The search to my first Alexander III tetradrachm

One of my collection aims in 2019 is to obtain both a first tetradrachm and a first tetradrachm of Alexander III. I prefer lifetime issue because it just makes it historical interesting. However, I saw some interesting posthumous ones from Memphis under Ptolemy I and from Susa and Ecbatana under Seleukos I and as far as I know these are quite rare mints and that adds a lot of interesting historical value in my eyes. I am really doubting between one of those interesting posthumous ones or a common lifetime one. I could take both as well, but not both in 2019 Either an interesting posthumous or a common lifetime for 2019.

So my question is, are posthumous issues always less wanted and historically valuable then Alexander lifetime tetradrachms? Or can posthumous sometimes be even much more interesting then a lifetime issue? What are your opinions regarding the posthumous vs lifetime?

Your opinions are appreciated. Also, a happy new year to everyone .

P.S. Don't forget to show your Alexander tetradrachms and how that coin supports your opinion.

 

Log in or Sign up to hide this ad.

For me, I wanted a lifetime issue just to say I have one. However, I still like posthumous issues and good bargains can be found.

My lifetime issue:

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 enshrined left, throne without back and two leg struts,bright leg forward (archaic lifetime style), eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, TE monogram lower left, concave field

In the style? What's the correct terminology - posthumous?

Kings of Macedon, temp. Kassander – Alexander (son of Kassander). Circa 310-294 BC.
AR Tetradrachm, 26mm, 16.8 g, 6h, Amphipolis mint, in the name and types of Alexander III.
Obv.:Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin.
Rev.: Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, Λ above torch; ΔI monogram below throne.

 

I'm embarrassed a bit to show mine (Alexander's Ragtime Band), but both my tets are lifetime issues and I would like a posthumous.

 

I think lifetime is always more desirable than posthumous. The timeframe for lifetime pieces is quite short. Posthumous last for a few hundred years more. Lifetime pieces are more "romantic".. think about "holding something when Alexander the Great himself was conquering lands. Also, later posthumous pieces quality were quite bad. Lifetime pieces are comparatively more artistic.

 

I've seen some members with jaw-droppingly beautiful posthumous pieces. I'm reading a fantasy book about the age of Iskandar...Alexander.

 

To me, the most interesting thing about Alexander coinage is how long after he died that they kept making the same type with his name and mintmarks like the ones used while he was alive. I am sure you will pay more for a lifetime coin even though a good percentage of the people who demand a lifetime coin lack a grasp of how to tell the difference. Is it more than leg position?

Arados mint, fourree, 185 BC dated from a die duplicate with the OE date on flan in exergue.


Phaselis, Lycia, year 6, c. 212 BC ? with Seleucid anchor countermark

 

I agree that some posthumous pieces are of good artistic quality, especially the early posthumous ones. However, in general, if you compare the later pieces with the lifetimes, you can have a feeling of some differences, like a more rounded and muscular Zeus. Just my thoughts.

 

Here is my lifetime-early posthumous piece. Arados Mint. 336-323 BC. As these are not totally lifetime, such pieces are comparatively more affordable.

 

Gulp

 

More opinions are appreciated, I still can't decide
So show your Alexander tets!

That lifetime tetradrachm looks great and from a nice mint as well.

I like them, especially the right upper tetra, in which city is it minted?

I agree with that, but with posthumous I mean the more the early posthumous pieces yet under Seleucus I, Ptolemy I, Philip III, Antigonos, Kassander, Lysimachos etc. Would you still consider lifetime pieces more artistic or are these early posthumous tetradrachms also desirable?

They look great and the anchor countermark is very interesting, yet I do think that these late posthumous are a bit less artistic compared to the lifetime and early posthumous issues, not to mention the degraded weight to around 16g.

Looks amazing, wow, I think @TIF has the same one in the same condition as yours.

 

Don't know enough to answer...perhaps someone else can educate us both.

 

I did some research for you.
The upper left tetradrachm is a lifetime issue from Amphipolis 336-323 B.C., Reference: Price 6 (janiform-head vase (Left Field)).

The upper right tetradrachm is a early posthumous issue from Side 325-320 B.C., Reference: Price 2948 (ΔΙ (Beneath Throne)).

Your lower right drachm is from Philip III Arrhidaeus from Kolophon 323-319 B.C., Reference: Price P43 (lyre (Left Field)).

 

And it is also from Aradus.


KINGS OF MACEDON, Alexander III
AR tetradrachm, 17.14 gm
late lifetime issue, struck in Aradus c. 324/3 BCE
Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin headdress.
Rev: BAΣIΛEΩΣ AΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ; Zeus seated left, holding eagle and scepter; I in left field; AP monogram below throne
Ref: Price 3325
ex Colosseo Collection

 

OMG...thank you ever so much!!!

 

Great coin, TIF!!!
Probably off topic, but I see photos like yours and others with the coin that appears to be suspended in space.....some with just a shadow below the coin.
Please tell me how this is done. I'm curious. PM is fine, so we don't clutter this topic with a photography question.
If proprietary, just ignore.
Thanks.

 

I'll PM you and anyone else who is interested. However, it does take some familiarity with Photoshop or similar photo editing programs which use layers.

I made my template from scratch but copied the style from AncientJoe who copied it from someone else.

 

Thank you, TIF!

 

Sorry I missed the part about Seleucus I, Ptolemy I, Philip III, etc. Yes, these early posthumous are artistically as wonderful as lifetimes. All very nice.

 

Pavlos, I like both lifetime and posthumous . Here are 6 Tets , 2 lifetime and 4 posthumous.
Paid between $200-250 a piece, except for the Ptolemy I (bottum left) these go for around $850

 

Hi Pavlos, It's a fun hunt and you should take your time. As @dougsmit mentioned it's not just about the legs. This one, when I bought it, was sold as "lifetime" but I've come to understand it as an early posthumous piece. Some might call it a "Lifetime or early posthumous issue" - quite honestly it really doesn't matter to me one way or the other as it is a beautiful coin.



Macedonian Kingdom, Alexander III The Great, 336 - 323 BC. AR Tetradrachm.
Amphipolis Mint, early posthumous issue, Struck c. 323-320 BC.
Obv: Head of Alexander right in the guise of Herakles wearing lion-skin headdress.
Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ AΛEΞANΔPOY; Zeus seated left, holding eagle and sceptre; Macedonian helmet in left field.
25 mm, 16.88g. Toned aXF
Price 113
Ex. Stacks, June 14 1993; Lot 62