Hello everyone! I wanted to share with the forum my first Alexander III tetradrachm: Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander III AR tetradrachm, 17.18g; Amphipolis mint, lifetime issue, struck under Antipater, c. 325-323 BC. Obv.: Head of Herakles right, clad in Nemean Lion scalp headdress tied at neck. Rev.: AΛEΞANΔΡOY Zeus enthroned left, throne without back and two leg struts,right leg forward (archaic lifetime style), eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, TE monogram lower left, concave field The picture makes the coin appear duller than it actually is, in hand it is full of lustre and the surfaces are very pleasing. I'm just in love with it! Feel free to post your own or any coin you find related!
Nice! Glad you finally found one. And a lifetime one at that. I just have the same old tired one, but here it is again.
Love the OP coin, but I don't have one. Only an AR Drachm. ALEXANDER III AR Drachm OBVERSE: Head of Herakles right in lionskin headdress REVERSE: ALEXANDROU, Zeus Aetophoros seated left, holding eagle and sceptre. Forepart of Pegasos left in left field, X on W monogram beneath throne Struck at Abydos 325-323 BC 4.2g, 17mm Price 1505
Awesome! A winner there! Mine is Price 83. I can usually get references off Wildwinds or from the seller but I don't post them because I haven't seen the reference. I do record it though!
Here's an example from Sidon - note the sigma iota beneath the chair and sigma in the reverse left field. Not lifetime. This one likely struck by Ptolemy I. Price 3504.
My lifetime issue Alexander the Great, Babylon Mint 324-323 BC. This coin was minted in the city Alexander died in at the time of his death. I like to think that as the king of the known world was drawing his last breath in his palace that across town this coin was being struck. I love Classical numismatics for that!
I really like the appearance of the coin in your photo. The surface & tone reflect an overall "look" that I personally enjoy. I saw a great Alexander tet in a book a few years back. The image has stuck in the back of my mind for years but I have yet to find one in a dealer's case. It was minted in Rhodes and it had a big old rose monogram. Here is my lifetime example. The monogram is a "snake in a bowl". Edit to add: I've never noticed Zeus on a chair without a back. (I guess you would not call it a chair). I assume you have found this type of throne/stool listed in some references and it's real. Is the stool type really rare or will I find an example if I just keep my eyes open for it?
I can see why you love it... it's a coin with plenty of eye appeal. Here's a posthumous one. MACEDONIAN KINGDOM Temp. Kassander – Antigonos II Gonatas AR Tetradrachm. Rare. 16.72g, 29mm. Uncertain mint in Greece or Macedon, in the names and types of Alexander III, circa 310-275 BC. Price 866; Stuttgart 1, lot 178 (same dies). O: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin. R: AΛEΞAN∆POY, Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, forepart of Pegasos left.
If I may ask a question of the more advanced Alexander collectors here? The style of the OP seems a little off to me, is is possible that it is of barbaric origin, Celtic perhaps?
I don't really know much about anything ancient, so of course I consulted the great oracle. My Google-fu produced this interesting article, which talks about barbaric imitations of Alexander tets: http://alexanderthegreatcoins.reidgold.com/ancient_imitations.html The OP's is definitely in a much finer style than any of the imitations in that article.
I have the reference of Price 83...but I've never seen Price. Looking on wildwinds the coin seems to have the same style to the bust. http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/macedonia/kings/alexander_III/t.html
You are right JWT, comparing the two they are very similar. I think what was throwing me was the suprised look on Herakles' face and the broad open/emty area on the lionskin headdress. There is also a lot of stylistic variation between mints, as one would expect, not to mention engravers. In any event it is a great coin and a magnificent piece of history!
Awesome Alex III LIFER @Jwt708 !!! I am beginning to build a fun variety of Alexander III Lifetimes denominations that I enjoy... Makedon Alexander - Alexandrine Babylonia Di-Shekel LIFETIME 328-311 Baal-Lion.JPG Makedon Alexander Lifetime Tet FREED Obv-Rev.jpg Makedon Alexander III 336-323 BC AR Obol 7mm 0-51g Babylon Lifetime Herakles lion skin Club bow quiver monogram in wreath M Price 3744.JPG