I recently came across this coin, and wondering if it could be a lifetime issue? I've been searching online for a close match but to no avail.
Usually, legs crossed is after he died. Looks like your control mark on the reverse is an axe? I'm thinking Price 2074 is yours. Mine is a lifetime. Alexander III the Great (336 - 323 B.C.) AR Tetradrachm O: Head of Alexander as Hercules right, wearing lion-skin headdress. R: AΛEΞAN∆POY, Zeus enthroned left, right leg forward (archaic lifetime style), eagle in extended right hand, long scepter vertical behind in left hand, bow on left. Salamis mint, struck 332-323 B.C. 16.95g 25mm Price 3139 ; SNG Alpha Bank 662; Newell. Salamis 7. Lifetime Issue
It's really tough to tell given the condition. I agree that it's most likely lifetime given the position of the legs and lack of "Basileus." My guess is Tarsos given the fat rings around the bottom of the chair. That seems to be a common mark of that mint, and several issues have faint mint marks that would have disappeared with wear.
Without being able to discern the symbol which may be in the field in front of the seated Zeus it is very difficult to tell. I do not believe the coin comes from Tarsus as there appears to be no evidence of a footstool. Another feature that may help is that the foreleg of Zeus is slightly reverted. You see this feature on a lot of the drachms from the mints of Asia Minor. However if this coin is from one of those mints I believe it would most likely be posthumous. Here is a later tetradrachm from Tarsos showing Zeus's feet resting on a footstool. Tetradrachm of Alexander III Tarsos circa 323 BC. Obv Head of beardless Herakles right, wearing lionskin headdress. Rv Zeus Aetophoros seated left. Plow symbol before. Price 3032 17.06 grms 28mm Photo by W. Hansen
It could probably be attributed based on style, but that would require a lot of research and/or the opinion of an expert on Alex III tets. I don't see any markings on it at all to look up.
Could the OP coin be a Celtic imitation? I've seen quite a few of these coins being sold individually and in group lots.
Thank you all for your replies, But after grueling search on the net I finally can attribute this coin! mainly because I stumbled on this post by @TypeCoin971793 So this coin is neither lifetime nor Celtic imitation, but actually Phoenician! There are faint little Phoenician legends under the eagle. I so far nailed it down to Price 3254 A CNG sale of a similar coin, Any thoughts?!
It seems that you nailed it! For comparison, here's my Phoenician Alexander III tetradrachm: Ake-Tyre, 312-311 BC Tetradrachm Azemilkos, RY 38 16.8 grams
Could be. If the coin's from Tyre, you should see a small "o", for Azemilkos. Numbering still seemed to follow him even though Diodorus Siculus mentions he was removed. Here's my Alexander tet from Tyre, minted shortly after Alexander's death. Kingdom of Macedon, Philip III Arrhidaios AR Tetradrachm In the name and types of Alexander III Struck under Menes, with Perdikkas as regent Tyre, dated RY 29 of Azemilkos = 321/0 BC Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress / Zeus Aëtophoros seated to left, holding sceptre; ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to right, -|O (Phoenician 'K = 'Ozmilk [king of Tyre]) above ||| ||| =/||| (Phoenician date [29]) in left field. Price 3275 (Ake); Newell, Dated 32 (same); DCA 737; HGC 3.1, 941 (Alexander IV). 17.03g, 26mm, 6h. Ex Roma
A problem with these is that in addition to the thousands in Price, there are coins with no minor type letters or symbols that are barbarous (like mine). With barbarous, rules do not apply. This came close to being a nice coin, unless of course if you count centering, lack of mint marks and style.
