995

19mm, 4.02g

Grade Good Very Fine

£75 SOLD

Kings of Macedon, Silver Drachm, Philip III Arrhiaeus, Magnesia ad Maeandrum Mint, 323-317BC

Obv: Head of Hercules right, clad in lion's skin headdress.

Rev: Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre, monogram IAT in left field, legend ΦIΛIΠΠOY to right.

Ref: Price P56 Muller 61

17mm, 4.25g

Grade VF with a little roughness

£90 SOLD

Macedonia, Silver Tetradrachm, In the Name of Alexander the Great

Struck 275-270BC. Head of Hercules, right, clad in lion's skin. VF

Reverse: Zeus seated on throne, holding eagle and sceptre. Plumed helmet to left, monogram below throne. ALEXANDER legend right. Type IV.

Ref: Price 621, Muller 229

27mm, 16.94g, Grade VF/AVF

£250 SOLD

Macedonia, Silver Tetradrachm, Lifetime Issue, 325-320BC, Side Mint

Obv: Head of Hercules, right, clad in lion's skin.

Grade NEF

Rev: BASILEWS ALEXANDROY legend, Zeus seated left holding eagle and sceptre, AI in left field, BS beneath chair.

17.16g

Ref: Price 2952, Muller 1483

Note: Demanhur hoard 1944-1949. WIldwinds this coin.

Grade: NEF

Superb example

£500 SOLD

Kings of Thrace, Silver Drachm, Lysimachos, 305 -281BC

Obv: Diademed head of Alexander the Great, right, wearing horns of Ammon.

Rev: Athena enthroned, left, holding Nike and resting arm on shield. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ to right ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ to left. Monogram to left in field.

Ephesos mint.

17mm, 4.18g, AVF

£190 SOLD

Kingdom of Macedonia, AE20, Alexander the Great, Bow Case and Club, Probable Lifetime issue

Obv: Head of Hercules right, clad in lion's skin headdress.

Rev: AΛEΞANΔΡOY, club above, bow in case below, N above club
S 6739
Attractive olive patina with nice sharp portrait.
VF

£35 SOLD

AE20, Interregnum Period, Anon, 288-277BC, Bow in Case and Club

Obv: Head of Hercules right, clad in lion's skin headdress.

Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ, bow in case above, club and torch below

Lovely dark chocolate patina, some corrosion to obverse.

S6780

VF/VF+

£35 SOLD

Alexander the Great

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