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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Ancientnoob, post: 1809358, member: 44140&quot;]A real chubby! I spotted this coin on the &#039;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 &#039;VF&#039; and are often found in lets say &#039;F&#039; condition and are still expensive. </p><p><br /></p><p>The coin is of supreme chunk, and extra chubby. Minted in Babylon between 328-311 BC. Featuring the enthroned Ba&#039;al holding a scepter in one hand and the back of the throne with the other. The particular issue also features a &#039;hammer&#039; device in the obverse left field. The reverse is a large lion walking left with the Greek letter &#039;G&#039; above. </p><p><br /></p><p>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 &#039;G&#039; = 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 &#039;G&#039;.</p><p><br /></p><p>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. </p><p>I found a picture of the coin in the BMC Arabia (1922) as Pl. XXII no.1</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://archive.org/stream/cataloguegreekco00brit#page/n629/mode/2up/search/xxii" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="https://archive.org/stream/cataloguegreekco00brit#page/n629/mode/2up/search/xxii" rel="nofollow"><u>https://archive.org/stream/catalogu.../search/xxii</u></a></p><p><br /></p><p>Comments, suggestions, corrections or what ever is encouraged and appreciated. </p><p><br /></p><p>Alexandrine Empire of the East</p><p>Satrapy of Babylonia s. 328-311 BC</p><p>AR Tetradrachm 22 mm x 16.17 grams</p><p>Obverse:Ba&#039;al enthroned with scepter.</p><p>Reverse: Lion walking left Gamma above</p><p>Ref: BMC Arabia XXII no.1</p><p>[ATTACH=full]295217[/ATTACH]</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>And the smile!</p><p>[ATTACH=full]295218[/ATTACH][/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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