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<p>[QUOTE="Ryro, post: 3511623, member: 91461"]Lately I've been really enjoying the Macedonian shield coins. An area that has always fascinated me, but one that I am having a very hard time finding data on.</p><p>The most impactful piece of literature that I have found so far is this this brief pdf: <a href="http://www.astro.ro/~roaj/26_2/17-Rov_Mac_f7_n30.pdf" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.astro.ro/~roaj/26_2/17-Rov_Mac_f7_n30.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.astro.ro/~roaj/26_2/17-Rov_Mac_f7_n30.pdf</a></p><p>A good amount, I would dare say most, of these coins listed on eBay, in all their varying types, are erroneously listed as Alexander the greats. That said, it is an area that really stresses the importance of knowing monograms and what, where and whom various symbols are attached to.</p><p>Case in point, here is a Demetrios Poliorketes from my good ol coin pal [USER=89687]@ominus1[/USER], aka ominomonophthalmus1, where all you need to know is the monogram of "the besieger of cities". But without that knowledge you might have as hard a time figuring it out as Demetrios did getting into Rhodes!</p><p>(He never got inside. And as the story goes, he left the siege engine at Rhodes, where the Rhodeians used the parts to build their great colossus!)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]931175[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Demetrios Poliorketes</p><p>Æ15. Amphipolis, circa 294- 288 BC. Macedonian shield with monogram in boss / BA- ΣΙ, crested Macedonian helmet, bunch of grapes in left field. Newell, Demetrius 130. 4.24g, 17mm, 10h.</p><p><br /></p><p>And one I picked up as a snack a bit ago:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]931208[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Another wonderful obverse monogram is that of Pyrrhos. Sadly, the last time I tried to acquire one I got smoked like a cheap cigar. (If anyone has one they aren't in love with or looking to sell please pm me).</p><p><br /></p><p>The first types that I came across when I began collecting were the Facing Gorgon types. My love and fascination of the gorgon being a driving force to collect ancients early on, I would buy simply for the image of the gorgon not caring much who or where they were in the name of.</p><p>The most cherry example I've owned is in the name of Antigonus Monophthalmus (I've since given it to my poppa along with one of his boy Poliorketes as a set).</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]931177[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Antigonos I Monophthalmos. As king, 306/5-301 BC. Æ Unit (16mm, 4.56 g, 12h). Salamis mint. Struck under Demetrios I Poliorketes. Macedonian shield, boss decorated with facing gorgoneion / Macedonian helmet; kerykeion and monogram to lower left and right. Price 3159 (c. 323-315 BC)</p><p><br /></p><p>Here is one that was a hard nut to Crack! Purchased as a facing gorgon. It wasn't until I was looking through as many examples of these as I could find that I found it is a 3/4 facing Herakles! And my only coin in the name of Alexander's special brother!!!</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]931224[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Philip III – Antigonos I Monophthalmos. Circa 323-310 BC. Æ Half Unit (16mm, 3.65 g, 12h). Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Macedonian shield; on boss, head of Herakles, wearing lion skin, facing slightly left / Macedonian helmet; below, grain ear left. Price 2805 var. (grain ear right).</p><p><br /></p><p>This one being a fun example of the symbolism used by Alexander's general, Seleucus and his descendants.</p><p>If you're a fan of Seleukid coins you'll know they love them some anchors and elephants! My newest Macedonian helmet coin bares both:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]931220[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Antiochos III Megas</p><p>Seleukid Kingdom. Uncertain (military) mint 60. 223-187 BC. Struck 202-187 BC Bronze Æ 17mm., 4,60g. Macedonian shield with gorgoneion in central boss / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑNΤΙΟΧΟΥ, elephant walking right, anchor above, monogram of ΠΑ below. very fine SC 1089.3a; HGC 9, 490</p><p>Former: Savoca</p><p><br /></p><p>One very common one that is "in the name of" Alexander are these from Salamis and minted under Nikokreon (note the cadueces right and monogram left of cheek guards):</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]931227[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Alexander III the Great</p><p>336-323 B.C. Æ 1/2 unit (15 mm, 3.82 g, 11 h). Salamis mint, Struck under Nikokreon, ca. 323-315 B.C. Facing Gorgoneion in the center, forming central boss of Macedonian shield ornamented with five double crescents / B-A, crested Macedonian helmet with cheek guards; caduceus to left, NK monogram to right. Price 3162; SNG Alpha Bank 851. VF, black patina with some earthen highlights. Former: Savoca</p><p><br /></p><p>As we travel through time even the last claimants to the throne of Macedon, Philip V and his boy, Perseus, until the Roman's got tired of their revolts and put a puppet ruler in place, honored their ancestors coinage:</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]931229[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Philip V and Perseus. Ca. 221-168 B.C.E</p><p>Macedonian Kingdom. AE unit (17.1 mm, 6.07 g, 12 h). Uncertain Macedonian mint. Macedonian shield, star with spiral arms/swastika in center boss / M-K, ΔONΩN, Macedonian helmet with cheek guards, BA monogram below. SNG Alpha Bank -; SNG Cop -; McClean 3666. VF. Rare.</p><p><br /></p><p>As with a lot of ancients we have plenty with no answers (or at least none that Ryro here has been able to find).</p><p>Here are 3 examples:</p><p>What the heck is the "K" for? Where was this made??</p><p>And was it really ATG himself???</p><p>(Plus isn't that a pretty bad @$$ double headed battle axe????)</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]931230[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Alexander III 'the Great'</p><p>(336-323 BC). Ae 1/4 Unit. Uncertain mint, possibly Miletos or Mylasa.</p><p>Obv: Macedonian shield, with facing gorgoneion on boss. Rev: B - A.</p><p>Helmet; labrys to left, K to right. Price 2065; cf. HGC 3.1, 958a (1/2 unit; Alexander IV). Condition: Extremely fine.</p><p><br /></p><p>Do these have anything to do with the Macedonian shield coins or are they just super rad looking or both?</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]931238[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>Caria Mylasa ΕΥΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ</p><p>(Eupolemos), strategos 295-280 BC. Bronze Æ 15mm., 4.46g. Three overlapping shields, with spearheads on bosses / EYΠOΛEMOY, sheathed sword, in left field, labrys. Good very fine SNG München 21; Lindgren III 435.</p><p><br /></p><p>And lastly, why the heck is Lydia making these bad boys so far away in geography and time from when and where they had began?</p><p><br /></p><p>[ATTACH=full]931233[/ATTACH]</p><p><br /></p><p>LYDIA. Philadelphia. Ae (Circa 1st century BC).</p><p>Obv: Macedonian shield with star on boss.</p><p>Rev: ΦΙΛΑΔЄΛΦЄΩΝ.</p><p>Winged thunderbolt within wreath. Control: Monogram above.</p><p>Cf. SNG Copenhagen 343-7 (Monogram).</p><p>Condition: Extremely fine.</p><p>Weight: 2.68 g.</p><p>Diameter: 13 mm.</p><p><br /></p><p>Please post your Macedonian helmet coins, ATGs, Diadochi, answers, any recommended books or literature on the subject or anything at all that you deem groovy![/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>
[QUOTE="Ryro, post: 3511623, member: 91461"]Lately I've been really enjoying the Macedonian shield coins. An area that has always fascinated me, but one that I am having a very hard time finding data on. The most impactful piece of literature that I have found so far is this this brief pdf: [url]http://www.astro.ro/~roaj/26_2/17-Rov_Mac_f7_n30.pdf[/url] A good amount, I would dare say most, of these coins listed on eBay, in all their varying types, are erroneously listed as Alexander the greats. That said, it is an area that really stresses the importance of knowing monograms and what, where and whom various symbols are attached to. Case in point, here is a Demetrios Poliorketes from my good ol coin pal [USER=89687]@ominus1[/USER], aka ominomonophthalmus1, where all you need to know is the monogram of "the besieger of cities". But without that knowledge you might have as hard a time figuring it out as Demetrios did getting into Rhodes! (He never got inside. And as the story goes, he left the siege engine at Rhodes, where the Rhodeians used the parts to build their great colossus!) [ATTACH=full]931175[/ATTACH] Demetrios Poliorketes Æ15. Amphipolis, circa 294- 288 BC. Macedonian shield with monogram in boss / BA- ΣΙ, crested Macedonian helmet, bunch of grapes in left field. Newell, Demetrius 130. 4.24g, 17mm, 10h. And one I picked up as a snack a bit ago: [ATTACH=full]931208[/ATTACH] Another wonderful obverse monogram is that of Pyrrhos. Sadly, the last time I tried to acquire one I got smoked like a cheap cigar. (If anyone has one they aren't in love with or looking to sell please pm me). The first types that I came across when I began collecting were the Facing Gorgon types. My love and fascination of the gorgon being a driving force to collect ancients early on, I would buy simply for the image of the gorgon not caring much who or where they were in the name of. The most cherry example I've owned is in the name of Antigonus Monophthalmus (I've since given it to my poppa along with one of his boy Poliorketes as a set). [ATTACH=full]931177[/ATTACH] Antigonos I Monophthalmos. As king, 306/5-301 BC. Æ Unit (16mm, 4.56 g, 12h). Salamis mint. Struck under Demetrios I Poliorketes. Macedonian shield, boss decorated with facing gorgoneion / Macedonian helmet; kerykeion and monogram to lower left and right. Price 3159 (c. 323-315 BC) Here is one that was a hard nut to Crack! Purchased as a facing gorgon. It wasn't until I was looking through as many examples of these as I could find that I found it is a 3/4 facing Herakles! And my only coin in the name of Alexander's special brother!!! [ATTACH=full]931224[/ATTACH] KINGS of MACEDON. temp. Philip III – Antigonos I Monophthalmos. Circa 323-310 BC. Æ Half Unit (16mm, 3.65 g, 12h). Uncertain mint in western Asia Minor. Macedonian shield; on boss, head of Herakles, wearing lion skin, facing slightly left / Macedonian helmet; below, grain ear left. Price 2805 var. (grain ear right). This one being a fun example of the symbolism used by Alexander's general, Seleucus and his descendants. If you're a fan of Seleukid coins you'll know they love them some anchors and elephants! My newest Macedonian helmet coin bares both: [ATTACH=full]931220[/ATTACH] Antiochos III Megas Seleukid Kingdom. Uncertain (military) mint 60. 223-187 BC. Struck 202-187 BC Bronze Æ 17mm., 4,60g. Macedonian shield with gorgoneion in central boss / ΒΑΣΙΛΕΩΣ ΑNΤΙΟΧΟΥ, elephant walking right, anchor above, monogram of ΠΑ below. very fine SC 1089.3a; HGC 9, 490 Former: Savoca One very common one that is "in the name of" Alexander are these from Salamis and minted under Nikokreon (note the cadueces right and monogram left of cheek guards): [ATTACH=full]931227[/ATTACH] Alexander III the Great 336-323 B.C. Æ 1/2 unit (15 mm, 3.82 g, 11 h). Salamis mint, Struck under Nikokreon, ca. 323-315 B.C. Facing Gorgoneion in the center, forming central boss of Macedonian shield ornamented with five double crescents / B-A, crested Macedonian helmet with cheek guards; caduceus to left, NK monogram to right. Price 3162; SNG Alpha Bank 851. VF, black patina with some earthen highlights. Former: Savoca As we travel through time even the last claimants to the throne of Macedon, Philip V and his boy, Perseus, until the Roman's got tired of their revolts and put a puppet ruler in place, honored their ancestors coinage: [ATTACH=full]931229[/ATTACH] Philip V and Perseus. Ca. 221-168 B.C.E Macedonian Kingdom. AE unit (17.1 mm, 6.07 g, 12 h). Uncertain Macedonian mint. Macedonian shield, star with spiral arms/swastika in center boss / M-K, ΔONΩN, Macedonian helmet with cheek guards, BA monogram below. SNG Alpha Bank -; SNG Cop -; McClean 3666. VF. Rare. As with a lot of ancients we have plenty with no answers (or at least none that Ryro here has been able to find). Here are 3 examples: What the heck is the "K" for? Where was this made?? And was it really ATG himself??? (Plus isn't that a pretty bad @$$ double headed battle axe????) [ATTACH=full]931230[/ATTACH] Alexander III 'the Great' (336-323 BC). Ae 1/4 Unit. Uncertain mint, possibly Miletos or Mylasa. Obv: Macedonian shield, with facing gorgoneion on boss. Rev: B - A. Helmet; labrys to left, K to right. Price 2065; cf. HGC 3.1, 958a (1/2 unit; Alexander IV). Condition: Extremely fine. Do these have anything to do with the Macedonian shield coins or are they just super rad looking or both? [ATTACH=full]931238[/ATTACH] Caria Mylasa ΕΥΠΟΛΕΜΟΣ (Eupolemos), strategos 295-280 BC. Bronze Æ 15mm., 4.46g. Three overlapping shields, with spearheads on bosses / EYΠOΛEMOY, sheathed sword, in left field, labrys. Good very fine SNG München 21; Lindgren III 435. And lastly, why the heck is Lydia making these bad boys so far away in geography and time from when and where they had began? [ATTACH=full]931233[/ATTACH] LYDIA. Philadelphia. Ae (Circa 1st century BC). Obv: Macedonian shield with star on boss. Rev: ΦΙΛΑΔЄΛΦЄΩΝ. Winged thunderbolt within wreath. Control: Monogram above. Cf. SNG Copenhagen 343-7 (Monogram). Condition: Extremely fine. Weight: 2.68 g. Diameter: 13 mm. Please post your Macedonian helmet coins, ATGs, Diadochi, answers, any recommended books or literature on the subject or anything at all that you deem groovy![/QUOTE]
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Helmet down, shield up, that's the way we like to FIGHT!
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