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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Arminius, post: 592870, member: 18178&quot;]<img src="http://www.arminius-numismatics.com/coppermine1414/cpg1414/albums/userpics/10001/LSTn.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></p><p><br /></p><p>Babylon, under Alexander III. (the Great), circa 328-311 BC., </p><p>Lion Stater / Tetradrachm / Double Shekel (21-23 mm / 16,78 g), </p><p>Obv.: obverse Baal seated left on diphros, holding scepter in right and resting left hand on seat. </p><p>Rev.: Lion walking left; ANT monogram above, two small, deep test cuts on the lion´s body.</p><p>cf. Nicolet-Pierre, &quot;Argent et Or Frappés en Babylonie Entre 331 et 311 ou de Mazdai a Séleucos,&quot; in Essays to Le Rider, pg. 294, 15; Traité 795 ; SNG Berry 1457 . </p><p><br /></p><p>The &#039;lion staters&#039; of Babylon were an important local component of Alexander the Great&#039;s eastern coinage. Based on a Cilician prototype, they were introduced by Alexander and survived for nearly half a century. Early issues belong to the Babylonian satrapies of Mazaeus (331-328) and his successor, Mazakes. The later issues with a pentagram or anchor above the lion were struck under Seleukos, who was satrap of Babylon from 321-317/6 and from 312 onward. Most scholars favor the second satrapy for Seleukos&#039; lion staters. The denomination is usually described as a stater or tetradrachm, but most likely is a two-shekel of the Babylonian standard of ca. 8.4 grams. Historically, the earliest pieces are linked with the 5-shekel and 2-shekel &#039;Poros&#039; coinages of Alexander.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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