Lysimachos, captivating Tetradrachmae

Not much hope here as well, but like most of us here - will be going to my max bid to acquire nice specimens...

 

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Can't believe it, in my want to have list of Lysimachus does it take the pole position!

 

Nice coins! But I understand what you write, during latest Triton auctions did I see EF plus examples of Lampsacus mint reaching the 30.000 USD if I am not wrong...

 

I'm so sorry I can't contribute here, having none of those to show. Some outstanding examples all along the thread

sigh ....

Q

 

I too love the style of lysimachos tetradrachms

 

Need to rephotograph this one:

 

The tetradrachms of Lysimachos are interesting in that with both Ptolemy and Lysimachos, the image of Alexander is being used as a prop for their legitimacy. It is noteworthy that while Alexander is now a god complete with an adjunct symbol, his image does convey something of his humanity. The gods are always depicted ad being calm and serene. Even when on the reliefs of the great altar of Pergamon where they are depicted fighting the giants , they actually look.... kind of bored. The image of Alexander with his wide staring eye under its massive orbital ridge along with his wild hair gives us a glimpse of what he might of looked like on the battlefield or even carousing with his friends in the evening. After all some of the men receiving this coin probably saw the man while he was still a mortal.
Tetradrachm of Lysimachos 297/6-282/1 BC Lampsakos Mint Obv. Head of Alexander right. Rv Athena enthroned left. HGC 1750b 17.22 grams 30 mm Photo by W. Hansen

 

Dont mind me, just in here being jealous lol

 

Here's one that bears a remarkable, fierce portrait of Alexander.

Lysimachos. 305-281 BC. AR Tetradrachm (17.2 gm, 1h, 30mm). Ainos mint. Struck circa 283/2 BC. Obv; Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ, Athena Nikephoros seated left on throne (monogram on throne), right arm holding Victory, which crowns the name of Lysimachos with a wreath, left arm resting on shield, upon which is a lion's head; transverse spear in background; to inner left, head of lion left above cult image on throne; Thompson 257; Müller 119.

 

Here is mine. Like others have said, I wish I had gone for a nicer example while they were still affordable.

 

This is mine, which I recently discovered is illustrated in HGC.

Mint: Thrace, Lysimacheia
Obv.: Diademed head of the deified Alexander with horn of Ammon right
Rev.: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΛΥΣΙΜΑΧΟΥ - Athena enthroned left, holding Nike, resting left elbow on shield, spear behind; lion's head before, two monograms in exergue
Mint: (After 280 BC)
Wt./Size/Axis: 16.95g / 30mm / 10h
References:

• cf ANSMN 13, 21
• HGC Vol. 3, part 2, 1493 (this coin)

Provenances:

• Tannenbaum Collection

Acquisition: Roma Numismatics Online auction E-Sale 1 #153 31-Aug-2013



ATB,
Aidan.

 

Beautiful examples!

I especially like the style of the portraits - fine style.

 

I have only owned two Lysimachos Tets.

Obv:– Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon.
Rev:– BASILEOS LYSIMAXOY, Athena seated left, holding Nike in extended right hand, left arm resting on shield, spear behind, monogram in inner left field, monogram under Throne
Ainos mint. Posthumous issue struck after 281 B.C.
Reference:- Thompson -, Muller -.

Allocated to Ainos thanks to Barry Murphy who stated "Not the same dies or the same monograms, but clearly the same engraver as Meydicikkale 2691".



and a much later Byzantium issue

Obv:– Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, with horn of Ammon.
Rev:– Athena enthroned l., holding Nike on extended r. hand and spear, and resting l. elbow on shield propped against throne; LUSIMACOU in l. field; KP monogram in inner field; BY on throne, BASILEWS in r. field; ornamented trident in exergue
Minted in Byzantium, circa 2nd Century B.C. (Posthumous Issue)

Weight 16.97g. Size 37.11 mm

 

More nice Tetradrachmae are being added, glad so so many fellow collectors sharing the same interest in these masterpieces!

 

Here's my Lysimachos. These have been pricy lately, so mine isn't nearly as nice as most of the others. It does come from the Perinthos mint, though, which is uncommon. It also may be an unpublished type. 17.08g.



I thought I would add another portrait of Alexander in this tetra from Ptolemy I.



27,5 mm 14,60 g 302/301 BCE
Alexandria mint. Sv.162 (37 ex) - Cop.29 - GC.7750 var. - BMC.- - MP.6

 

Was thinking that it would be nice to try make a small collage of my five. Some strike light coming from the right, still some reflection though due to the use of reflective material (lacquered wood) as background.

Try to highlight the very different toning of these coins, from very light Silver to golden Hues.

 

Like all of them! Imagine it's a Silver coin which survived 23 centuries of war, natural events, a dang here, bit porousity, some scratches, heavy handling should be normal. The rare thing is one which have been surviving without 'battle scars'.

 

Kings of Thrace, Lysimachos (305-281 BC), Tetradrachm, Lampsacus, struck 297/6-282/1 BC
Obv: Diademed head of the deified Alexander right, wearing horn of Ammon.
Rev: BAΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΛYΣIMAXOY, Athena seated left, holding Nike and spear over shoulder, resting elbow on shield. Controls: in outer left field, monogram K; in inner left field, ΔΞ monogram
Ref: Thompson 52

This same monogram is found on coins of Magnesia - it is possible that the magistrate associated shifted from Magnesia to Lampsacus in the late 90's. Lampsacus is the mint with the largest output for Lysimachos in Asia minor, Thompson reports ~115 obverse dies, with output declining after Amphipolis began to mint.