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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;robinjojo, post: 4988355, member: 110226&quot;]While going through a box of ancients last night, I came across an old purchase.&nbsp; This is a tetradrachm of Alexander III that I believe is from Susa, a city whose roots go back to ancient Sumer.&nbsp; The label that accompanies the coin is very generic, basically just noting that this coin is a tetradrachm of Alexander III, no other information.&nbsp; I think this coin came from a local coin dealer who had virtually no background with ancient coins, only US coins.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is the best Alexander III tetradrachm that I own.&nbsp; It has been stored in a poly-liner bag for nearly three decades, so there is no toning to speak of.</p><p><br /></p><p>I am not sure if this is a lifetime or an early posthumous coin. I really have only a basic knowledge of Alexander III&#039;s coinage, given the breath and scope of coinage issued in his name.&nbsp; Are there CT members who can shed any light on this coin?</p><p><br /></p><p>I finished two of Mary Renault&#039;s historical novels on Alexander III, and Susa plays a pivotal role.&nbsp; One notable event at Susa, near the end of Alexander III&#039;s reign was the mass marriage between officers of his Macedonian force and Persian women of noble birth in 324 BC.</p><p><br /></p><p>Alexander III also married a Persian princess, Stateira, daughter of Darius III, during this event, much to the disproval of Roxanne, his other wife.&nbsp; In Renault&#039;s novel, <i>Funeral Games</i>, Starteria is lured to Babylon with a forged letter by Roxane shortly after Alexander III died.&nbsp; Following her arrival, Stateira, who was pregnant with a potential heir, and her sister were poisoned by Roxane.&nbsp; Such were the lethal machinations of the ancient courts, through Roman times and beyond.</p><p><br /></p><p>Macedonian Kings&nbsp; &nbsp; Circa 323 BC</p><p>AR tetradrachm</p><p>Alexander III</p><p>Susa Mint</p><p>Obverse:&nbsp; Portrait of Alexander III, facing right, wearing lion headdress.</p><p>Reverse:&nbsp; Zeus, seated on throne, facing left, holding an eagle in right hand and staff in left hand, wreath in left field, below throne, symbols ΔI.</p><p>Price #?</p><p>EF</p><p><br /></p><p>24.5 mm, 12 h.</p><p>17.2 grams</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]1198380[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your Macedonian coins or anything else you wish.</p><p><br /></p><p>Thank you</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Postscript:</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>As noted in a subsequent post, this coin is from Cilicia, possibly Side, not Susa and it is an early posthumous issue.</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>The Price catalog number is 2949</b>[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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