New Hellenistic Tetradrachm

Ptolemy I Soter . . . is that the guy that could never hold Syria, lost his fleet to Demetrius I at Salamis, and didn't even show up at the Battle of Ipsus? I think I might have heard of him. #TeamNikator

I would love to collect the silver of Ptolemy I, especially the tets with Alexander wearing the elephant skin. Sadly I just don't have the budget (willpower) to do that. Especially when coins of Seleukos are so much more affordable.

 

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Here are a few Greek Tetradrachms minted during the Hellenistic period:



These are all mid-second century BC.

John

 

Wow, that's a nice one, @Nicholas Molinari. Great on both sides!

Here's my "maybe lifetime" from Pella.


MACEDONIAN KINGDOM
Alexander III the Great
AR Tetradrachm. 17.4g, 31.9mm x 25.5mm. Pella mint, late lifetime or early posthumous issue, circa 325-315 BC. Price 245. O: Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. R: AΛEΞAN∆POY, Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and, in his right, eagle with closed wings; club in left field.

 

Great coin Nicholas. Here is my lifetime tet of Alexander. Amphipolis mint.

 

A sweet coin!

 

Wow, some amazing coins in this thread, including the OP!

My best is my Rhodes tet from c. 200 BCE (Price 2513). I suppose some of you may recognize it.

 

Did your man create a deity from scratch, one who would grow in attributes and popularity, and who for centuries would be venerated far beyond the borders of Egypt? I didn't think so

#Soter/SerapisForTheWin

I bit the bullet and bought one a couple of years ago. I wanted the earlier type (the heavier Attic standard tet, because I find the obverses more artistic) but they are expensive. I found this example for a comparatively good price, probably because of the coating of horn silver. I can live with that



EGYPT. Ptolemy I Soter
AR tetradrachm, 27 mm, 17.0 gm (Attic standard)
Alexandreia mint, struck 313/12 BCE
Obv: Head of the deified Alexander III to right, wearing mitra of Dionysos and elephant skin headdress, with aegis around his neck, and with horn of Ammon on his forehead
Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ; Athena Alkidemos advancing right, hurling spear with her right hand and with shield over her extended left arm; to right, eagle with closed wings standing on thunderbolt to right with ΔΙ below
Ref: Svoronos 33; Zervos series D, issue XIII; SNG Copenhagen 14; BMC 7

 

Wow, John. That's an impressive array!

 

That is a great group. It does, however, raise the question where we should stop calling Eastern coins 'Greek' and start using hedges like 'Indo-Greek' for the Eukratides. I guess the term 'Hellenistic' admits that all coins after Alexander were not quite fully 'Greek' in the old sense of the word so perhaps Baktria, Egypt and Syria are all in the same category. The old use of Hellenistic was for rulers who owed their power to their association with Alexander. Where do the Eastern kingdoms fall in this picture?

 

That is a good question Doug. I knew it was a stretch keeping old Eucratides I in the photo.

 

Dude! Stop it! My eyes are hurting! Gotta wear sunglasses ! Gorgeous Tets.

The most brilliant of all the Greeks...

Makedon Philip II Tet Pella LIFETIME 353-349 Zeus Horse star spearhd Le Rider 102

 

I definitely want one of those at some point.

 

Great looking reverse coin friend

 

KINGS OF MACEDON. Alexander III 'the Great' (336-323 BC). Ae. Uncertain mint in Western Asia Minor.

 

Wonderful addition!

 

I do not think that I have put this Tet out before:


Thrace -Lysimachos AR Tet 14.3g, 28.7mm 305-281 BCE Alexander head-Ammon horns - rev LYSIMACHOS - Athena / Nike

 

I thought it looked familiar... such a striking Alexander/Herakles depiction!
https://www.cointalk.com/threads/start-of-2017-coins-year-with-lysimachus.289908/#post-2628928

 

I have a question about this...at the bottom of the reverse of the first coin, it almost looks like some bronze or brass being revealed at the bottom and on the bird's wing. Could this be a plated copy?

 

I see surface dirt on top of silver.
The coins below are plated and show recessed base metal.