Ancient: Alexander the Great in miniature

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by dougsmit, Jul 5, 2013.

  1. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    #7 of my 8 auction winnings is posted here for viewing by those who did not see it in its other outing. I was hoping a specialist would explain the ID to me which I simply do not understand. My coin is a die duplicate of :
    http://www.acsearch.info/record.html?id=377429

    where it is identified as Byblos mint in Phoenicia. The die ID is pretty certain with a diagonal crack under the throne on the reverse and the damage to my obverse which appears to have occured when someone decided to remove the round protuberance on the lion's jaw on the obverse. The style is obviously Phoenician. What I fail to understand is why the AP monogram (P being very weak on mine) does not cause the coin to be assigned to Arados rather than Byblos.

    The coin is an obol (0.66g, 9mm). The type is exactly the same as the popular tetradrachms which weigh in the 16-17g range. Considering my coin is missing that chip on the obverse, I would expect it to be under the .7g normal weight. .7 x 6 obols per drachm x 4 drachms per tetradrachm = 16.8g. I am a bit impressed that the weight of these small coins was as well controlled as it was. Obols are vastly more rare than either drachms or tetradrachms but exponentially less popular among collectors who favor the big coins. I regret the chip on my coin but it is far from the worst obol I have seen offered recently and being a die duplicate of another coin is the sort of thing that appeals to me as well.

    I hope I am not the only one here who finds the coin interesting.
    0bb3062.jpg
     
    stevex6, krispy, Ripley and 2 others like this.
  2. Avatar

    Guest User Guest



    to hide this ad.
  3. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Neat addition Doug! Wonderful detail on such a tiny coin too
     
  4. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    It still amazes me how much detail they could get on such a small flan.
     
  5. Mat

    Mat Ancient Coincoholic

    Cool coin indeed. It amazes me the detail some of those tiny things have.
     
  6. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    I have one of these Alexander in miniature.

    Mine is larger and struck far right on obverse, and high on the reverse. I found the remaining text on the coin to be worth the $5 pickup.

    Pergamum, Mysia
    AR Diobol (330-284 BC)
    1.30 g x 10.6 mm
    Palladium Issue
    obv.Head of Herakles wearing lionskin right.
    rev.Cult statue of Athena facing. Greek Script-PERGAM
    ref:BMC 9,Sear 3942,von Aulock 1350,SNG France 5, 1566
     
  7. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    I cannot upload a file, seems the new update, although nice, is acting a bit wonky.
     
  8. Bing

    Bing Illegitimi non carborundum Supporter

    I haven't tried yet, but others have been able to upload on other threads. Hmmm, makes one wonder. I'm just sayin........
     
  9. Windchild

    Windchild Punic YN, Shahanshah

    Interesting coin Doug! :thumb:
     
  10. dougsmit

    dougsmit Member

    Note that you do not upload images using the icon above where I am typing now but using the 'Upload a File' button below (center of three buttons). The icon above only allows linking to images hosted elsewhere but you have to use the Upload a File button to take a photo from your computer direct to CT.
     
  11. chrsmat71

    chrsmat71 I LIKE TURTLES!

    it's not minature, it's FUN SIZED!;)

    very cool.....great coin roll you got goin' on "DS!
     
  12. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    Yes, Doug, thank you. Unfortunately I am clicking the center button and it just "greys out" and nothing happens.:(
     
  13. randygeki

    randygeki Coin Collector

    Its working for me, I think so anyway. I did a full size and a thumb. 1044138_532243180145931_419805660_n.jpg 935229_522469501123299_725249295_n.jpg
     
    Ripley and Windchild like this.
  14. stevex6

    stevex6 Random Mayhem

    Great lil coin, Doug ...

    I have a few obols kickin' around in my collection, but not one of this style (I actually haven't seen too many obols of this style .... well done)

    I do have that semi-ratty lookin' Tet of mine, with a counter-stamp that punches-in Alex' snout on the obverse ... I am going to post it here and try to "pull a randygeki" by posting a thumbnail and a full-size (here goes nuthin'):

    ancients666c.jpg ancients666d.jpg
     

    Attached Files:

    Windchild likes this.
  15. stevex6

    stevex6 Random Mayhem

    => "nailed it!!"

    :cool:
     
  16. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    I still can't upload upload to this thread for some reason. This seems to be a problem only effecting me.

    Yea steve you got great obols.
     
  17. stevex6

    stevex6 Random Mayhem

    sure, okay? ... ummm, I can accept that compliment, A-Noob

    ... I hope that you, Mrs Noob and Nooborn are enjoying this beautiful summer weekend

    Salute, to one of my favourite coin-brothers!!
     
  18. Ripley

    Ripley Senior Member

    Nice obol, Any Alexander the Great is GREAT in my book. ;)
     
  19. Ancientnoob

    Ancientnoob Money Changer

    Pergdioble.jpg Alex mini...

    I finally can upload.

    Problem solved?
     
    Windchild, stevex6 and Bing like this.
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page