Here are my first & second Tetradrachms. My collection is mostly denarii but I just love these thick, chunky silver coins! Feel free to post your Tetradrachms!
Nice acquisitions and a great start collecting these diverse and beautiful coins. An imitative (Pharaonic) owl, late 5th-middle 4th centuries BC, with a Paleo-Hebrew "Mem" countermark on reverse. 17.03 grams Bactria, tetradrachm, Eukratides I, 171-135 BC. 17.0 grams
Kassander Ar Tetradrachm in the name and types of Philip II of Macedon.317-305 BC Amphipolis Obv Head of Zeus right. Rv. Youth riding prancing horse right Le Rider pt 46 17-18 Troxell Group 9 323-5 14.10 grms 25 mm Photo by W. Hansen This type was had a long life being struck for some 30 years (at least) after the death of Philip II in 336 BC. After this it was copied by the Celtic tribes with various degrees of fidelity for some centuries afterward. This is another coin that I have found an earlier "Hidden pedigree" I bought it from Gorny & Mosch back in 2021. I knew it was in a CNG auction back in 2020. What I did not know but recently discovered it was in a Superior Sale back in 1990. The financial history of this coin is enlightening. In 1990 it went for 1760 US.(I do not know what the juice may have been at the time. I believe it sold for 1200 US plus the juice in 2020. I bought it for 1700 Euros plus the juice.
Since everyone has posted Greek tetradrachms so far I'll post a few Roman provincial tetradrachms of Caracalla .
ATTICA, AthensAR Tetradrachm 22.5mm, 17.18g, 1h Circa 454-404 BCE Kroll 8; HGC 4, 1597 Ex CNG inventory June 2004 Ex CNG January 2021 Kings of Macedon. Pella. Demetrios I Poliorketes 306-283 BC.Tetradrachm AR 30 mm, 17,12 g Diademed and horned head of young Demetrios right / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΔΗΜΗΤΡΙΟΥ, poseidon standing left resting foot on rock, monograms at either side. Newell 90 Ex Savoca Lysimachos 287/281 Perinthos. 17.08gKopf des vergöttlichten Alexander / Athena mit Nike-Statuette auf Cippus und Schild, Beiz. Monogramm und 2 gegenläufige Pferdeprotomen. Thompson in Festschr. Robinson (1968), -, vgl. 256 HGC 1750q; Thompson, Armenak-Hoard (=ANS MN 31, 198 - Müller, Lysimachus - Arnold-Biucchi in Festschr. Price (1998) Unpublished variant(?) Ex Dr Busso Peus Nachf Kings of Macedon. Alexander III ‘the Great’ Tetradrachm Silver, 27 mm, 17.11 g, 12 h Salamis, struck under Menelaus, circa 315-306 Head of Herakles to right, wearing lion skin headdress. Rev. AΛEΞANΔPOY Zeus seated left on low throne, holding long scepter in his left hand and eagle standing right with closed wings in his right; to left, monogram and rudder; below throne, monogram of ΠE. Price 3165. Light marks and with traces of overstriking Ex Leu Ptolemy I 311-305 BCE 27.5 mm 14.6g 1h Sv.162 (37 ex) - Cop.29 - GC.7750 var. - BMC.- - MP.6 Avers : Buste cornu et diadémé d'Alexandre le Grand sous les traits de Zeus-Ammon à droite, coiffé de la dépouille d'éléphant avec l'égide. Revers : Athéna Promachos ou Alkidemos marchant à droite, brandissant une javeline de la main droite et tenant un bouclier de la gauche ; dans le champ à gauche, un casque corinthien, un monogramme et un aigle sur un foudre tourné à droite. Ex CGB Seleukos I Nikator Tetradrachm (Silver, 26 mm, 17.08 g, 8 h) Susa, circa 296/5-281. Laureate head of Zeus to right. Rev. BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΣEΛEΥKOΥ Athena, brandishing spear overhead in her right hand and holding shield in her left, standing right in quadriga of elephants moving to right; above to right, spearhead; before elephants, monogram of MΩ. SC 177.2. Ex Leu Numismatik
You didn't say anything about what tetradrachms to post... Vima Takto (Soter Megas) Tetradrachm 80-100 AD Obverse: Diademed bust right, holding spear; Tamgha of Soter Megas behind Reverse: King on horseback right; tamgha of Soter Megas in right field Hadrian 127-128 AD (Year 12) Tetradrachm Alexandria Mint Obverse: Laureate, draped and cuirassed bust right, seen from behind Reverse: Serapis enthroned left, holding sceptre, Cerberus at his feet left Diocletian Potin Tetradrachm 286 AD (Year 2) Obverse: A K Γ OYA Λ ΔIOKΛHTIANOC CEB, laureate draped bust right Reverse: L-B, Athena seated left on shield, holding wreath-bearing Nike and sceptre
How about a multicolored one? No "true" Greek tetradrachms in my collection but I find this Decius very pleasant.
ALEXANDER III MAKEDONWN LIFETIME - Tetradrachm BABALONIA, Babylon Alexander III Lifetime AR Tetradrachm / Stater (or Dishekel) Minted ca. 323-328 B.C. 24 mm, 16.3g Obv: Ba’al seated left holding scepter Rev: Lion walking left, control mark Г above. (Control mark Г was minted during Alexander III Lifetime) Ref: Ref: BMC Arabia XXII no.1 Comment: "This type was discussed by Martin Price in his article "Circulation at Babylon in 323 BC," in the book "Mnemata: Papers in Memory of Nancy M. Waggoner." He asserts that a reengraved die clearly shows the "lion staters" with gamma followed the ones with delta. "They are probably shekels on the local standard." (page 67). He dates them to the lifetime of Alexander, because they were present in a hoard with deposition dated to 323/2. He doesn't give the earliest possible date explicitly, but mentions that Mazaeus was governor until 328 and issued coins, so I infer Price would put them at or after 328. So you can say "Struck 323 or before, under Alexander the Great." Quoted from @Valentinian Ex: @Ancientnoob
Ptolemaic Kings of Egypt. Ptolemy II Philadelphos, 285-246 BC. AR Tetradrachm (27mm, 14.19 g, 1h). Uncertain mint 23, imitating Ptolemais (Ake) issue dated RY 32 (254/3 BC). Obv: Diademed head of Ptolemy I right, wearing aegis around neck. Rev: Eagle standing left on thunderbolt; to left, monogram above ΛE; to right, AB above Θ. Ref: Svoronos 1911, α var. (ΛB not AB); CPE 700. Very Fine. Ex CNG eAuction 208 (8 Apr 2009), Lot 133. Ex CNG 276 (21 Mar 2012), Lot 236. CPE notes that this mint is likely to the east of the Lagid provinces of Syria and Phoenicia.
@kirispupis That's one of the nicest Athena/owl tetradrachms I've seen: circular, beautifully toned, and well-struck.
My only tetradrachm, a humble Ptolemy I Soter: PTOLEMY I SOTER AR silver tetradrachm. 294-285 BC. Diademed head right, wearing aegis around neck; small Δ behind ear, banker's marks in right field. Reverse - BAΣIΛEΩΣ ΠTOΛEMAIOY, eagle standing left on thunderbolt; to left, P above Φ in left field. Svoronos 263; SNG Copenhagen 70; BMC p. 15, 16. 26mm, 13.5g. Ex. Incitatus Coins
