Junk Bin Macedon - Perdikkas III AE - Lion Breaking Spear in Jaws

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Marsyas Mike, Oct 13, 2018.

  1. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    Rummaged through the local dealer's junk bins today and found a pretty interesting, if a bit cruddy, small AE from Macedon, Alexander the Great's uncle Perdikkas III. The reverse has a lion breaking a javelin in its jaws. The obverse is pretty crusty, but the lion is of a pretty fine style with less crust. Attribution is my best guess - any corrections much appreciated.

    Any other Perdikkas III's out there?

    Macedon Perdikkas III junk Oct 2018 (1).jpg

    Macedon Perdikkas III Oct 2018 (12).JPG

    Macedonia Kingdom Æ 15
    Perdikkas III
    (c. 365-359 B.C.)
    Aigai or Pella Mint

    Head of young Hercules right / ΠΕΡΔΙΚ / KA above & below lion standing right, holding broken javelin in his jaws.
    Sear 1515; B.M.C. 5.2,3
    (3.85 grams / 15 mm)

    Here's today's haul - just some Canadian & UK tokens - not really a collector, but I liked how they looked and the price was right.

    Macedon Perdikkas III junk Oct 2018 (2).JPG
     
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  3. Roman Collector

    Roman Collector Well-Known Member

    That lion is cool!
     
    Marsyas Mike likes this.
  4. furryfrog02

    furryfrog02 Well-Known Member

    I wish my LCS had junk bins like yours. Mine is just way over-priced (80c a piece) modern proof coins, mostly from bahamas, that have been broken up and some junk pre-euro coins.

    Very cool lion btw :)
     
  5. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    Junk bin scores can be fun hu?

    Hey, I picked up a nice looking Canadian token a while back....


    100_5268_zpspcdfpzkz.jpg
     
  6. zumbly

    zumbly Ha'ina 'ia mai ana ka puana

    Neat little junk bin find. I don’t have a Perdikkas III, but this Greek silver of the Oitaioi has a wonderful depiction of a lion’s head with a spear in its jaws.

    [​IMG]THESSALY, Oitaioi
    AR Hemidrachm. 2.75g, 16.3mm. THESSALY, Oitaioi, circa 360-344 BC. Valassiadis 1; BCD Thessaly I 1211 (same rev. die); BCD Thessaly II 487 (same rev. die); HGC 4, 129 (same obv. die as illustration). O: Head of lion left, with spear in jaws. R: OIT-[AO]N (retrograde), Herakles standing facing, holding club.
     
  7. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    That is truly a spectacular lion. That it is rendered in 16 mm makes it even more remarkable.
     
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  8. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    My very first coin outside USA stuff was a Canadian 1857 bank token (St. George and the Dragon). It was the oldest thing I owned (I was about 10 years old) and couldn't believe I owned it. That's pretty much how I feel nowadays. So much for growing up!

    My dealer had a couple examples of this Montreal type in his "junk" bins - not as nice as your example. I may have to go back and get one. (I should add that he has junk bins sorted to various prices - $12 to $0.50 - so "junk" may not quite apply).
     
  9. Alegandron

    Alegandron "ΤΩΙ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΩΙ..." ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ, June 323 BCE

    Great pickup of that Perdikkos III! Great value to find Ancient History in a bargain bin.

    Nope, I do not have a III, but I DO have a II:

    upload_2018-10-14_12-22-17.png
    Makedon
    Perdikkos II 454-413 BCE
    AR heavy Tetrobol 2.4g 15mm 12h
    Makedon mint 437-431 BCe
    Obv: Horseman holding two spears prancing
    Rev: Forpart lion roaring
    Ref: Raymond 184ff SNG ANS 47ff
     
  10. Marsyas Mike

    Marsyas Mike Well-Known Member

    Nice one, Alegandron. Any Perdikkos is a good Perdikkos in my opinion. They all seem to be a bit scarce, from what I can tell surfing the web.
     
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