In the mail today I got a triobol (= hemidrachm, because there are six obols in a drachm) of Alexander the Great. It is small. But, it is hard to tell a coin's size from a photo. You either need to already know how big it is or have something for comparison. I rescaled the seller's photograph of the triobol below so it is on the same scale as this Alexander tetradrachm for comparison. This is a tetradrachm of Macedonian mint, struck 325-324 BC. It is 26-25 mm and 16.92 grams. Now for the hemidrachm, which should be about one-eighth the weight: 14-13 mm. 1.97 grams. Triobol. Hemidrachm. Head of Heracles right in lion-skin headdress Zeus seated left holding out eagle and holding long vertical septer AΛEΞANPΔOY own right, BAΣIΛEΩΣ across bottom Σ in left field. Monogram below seat. Price 3318, Aradus mint. Price dates this series of "c. 328 BC - c. 320 BC" which would bracket Alexander's death in 323. However, most (all?) issues that have "BAΣIΛEΩΣ" on them are posthumous, even those with parallel legs like this one. Pictures cannot do size justice. In hand, it is a small--remarkably small--and cute piece. Here is the same seller's photo, much larger scale, with slightly more accurate color: The field marks are very small (I need a magnifying glass to make out the one below the seat) and the engraving is remarkably well done. He is long gone, but I would congratulate whoever engraved the dies almost 2300 years ago. Alexander the Great! Wow! Show us something!
Nice! Congrats on the lil beauty. Very detailed. Here is my 1st of many Alexander IIIs. It's a drachm. And as you can see by looking at Zeus's face on the reverse it's a fouree! Alexander III ‘the Great’. 336-323 BC. AR Plated Drachm Head of Herakles right, wearing lion skin; s / Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, holding Eagle
@Valentinian , I always love your posts. Fun stuff and great coins. I have a few AR Alexander III's to throw up (unfortunately NOT to scale): I have one of those SIXTH-Drachm - an Obol: ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ: Makedon Alexander III 336-323 BC AR Obol 7mm 051g Babylon Lifetime Herakles lion skin Club bow quiver monogram in wreath M Price 3744 A WORN Drachm from my Wife: ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ: Makedon Alexander III 336-323 BC AR Drachm 3 Suse TET: ΜΕΓΑΣ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΣ: Makedon Alexander Lifetime Tet Myriandrus mint-Alexandria near Issus
I’ve posted this before but it is my only Alexander the Great coin and a lifetime issue as well. I had a hard time photographing due to the size so I can imagine how hard it must be to photograph a hemi. Alexander III of Macedon “The Great” drachm 4.1 g 17 mm Milteos mint Ref: Price 2090
