A real chubby! I spotted this coin on the 'bay. Its a type that I have wanted for quite sometime. In the past I have been either completely priced out of it or the coin was so off centered that the it would be bother me. These rare coins are rarely found in grades higher than 'VF' and are often found in lets say 'F' condition and are still expensive. The coin is of supreme chunk, and extra chubby. Minted in Babylon between 328-311 BC. Featuring the enthroned Ba'al holding a scepter in one hand and the back of the throne with the other. The particular issue also features a 'hammer' device in the obverse left field. The reverse is a large lion walking left with the Greek letter 'G' above. Few questions I cant find any clarification on the meaning of the Greek letter. One would assume it is a regal year in this case it would be 'G' = 3. I can not find this confirmed anywhere and usually call it a monogram. If that is the case than the true meaning may never be known. If it is a regnal year then of whom? Alexander?, Seleukos? or another local governor of the time? One type in the series features the name of the governor in Aramaic on the reverse, then there was another governor whose name appears after this then there is this issue and there a fourth issue attributed to the governorship of Seleukos I and these feature and anchor, common on later Seleucid coinage. This is not an imperial issue to per say but rather local coinage coined for use in Babylon. These coins are rarely found West of the Tigres river. I would like to learn more about this piece and get the skinny on the 'G'. Otherwise the coin is absurd in its fatness. It is about 22 mm x 16.17 grams and approx. 5 mm thick, at the edge. I found a picture of the coin in the BMC Arabia (1922) as Pl. XXII no.1 https://archive.org/stream/catalogu.../search/xxii Comments, suggestions, corrections or what ever is encouraged and appreciated. Alexandrine Empire of the East Satrapy of Babylonia s. 328-311 BC AR Tetradrachm 22 mm x 16.17 grams Obverse:Ba'al enthroned with scepter. Reverse: Lion walking left Gamma above Ref: BMC Arabia XXII no.1 And the smile!
I was immediately surprised at the unusual thickness. There are a few similar coins being sold on vcoins right now. $$$
Sometimes you can get a good deal on ebay. Just takes persistence and patience. One of mine was last week, just wont be sharing it for a few more weeks.
I thought your use of 'chubby' might be hyperbole but WOW, that edge view! Superchunky indeed. Great find, wonderful score. Leave it to Noob to track down the cool obscure stuff That lion looks so familiar. OH! It's Muttley!
As far as I know, all the coins of this type minted under Seleukos I exhibit an anchor in the field over the lion. The coins of Mazaios have an inscription (monogram?) in the same place, so maybe the best you can do is call it an anonymous issue of the Eastern Alexandrine Empire? I'm just talking off the top of my broken head - if someone has references, please correct me. I'm always wary of getting an expensive coin at bargain prices, but I don't see any telltale casting indicators, and the only forgery in this series I'm aware of is not a match to your coin. Plus, the style looks in line with known authentic pieces.
Hey JA, thanks for the confirmation. With the coin in hand I know 100% it is authentic. I can't say as I had any doubt, I also found the coin in link provided. The coin also came with 2 old tags, one from Pegasi Auctions and an old hand written tag. The Pegasi attribution is more correct than the older tag. The older tag says it is 36 Pl. XXII. no. 3, Pegasi says BMC 34. I confirmed it is BMC 34 pl.XXII no. 1. to be exact.
Pegasi is a trusted source. They wouldn't knowingly sell a forgery, so that's an added confirmation. My impromptu assessment of the attribution wasn't bad. I looked up Hill's analysis of the series in BMC Arabia etc., and he says... It's a conundrum with so many Levantine city issues: when there are transitions in power, types can remain the same, while changes in local authority, or the tally of a particular ruler's years, get denoted by symbols whose meanings have been lost to us. It's also interesting to note that these coins were struck from spherical flans.
oh man, that is awesome! it's a great coin, but that edge view is just killer. could you imagine what the coin slots looked like in those parts?
