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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*NEW* Thrace, Lysimachos, Byzantion, In the types of Alexander III, AR Tetradrachm, 305-281 BC
Obverse: Head of deified Alexander, right, wearing horns and wreath
Reverse: Athenas seated left on backless throne, right leg drawn back, holding Nike in his right hand, the left resting on shield, BY below throne, monogram in left field, trident in exergue; legend to right, BASILEION LYSIMACHOI
Size: 32mm, 16.52g
Grade: VF+ wonderful portrait, toned, good bold strike on reverse, small gouge to top of obverse
Ref: Muller, Lysimachos 206
Prov: Ex Spink, from the cabinet of P.Ball, previously Gorny & Mosch (with ticket)
£700 (P&P FREE to UK, all other locations ask)
*NEW* Macedon, Magnesia ad Maeandrum, Philip III Arrhidaios (Under Meander or Kleitos), In the type of Alexander III, AR Drachm, 323-319 BC
Obverse: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress, paws tied beneath chin
Reverse: Zeus seated left on backless throne, right leg drawn back, holding an eagle in his right hand, a long sceptre in his left; , ΦΙΛΙΠΠΟΥ right, filleted thyros in left field
Size: 18mm, 4.08g
Grade: VF, test cut and slightly off centre
Ref: Price 51
Prov: Ex TimeLine auction, prior to that a London collection
£120 (P&P FREE to UK, all other locations ask) #2122
*NEW* Lesbos, Mytilene, Silver Tetradrachm In the Name & Types of Alexander III (the Great) Posthumous Issue, 215-2003BC
Obverse: Head of Herakles, right, wearing lionskin headdress
Reverse: Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; lyre symbol below monogram to left, legend AΛEΞANΔPOY on the right
Size: 16.82g, 33mm
Grade: AVF
Ref: Price 1699
Prov: Ex Lockdales
£290 (P&P FREE to UK, all other locations ask) #2102
Macedonia, Alexander III (the Great) Silver Tetradrachm, Lifetime Issue, Amphipolis, Under Antipater, 332-336BC VERY RARE
Obverse: Head of Hercules, right, clad in lion's skin
Reverse: Zeus Aetophoros seated left holding eagle and sceptre, diagonal thunderbolt in left field, ALEXANDROY legend to right
Size: 16.73g, 26mm
Grade: VF+, very rare lifetime issue; grey, slightly uneven toning
Ref: Price 8, Troxell A4
Prov: Ex Roma
£720 (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
Size: 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 all locations) #48
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