I won a helmeted Alexander! ...."oh, you mean a lion skin skull cap." No, no. A helmeted Alexander. "OH, you mean an elephant skin." NO, NO. A helmet Alexander. "Oh oH, a Horns of Zeus Amon." Ok. We get it. There are a lot of funny things that the greatness wore on his head aside for his perfect hair. Excluding the ultra expensive helmeted types which I need not bring anymore attention to here (lest I lower my chances of ever owning one) it is rare for a more affordable Koinon one to come along. But come along one did. Fresh off my double squared awesome win in AMCC2 here is a coin I am thrilled to have in my collection. Though there are many types of coins barring the mug of Alexander (some possibly of his generals trying to look like him) the Roman Koinon series is dedicated to what was the Roman's (500+ years later) understanding of what the man looked like. To put perspective on it, this isn't like us idealizing George Washington, some 225 years ago. The Romans putting Alexander on a coin would be like us putting some one from the time of Christopher Columbus on a coin! I have some really fun coins of ATG and pals, but this is the first with him wearing a battle helmet. I'll include all my Koinon series to show the idealization: MACEDON, Koinon of Macedon: Pseudo-autonomous issue, time of Gordian III (238-244). Beroea mint. 9.34g, 25mm. Obv: AΛΕΧΑΝΔΡΟΥ, Head of Alexander the Great right, wearing crested Attic helmet with griffin on the bowl Rev: KOINON MAKEΔONΩN B NЄΩΚΟΡ, Warrior right on horseback right (presumed to be Alexander on Bucephalus); star below. Cf. AMNG III 770. Scarce. Alexander’s name clear. Ex: AMCC consigned by CTer @tenbobbit KOINON OF MACEDON Æ25, 8.7g, 6h; 3rd century AD. Obv.: AΛEΞANΔPOY; Diademed bust of Alexander the Great right. Rev.: KOINON MAKEΔONΩN; Horseman galloping right. Reference: SNG Cop 1355. MACEDON. Koinon Pseudo-autonomous. Time of Gordian III (238-244). Ae.Obv: ΑΛЄZΑΝΔΡΟV. Head of Alexander the Great right (as Hercules), wearing lion skin.Rev: KOINON MAKЄΔONΩN NЄΩ. Alexander on his horse, Bucephalus, galloping right. AMNG III 734. Very fine. 11.9 g.24 mm. Fomer SAVOCA coin Koinon of Macedon. Pseudo-autonomous issue circa AD 200-300. Bronze Æ Obverse: diademed bust of Alexander the great right Reverse: horseman galloping (Alexander and Bucephalus) 25mm., 11,48g. nearly very fine Please share those Alexander Koinon, different hats the man/God/King/King of Kings/Pharoa/unified ruler of Greece was depicted wearing on coin, AMCC2 wins or whatever you think adds to the enjoyment and education.
They are great scores Ryro, it is also a goog collecting theme so many types I have to admit I almost bid on that helmeted Alexander but I'm glad you got it. My only one of that type has architecture on the reverse and even a lot of variety in them. Roman Provincial. MACEDON. Koinon of Macedonia. Pseudo-autonamous 222 AD to 249 AD . Æ (27mm, 11.19 g, 6h). Beroea mint. OBV: AΛEΞANΔPOC bust of Alexander the Great right, flowing hair. REV: KOINMA KE ΔONΩN.B.NE Two tetrastyle temple façades; in field between, column surmounted by statue. Unpublished in the standard references. VF, green surfaces, ragged edge, some smoothing and roughness.
Really cool to see Alexander on a Roman coin. The reverse imagery reminds me of this Indo-Greek Antimachus II drachm which I got in the last FSR auction. Indeed, Joe Cribb has argued that the reverse probably depicts Alexander as a divine king, rather than Antimachus himself as has been attributed, since the reverse (identifiable by its Karoshthi legend) is usually reserved for a deity.
Fun bunch. How about a Medusa-Alexander with wings? SELEUKID KINGDOM. Seleukos I Nikator. AE20. 6.1g, 20mm. Antioch mint, circa 280 BC. SC 21.2; HGC 9, 92. O: Winged head of the gorgon Medusa, with features of Alexander the Great, right. R: BAΣIΛEΩΣ / ΣΕΛΕΥΚOY, bull butting right; [Ξ] below.
Fantastic snares, @Ryro !!! Great coins and funny write up! RR Macedon occupation Alexander - Club Coin chest Quaestor Chair wreath Aesillas Quaestor AR Tet Thessalonika Mint BC 90-70
Mine is not at all in good shape but the agonistc theme and link to the Olympic games makes it a keeper. O/ΛΥΜ/ΠΙΑ in center
I believe it means Neocourate, as on my coin it has been shortened up and abbreviated to B. NE the B. NE honouring the second neocourate temple.
