Alexander tetradrachm with funny legends

I have recently picked up this Alexander tetradrachm (Price 109) mainly because of the way the legends are engraved on the reverse. The engraver started really ambitiously with big letters but after a while realised he needed to fit the rest on the die so started making the letters smaller just just getting them all in. Happened to me couple of times when writing an address on an envelope Post your coins with similarly sloppy legends.

 

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Tetradrachm for 109????that's a steal!! Awesome

 

This is a really interesting coin, for reasons unrelated to the post. While there are countless examples of celators running out of space and either cramming the letters in or omitting some entirely, this is an example of early circular legends. Many years ago I wondered about how we went from the Greek system of primarily linear inscriptions to circular. I had noted that there are some from Alexander that are either slightly or entirely circular, but I got sidetracked and never looked at the topic again. Does anyone have examples of circular legends prior to Alexander?

I understand how it developed: simple titles such as "King Alexander" morphed into say: IMP CAES NERVA TRAIAN AVG GERM (just as an example, we all know there are hugely more elaborate legends than this), all the space on the coin die needed to be used. But what was the earliest use? I dont know, but its an interesting topic.

 

Price is the book and catalog number, not the price in dollars!

 

I wish it would cost me just 109 Eur.

 

Thank you, cause i was wondering, 109 Tet - best deal I have ever seeing

 

How much was it, if you don't mind me asking?

 

Nice Tet @Meander. I still don't have a Alex. Tet, just drachms. One of these days.......

 

If you are lucky and look a lot you can get modest examples under $200.

 

I got one recently as well, will post today or tomorrow!

 

I got lucky with my lifetime tet. I got it at auction for about 140.00 USD including fees and shipping.

 

Exactly. One can never be certain. Summer months are a great time to get bargains. So....look out in the next two months, one may get what they want at bargain prices!

 

Honestly, I don't really like talking about prices. And in this case I cant even tell you the exact price. I got it in a lot with a nice Kyme tetradrachm for 1100 Eur. The price for both just seemed right to me

 

Thank you for sharing

 

After some wheeling and dealing, I got my lifetime tet for FREE!

 

That is a fascinating coin. I have done that many times when writing essays.

 

I have always considered this one barbarous not so much because of the style and wandering letters but because it is unusual for a coin of the type to have no minor device, no letter in field or under throne, no monogram ---- nothing. Opinions of those with experience with these or find something similar in Price would be appreciated. I bought it in 1990 and know no more today than then.

 

o Bing, peeps like you and me are "too tight for tets". that's why we don't have any. i had one once and couldn't live with the price. not that its a bad thing, it's just a thing. i still remember buying my 1st silver drachm(one of the alexander's) and talking to myself before, during and after.. what a discussion that was><

 

?!?.. i will become a student of your school of dealing then...