Alexandrian AE Issued By Cypriot King

These bronze types were minted by Alexander the Great, but this coin was issued by the Cypriot King Nikokreon.



An excerpt from The Administration of Ptolemaic Possessions Outside Egypt, by Roger S. Bagnall...



This coin is pretty worn, and the legends are tough to make out, but they're all there. I've outlined them in red...

 

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Wow, cool => that's an awesome coin, JA ...

Hey, my coin may not be from Nikokreon, but it really was probably one of the best coin-deals that I've ever made ...

=> $30 (International, delivered to northern Manitoba) ... sweet

 

Great reverse on that coin Jerry. I don't know much about this series, but I think yours is one of the varieties issued by Alex III. I think it's Heracles on the shield, right?

My coin came from a dealer in Cyprus itself. The only other example I've seen is on Wildwinds. You can find a handful of the Macedonian ones, but the Cypriot coins seem scarce.

 

fancy



Interregnum Macedona

=> I'm pretty sure that it's a gorgon in the middle of the shield (I'll double-check, my friend)


http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/sg/sg6781.html


=> that's the link to my schtink!!

 

I have one of these, but I have it attributed as Price 3162:
AE Half Unit
OBV: Gorgoneion in the center of a Macedonian shield
REV: Macedonian helmet; caduceus and NK monogram flanking below (Struck under Nikokreon)
Struck at Salamis mint, 323-315 BC
4.9g, 15mm
Price 3162


There was another posted on a different thread by Windchild that he identified as Price 3158. I don't think I see the differences: http://www.cointalk.com/threads/alexander-the-great-ae13.223908/

 

I just looked it up once again, and you have it right. I must have transposed my 2 and 6. I do believe the correct attribution should be Price 3126.

You say this little bad boy is scarce? I've seen an awful lot of 'em for sale.

 

Thanks Bing - I just reversed the last two numbers. Typo. 3162 is correct for our pieces. WC's attribution also seems right. 3158 is the same coin, sans the NK monogram.

 

OK, which is right? Tag. You're it.

 

No, YOU have it right. I'm the one that transposed.

I really don't know if they're scarce. After looking at so many Constantinian bronzes, everything seems scarce.

 

3126 is a stater. I wish I could make that attribution to one of my coins!

 

I just checked once again, and I was right in the first place. Damn, I must be gettin' old.

 

I like your coin much better than mine. Mine was a bargain bin find - maybe not such a bargain after all.

 

=> are you guys doing a drunk, ancient version of "who's on first?"

 

I dunno. I just checked how much I paid for this bugger and I can't believe the figure. I way overpaid in my estimation.

 

What

We got it figured out. Alexander is on first while Nikokreon is heading home. No, wait. It's Alexander going home.......

 

No. It isn't, lol. That's not your coin at all. Some of them had a small bust of Heracles turned slightly right. That's what I think you have.

 

ahaha

=> oh, and I don't know is on third base!!

 

Before you judge yourself too harshly, this coin on Wildwinds sold at a CNG auction for $165.

http://www.wildwinds.com/coins/greece/macedonia/kings/alexander_III/Price_3162.jpg

 

I believe Cyprus was technically under the rule of Macedon at this point. So it would be an issue of Philip III, struck under Nikokreon.

BTW, this was the first actual use of my new copy of Price.

 

Welll, I certainly did not pay that much, nor even near that. But for my bottom feeder status, I still paid too much.