Alexander the Great Tetradrachm

I understand the reactions and there is no bad feeling in me, just the opposite: I say thanks to all who answered my post and helped me!

 

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Alexander the great tets are definitely something to get excited about. But to also be patient with. As already stated, there are plenty of beauties out there. Yours will come.
I've shown it 100 times, but it's one of my favorite coins, so I'll probably show it 100 more!


MACEDONIAN KINGDOM.
Alexander III the Great(336-
323BC).ARtetradrachm
(15.98gm).About VF,
countermark, graffito. Late
posthumous issue of Perga,
dated CY 27 (195/4 BC).
Heracles wearing lion-skin,
AΛEΞANΔPOY, Zeus seated
left on backless throne, right leg
drawn back, feet on ground line,
eagle in right hand, scepter in
left; KI in left field, Seleucid
anchor countermark in rectangle
in outerrightfield. Price 2941

 

Ah! Changed off an Alexander quote in your avatar, and now on the Pyrrhos! Good quote!

 

May I jump in with a question that I have since I started to attribute and organize my dad's collection?

Do you recognize a lifetime vs. posthumous Alexander tetradrachm by the position of Zeus' legs? Parallel legs => it is a lifetime issue, crossed => it is posthumous?

One of my tetradrachms has Zeus with parallel legs, but it is attributed as early posthumous. It is this one:
24 mm, 17.04 g;
according to numismatics.org: Amphipolis mint (uncertain) 320-317 BC, under the authority of Alexander III of Macedon (but he was already dead...)
Obv.: Alexander the Great as Herakles facing right
Rev.: AΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟ(Υ) Zeus seated on a backless throne to left, himation around hips and legs, eagle in extended right hand and long scepter behind in left. To left, dolphin; below throne, monogram Π and O

If it is posthumous then not always the legs are decisive?

 

As far as I know crossed legs is always posthumous and parallel legs both lifetime issue or early posthumous. And that is indeed the case with your coin being minted in ca. 320 B.C. which is very early posthumous.

 

Thank you so very much Pavlos, now I have the answer to my months-long question and I can rest assured

 

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

 

(I do)

 

Mine is just a reverse of my name: Nord Nagela.

Oh, wait, that is not right... ok Brian, put the beer down. (@TIF always told me to put the bong down)

 

Being a cheap soul, I do buy coins from e-bay and bother the good people here to find if I should kick myself or not. With that in mind, here is my "Alexander's Ragtime Band" set of tets and drachms.

 

Hello Group,
Thought I post my Myriandrus mint Alexander Tet. This particular mint was not in service but a few years & believe Sear's Cert. for this example in my collection.
dated 325-323 B.C.E.
I believe it an uncommonly excellent example of this Tetradrachm, and hope the group agrees.
Regards,
J.T.

 

The reverse is exceptional, but it's hard to say on the obverse as the lighting doesn't do it any favors.

 

"If it is posthumous then not always the legs are decisive"
Correct.

 

Thanks for all the member's "Likes" received.
However, Bing is correct, as usual, I was experimenting w/ the Magna-Lite™
lighting during the photographing of this piece and was too d**m lazy to use the same lighting on the Obverse, that I did on the Reverse..Mea culpa!
Pete, I still believe you may use the leg position to 'suggest' the date , but not as a decisive determination.
My David Sear COA gives the following info, "Date: Circa 325-323 B.C.E.
Weight: 16.97 grams, Grade: EF and an Excellent Strike, Mint: Myriandrus (Syria)"
Cheers,
J.T.

 

"Pete, I still believe you may use the leg position to 'suggest' the date , but not as a decisive determination."
That's correct too.