To start here are the coins. 2 tangible, holdable pieces of ancient evidence that Kassander (Cassander) meant to not only wipe out but extinguish reference to the Argead line. On the obverse can see the half circles around and boss, even Herakles lion cap's hairs! And the reverse, if you flip it upside down, you see the plum of the helmet and what looks like a letter next to the B in Basileus that's an upside down kerykeion (caduceus) and on the other side of the helmets face shields we can even make out the monogram of Philip III Arrhidaios, Alexander's brother! Maybe the fellas at the mint didn't want to erase what they were told to: Kassander (316-297 BC). Ae 18 mm. 3.53 gm. Obv: Helmeted head of Athena right. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ / ΚΑΣΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ. Club and bow in bowcase. SNG Kopenhagen 1159; Moushmov 7271. Rare. Struck over Philip III Arrhidaios, 323-317 BC. uncertain mint in western Asia Minor, circa 323-310. Macedonian shield; on boss, head of Herakles facing slightly to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. Macedonian helmet; to lower left, monogram; to lower right, kerykeion. Price 2803. On this example you can clearly see the literal stamping out of the Argead line by Kassander. The under type is a Macedonian shield type minted by Alexander’s handicapped older half-brother (different mothers) Philip III Arhidaios after Alexander’s death, but before Olympias (Alexander’s mother) had Arhidaios murdered only to be murdered by Kassander herself. As well, Kassander would go on to completely extinguish the Argead line by then having both of Alexander’s sons, Alexander IV & Herakles murdered. You can see the shield and even signs of Herakles on the shield boss on the obv. With the helmet, kerykeion (caduceus) right and the monogram left on the reverse. VERY historically important coin. Purchased From PDA (Poznanski Dom Aukcyjny) March 2022 Here are a couple of the type that Kassander was covering up: And I spoiled myself when I saw this on Vcoins. Not as obvious a smear job as the first but again you see the shield boss on Athena's helmet and face: Zeus, I hate the guy! Granted I never had to walk a mile in his páxeia. I didn't grow up alongside Alexander, being tutored by Aristotle. I wasn't a distant relative of Alexander. I was never slapped in the face by Alexander. I was never passed over for opportunities by Alexander. But Kassander was all of these things. Just as he was there in Babylon in 323 BCE, arriving shortly before Alexander's death. The jerk killed off the greatest line of conquerors, debatably, in history! He may have actually been in charge of the poisoning and murdering of Alexander himself. No less a source than Arrian tells us the story of Kassander traveling to kill Alexander...and then says it's myth. Siding with the, IMHO, even more far fetched, story of Alexander dying from an EPIC night of partying and drinking from Herakles Cup... though, I do love the mainstream account... Three years after Alexander's demise Kassander's own father, Antipater, on his deathbed chose, not his son Kassander but, Polyperchon to take over the regency of Macedon! Ouch, dad. Nobody knows how or when Polyperchon died. Though, it seems evident that Kassander outlived him... Kassander would go on to be the man who would have Alexander’s mother, Olympias, then later his wife Roxanne and adolescent son Alexander IV murdered. He even had Alexander III's illegitimate son Herakles killed as well! The creep also nearly killed off the Antigonid line that would end up ruling Macedon all the way down to the Roman take over, by killing the big bad one eyed monster Antigonus Monophtalamos! Whoes son Demetrios fled, keeping the flame burning. Don't worry though, our story has a happy ending as Kassander perished just three years after that epic battle at Ipsus via dropsy. Arrian also tells us, the people of Macedon had no idea of the scope of Alexander's greatness until the death of Kassander in 297 BCE when he once again was free to be spoken of. So, help me celebrate the death of this cold blooded mother and child murdering son of a man who didn't respect him. Post your coins of Kassander, other coins trying, unsuccessfully, to stamp out another or anything relevant to Alexander and the wars of the Diadochi!
That is a fascinating overstrike! I had read that Kassander's coins were often overstruck on earlier Macedonian coins, but I have never seen an example with the undertype so clearly identifiable. Certainly a coin that every historically interested collector would love to have in their collection. Here is my own humble Kassander: Kassander, Kings of Macedonia, AE unit, 305–298 BC, uncertain Macedon mint. Obv: laureate head of Apollo r. Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ KAΣΣANΔPOY; tripod; uncertain control marks. 20mm, 6.47g. Ref: SNG Alpha Bank 895-6. Ex AMCC 2, lot 388 (their picture).
Kings of Macedon. Kassander. 316-297 B.C. Æ19. Uncertain mint in Macedon. Struck 306/5-297 BC. Obv.: Head of Herakles, right, wearing lion's skin headdress. Rev.: Rider on horseback, right, raising right hand in salute; monogram below and before horse; (BAΣΙΛEΩΣ) KΑΣΣANΔPOY Diam.: 19mm. Weight: 6.53 gr. Attrib.: SNG Alpha Bank 924-5 corr. (monograms). SG 6754. Lindgren 1298. VF. Some pitting. Pretty greenish patina.
This was so outside my interests that it was just too interesting and appealing not to buy for ca. 12EUR delivered:
Kassander apparently does not mint precious metal coins in his name preferring to use coins bearing the names of Philip II and Alexander III. It is noteworthy that he is minting silver coins in two distinct weight standards the tetradrachms in the name and types of Philip II which were struck at a standard of 14.4 grms and those of Alexander which were struck at a weight standard of 17.2 grms. Oddly this division was continued with the gold however in this case as both the coins struck in the name of Philip as well as those of Alexander both were at the Attic standard of 8.6 grms. Kassander Ar Tetradrachm Amphipolis 315-294 BC In the name and types of Alexander III Obv. Head of beardless Herakles right in lions skin headdress. Rv Zeus Aetophoros seated left. In left field Lambda over race torch. Price 447 17.05 grms 29 mm Photo by W. Hansen It is during the reign of Kassander that we see for the first time the crossed legged image of Zeus being used at the mint of Amphipolis with any frequency. This is important since now that the Troxell Group E coinage from this mint has been moved from being lifetime to being posthumous. This would likely mean that the group G through to L coins are even later than what Troxell had postulated. This also has some ramifications towards the dating of the drachm coinage from the mints in Asia Minor.
Now that's what I call a dramatic overstrike. Very nice! Congrats. Surely you mean Antigonos Monophtalamos instead of Gonatas. (My God, how pedantic I can be...)
Some great coins so far all! Excellent coin @Andres2 I have been trying to score one of these for a while now...no luck as of yet Thanks @Orielensis Funny enough, that was my first coin of Kassander as well: Very good detail and cool patina on yours @philologus_1 here's my not so pristine version Nice Amyntas, Alexander's grandfather @seth77 I like how easily his name is too read on yours. Here's my best example of his: Thanks for sharing that showstopper @Terence Cheesman The toning on the obverse is surreal Thanks my man and good catch @Ignoramus Maximus OP fixed I swear I know the difference
That's a stunning coin and definitely a important reminder of history! However, I did notice a few historical inaccuracies. Kassander didn't actually stamp out the Argead line. In fact, he propagated it by marrying Thesallonika, half-sister of Alexander the Great. She bore him the sons Antipater II, Philip IV, and Alexander V. Even after his line was wiped out by Pyrrhos and Demetrios, the Argead line wasn't fully exterminated. Alexander's sister Kleopatra had two children. Neoptolemos II who was eventually offed by Pyrrhos, and a daughter Cadmeia who lived until adulthood. There's no record of what happened to Cadmeia. Technically, Kassander didn't murder Herakles. Polyperchon did, though he was convinced of this action by Kassander. The general feeling from the literature is that, though it's possible Kassander poisoned Alexander, it's not likely for the following reasons. 1) The rather detailed records of Alexander's death are not consistent with poisoning. 2) Other parties, such as Olympias, had a lot to gain by blaming the Antipatrids for his death. 3) Had Antipater wanted to kill Alexander, it would have been extraordinary risky to accomplish this through his son. Polyperchon eventually joined Kassander's cause and served as a general under him. While Kassander was allied against Antigonos and Demetrios, he didn't personally participate in the Battle of Ipsus (though some of his troops did). Therefore, his death probably belongs more to Lysimachos or Seleukos. I'll have to reread my copy of Arrian to check this, but it seems unlikely. Kassander continued minting Alexander's silver coinage and he named his youngest son Alexander. There was also a famous temple at the time with statues of Alexander, Philip II, and Olympias, which Kassander didn't alter. While there's plenty of documentation that shows Kassander wasn't fond of Alexander, his name didn't seem to be taboo. Here's my Kassander coins. Kassander, 305-298 BC. AE Struck under Pleistarchos 301-298 BCE Kassander AE 18 mm, 6.09 g, 11 h Amphipolis (?) Laureate head of Apollo to right. Rev. ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ - ΚΑΣΣΑΝΔΡΟΥ Tripod; to left, monogram; to right, kerykeion. McClean 3553. SNG München 1030
Love you too my man. Kind of surprised by your asuredness. History is much more fluid. It depends on who you rely on. You are incorrect on a couple of accounts but I enjoy the passion and writing. The first thing you pointed out as inaccuracy is very accurate due to the simple fact that 1- The Argead line was perpetuated by the father. From Alexander I in 498 BCE, and before, all the way down to Alexander the IV. NO WOMAN EVER PERPETUATED THE LINE. I have never heard nor read what you are countering with, anywhere. Him marrying Alexander's sister doesn't perpetuate the line, it is just gross. The Argead dynasty ended with Alexander IV. Everyone I've ever read agrees with this, period. 2- As is admitted by the, technically, it's nit picking. But I'll humor you and make the comparison to how we all agree Nero killed his mother and Caracalla killed his brother (hey it rhymes) even if they had other hands do the deed. 3- I agree. It's a hard pill to swallow, but the official story is sweaty at best. And Alexander's symptoms are very consistent with poisoning. He didn't die right away but lingered. 4- Sources please. 5- Again, a bit like#2, this is in the wording. None of Lysimachos, Seleukos nor Kassander threw the spears in Antigonus that killed the massive man, but all three working together, historically, have taken the credit. 6- I'll give you a pass on this one because I was taken aback reading this as well. But he said it. Read your Arrian and enjoy. It's fun everytime! Anther Kassander to keep the party going that I've not shared, due to the awful picture: Cassander 311-297 BCE AE (15 MM2, 12g). ca. 306-297 BC MZST. Unknown in Macedonia. vs.: Head of Heracles in the Lion Scalp N. R. Rs.: BAΣIΛEΩΣ/KAΣΣANΔΡOΥ, Lion N. L., including Monogram. SNG cop. 1154 R! Former SAVOCA coin
These kind of debates are always fun. Please don't take this as an attack, but just some fun discussion. Obviously you are correct that history is very fluid, and the sources we rely on may not have been correct. Read Women and Monarchy in Macedonia by Elizabeth Carney. Women were most definitely used to propagate the Macedonian line. They also had a major impact on which heir received the throne. It's the primary reason Kassander married Thessalonika. No woman in Macedonian history ever was designated a king (even though the concept of king wasn't used until well after Alexander's death), but they were critical pieces in the propagation of the monarchy itself. A few argead women, such as Kleopatra in Epirus and Adea Eurydike in Macedon, did rule without a title. Think of the tremendous fuss that went on with Kleopatra. There's a reason every major player wanted to marry her, and Antigonos eventually killed her. While she couldn't lead armies herself (though Cynane, Olympius, and Adea Eurydike did), she could most definitely give birth to an heir. I believe it's Plutarch who mentions this, but the same is given here. I recall reading this in Diodorus, but I don't have my copy with me. I agree, but my point is it was unfair to cast the primary blame on Kassander, who was the only one of the three not present on the battlefield. The part on the shrine is covered in Carney's work. I also read The Greek World After Alexander 323-30 BC by Graham Shipley, and I recall him discussing this in his chapter on Macedonia (again, my copy is not with me right now).
I wouldn't say it's coming as an attack, a bit pedantic, but not an attack. As again you've dug your heels in. OK. Liz Carney wrote a book that you site. This doesn't change the fact that Kassander extinguished the Argead dynasty. Yes, woman are AMAZING! But if the Macedonian king gets one pregnant HE decided who was next in line. I'll site an obvious one; Philip chose Alexander as next in line and NOT his older brother Arrhidaios. I really don't have time to debate but wish I did. Long story short. We disagree. Ps, PRIMARY BLAME, it's a write up on a coin and Kassander. I don't have time to do a write up on the entire wars of the Diadochi, he and two other men conspired to kill him and did, it's a true statement. Opposite the under type of OP coin, kerykeion left monogram right:
Yeah, Kassander was a creep. Makedon - Kassander 305-297 BCE AE 20 Herakles - Youth on Horse prancing SG 6754 Makedon AE 20 Kassander 319-297 BC Herakles Horse prancing S 6754 var SNG Cop 1142 Makedon Kassander 316-297 BCE AE15 Herakles Lion reclining SNG Cop 1140
Now that I'm where my books are: 1) I looked in Arrian and found nowhere mentioning a hush job by Kassander. Could you please provide the passage? 2) In terms of Polyperchon reaching peace with Kassander, this is in Diodorus. Book 20, 309/08, 28. Cassander eventually won Polyperchon over with his plentiful and bountiful promises; he entered into a secret agreement with him and persuaded him to assassinate the king. Once Polyperchon had done away with the young man and was openly working with Cassander, he recovered his estates in Macedon, and in accordance with his agreement with Cassander, was given fourth thousand Macedonian foot soldiers and five hundred Thessalian horsemen. This is not actually true. Succession was far more complicated, as Carney details. While kings often favored particular sons, it was never a done deal. Even in Alexander's case, his succession was far from certain. Only after he assassinated Attalus in Asia Minor and Amyntas IV was he more secure. Alexander and Philip did not have a rosy relationship. Philip II was greatly angered by Alexander's dispute with Attalos, and by Alexander's attempt to marry Pixodaros' daughter. His marriage to Kleopatra (not his daughter) was an extreme threat due to a child's potential greater argead purity. She had a daughter (Europa), but this didn't prevent both from being murdered by Olympias immediately after Philip's death. Philip II actually took power from Amyntas IV (the primary reason Alexander killed Amyntas), while the succession of Perdikkas III and Alexander II were rumored to have been highly impacted by their mother Eurydike. Macedonian succession was a bit closer to Darwinism. When a king died, it went to the strongest (supposedly also uttered by Alexander III on his death bed). Due to polygamy, the mothers often played a key role in determining who that was, but it was also influenced by other power players and the candidates themselves.
You are going off on small tangents that don't support your initial arguments. Demanding you are right in every aspect. You just read all of Arrian in 30 minutes And missed what I'd referenced, that you'd debated. What a surprise. Whatever Kris. Stay on your own, wildly funny, but wildly inaccurate posts and leave mine alone. Your getting no likes here. I got kids man. Not much time for additional nonsense.
I‘m not going to make this personal as I have a lot of respect for you and your posts, and I know we’re both better than that. I read Arrian about 2 months ago, and didn’t remember that passage. My copy has an index, so I looked up those passages dealing with Kassander as well as the most likely spots, and I still didn’t find it - hence my question on where it is. FWIW, I have the Landmark edition, which has some great commentary dealing specifically with the causes of Alexander’s death. I‘ve been pretty immersed in this time period lately, since I’m doing research for my own book (fiction). So far I’ve gone through Arrian, Diodorus, Quintus Curtius, and numerous others. I even have a book on Hellenistic hordes. One could argue that a reader would forgive some factual errors in a novel whose working title is Love, Macedonians, and Dinosaurs, but as you can probably guess - I’m a stickler for the details. Personally, I believe Kassander was someone who understood the political calculus and knew what was necessary for self-preservation. He wasn’t a great guy, but he was no worse than the other players of the day, such as Pyrrhos and Antigonos, who took similar actions. Much of his history was also written by his enemies. While I stand by my assertions, I do agree that you were correct in stating that I should have kept them to myself rather than air them here. It was a particularly stressful day, and my response was worded too strongly. I therefore offer my apologies in soiling an otherwise great post. I hope you didn’t take too great of an offense, since my respect for you remains high and my response, which I should have withheld, was meant only for discussion and not argument.
To @Terence Cheesman 's point -- As it happens, my one Philip II Tetradrachm and probably my favorite Alexander III Tetradrachm are both of types typically said to be struck under Kassander: Greek (Hellenistic). Philip II of Macedon (356-339 BCE) AR Tetradrachm (25mm, 14.0g, ~9h). Struck posthumously in Amphipolis under Kassander, c. 314-310 BCE. Obv: Laureate head of Zeus right Rev: ΦIΛIΠΠOY. Youth holding palm branch on horseback right, Λ, bucrane below horse, E before. Ref: SNG ANS 763-770. Prov: Ex-VAuctions Sale 304 (6 March 2014), Lot 79; Ex-stock of Ancient Imports (Marc Breitsprecher). Greek (Hellenistic). Alexander III of Macedon (336-323 BCE) AR Tetradrachm (26mm, 17.06g). Struck posthumously in Amphipolis under Kassander, c. 316-311 BCE. Obv: Head of Herakles right wearing lionskin headdress. Rev: ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ to r. Zeus seated left holding eagle and sceptre, dolphin in lefft field. Price Monogram 1238 below throne (Π & Ο). Ref: Price 133; Troxell, Studies, Issue L7; Newell Type L VII; Mueller 542. http://numismatics.org/pella/id/price.133 Prov: Ex-Kirk Davis VCoins (15 February 2014); Ex-Gorny & Mosch Auction 152 (10 October 2006), Lot 1318 For some coins that are very likely struck by the last Macedonian King Perseus (of the Antigonids), here are some Pseudo-Rhodian Drachms (if that's really the right denomination) -- naming Hermias, Aristokrates, and Stasion -- probably used to pay mercenaries in the Third Macedonian War. (Photo Credits: three below, all CNG)
I think he was more than a creep, but given the circumstances, I don't think he had any other choice, if he wanted to secure his spot on the throne... Macedonian Kingdom: Kassander (317-298 BCE) AR Tetradrachm, Amphipolis (Price 468; Ehrhardt 36) Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress Rev: AΛEΞANΔPOY; Zeus Aëtophoros seated left; in left field, Λ above torch; kantharos below throne Macedonian Kingdom: Kassander (316-297 BCE) Æ Unit, Pella or Amphipolis (SNG Alpha Bank 917) Obv: Head of Herakles right, wearing lion's skin headdress Rev: ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΚΑΣΣΑΝ-ΔΡΟΥ; Youth on horseback right, extending arm in salute; above, T; before, star; below, monogram
